Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-03-17

Lives Were Lost
The worst blizzard known since jan
~, 1883, set In through the Northwest
Wednesday. Reports received indicate
that much damage to property has been
inflicted, great suffering caused, and a
considerable loss OF life experienced,
while later and fuller reports may make
the situation 30 much worse that Its
horrors will exceed that of the terrible
storm OF four years ago. Minnesota and
North Dakota seem to have been the
worst.sufferers from the blizzard, while
heavy snow, accompanied by high
winds, fell In Wisconsin, and Iowa felt
the effect OF n severe blow. Kansas,
Nebraska, Illinois and Michigan were
also affected to a greater or lees degree.
A dispatch sent out from st. Paul
says: Minnesota is the center OF q
blizzard which has not been equaled in
years. A furious storm OF snow and
wind travelled from the region OF Cal
gary, a distance OF over twelve hundred
miles, reaching Minnesota In the night.
The storm extends over vast stretch
,of country, and came upon Minnesota
SO unexpectedly and with such terrific
force that 1t has fairly stunned the
State, and business pertaining to out
doors Is absolutely suspended. For ten
days the weather had been balmy and
springlike. Not a vestige of snow was
on Minnesota soil, and everywhere
farmers were preparing for spring seed
ing. In the cities storm sash had been
taken down, furnaces were banked,
and spring house-cleaning was In
progress. A warm rain began
falling during the night, and
toward midnight strong breeze sprang
up that had increased to gale by day
light. It changed the rain to snow and
sleet and drove 1t furiously before 1t at
an increasing velocity. By the time day
had dawned a full-hedged blizzard ex-
tended from the western limits Of the
State over into Wisconsin and south
through Iowa. The mercury fell rapidly,
and the snow was frozen into particles
like sand, which were driven at a veloc-
ity Of fifty miles an hour. Owing to
the audiences OF the storm 1t Is feared
that many lives have been lost In North
Dakota, as the conditions were the same
as those which preceded the great bliz-
zard OF few years ago, when 80 many
people perished.
The extent and damage Of the storm
are impossible to learn at this time, as
wires are down on every line to the
west and the balance of the State shut
out entirely. All westward railroads re-
port that station houses were unroofed
along their lines and thus the wires were
thrown down. Not single western or
southwestern road is attempting to keep
up a schedule, and on most Of them not
awheel is turning.
Previous billiards In Minnesota have
been confined to the prairie districts and
have given st. Paul a wide birth, but
this hurricane fell upon the capital with
hnexampled fury. Great drifts of snow
were piled upon the streets and about
doorways, blocking up traffic and making
pedestrlanism nearly impossible. The
cable lines were operated only by con-
slant use OF plows and sweepers, and the
electric lines were run only at irregular
intervals, while many lines we're wholly
abandoned. The wind came In fierce
gusts which could not be faced, and the
streets one moment would be piled three
feet deep In snow and the next swept
clean. Every public school was closed,
the first time for such cause in fifteen
years. The telephone and fire alarm
wires were in constant difficulty and the
telegraph companies accepted western
business subject to indefinite delay.
At Grand Forks the storm was so Sc
we're that the hackmen refused busi-
ness, and the large audience at the Me-
tropolitan Theater was forced to remain
until almost daylight before the storm
abated sufficiently.
Fergus Falls, Mimi, reports great
damage done to roofs and glass, and
that it is dangerous for men to cross the
street.
At Winnipeg two houses were thrown
down. The Thermometer fell go degrees
at Northfield In few hours.
AT Crookston several thousand dollars
worth of property was destroyed by the
high winds. Plate-glass windows were
smashed and goods ruined by snow and
carried away by the wind. Residences
all over the city were unroofed.. Limbs
OF trees six inches In diameter were
snapped of. All city and county Offices
and schools were closed, and all trains
have been abandoned. Other places In
the State report terrific winds and low
temperature.
At Waterloo, Iowa, the storm reached
It's height at noon, tearing of many
roofs, breaking plate-glass, windows,
and Oversurning carriages. Two hacks
were overturned on the bridges and one
man was seriously injured. No covered
vehicles attempted to cross the river.
Telegraph wires are down, and all trains
age late. The mercury fell over 10 de-
grees in twenty-four hours.
In the vicinity Of Cedar Rapids the
storm was extremely severe, and the
mercury dropped so degrees In few
hours.
At Chicago the thermometer marked
A degrees at noon and at midnight reg
istefed but degrees above zero. A
three-story frame building, in process OF
construction, was blown down and two
persons were so badly injured that it is
thought they will die.
An Aurora. ILL.,, dispatch says: About
noon heavy sn0wstorm struck this city.
II gradually grew worse and finally de-
veloped into terrific blizzard, which
ragged with considerable fury. The mer-
curry fell 80 degrees In few hours. The
streets were deserted and business prac-
tically suspended.
tits thought the reported damage and
loss Of life will be greatly augmented
when reliable telegraphic communica-
tion is again established.