Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-12
THE STORM.
Passenger snowbound for Night ON the
Mountains.

The worst storm in many years has been rag
ing for about twenty hours past on the noun
tains near Ebensburg, Pa. Tuesday night the
passengers on the Ebensburg branch train,
which was driftej in, were held there nearly all
night in the open country, and many Of them
nearly perished with cold.
Engineer Zahn started on the return trip
from Cresson about o'clock, confident that he
could take his train through. but at Kaylor's,
where the Reading road branches of, half
frozen switchman in the binding storm turned
the wrong switch and the train took the wrong
track. II is stated that no provision had been
made for protecting the engineer and fireman
! in the cab, and that when the mistake was made
the engineer became SO frozen that he could
not handle his machine and the fireman ran the
| train back to the misplaced switch.
In the meantime the snow began to pile on
the track, SO that the engine could not be
pushed through and in an hour from the time
the train was stalled the drifts had covered the
engine and smothered the drafts, so that the
| fires went out and the machine was helpless.
The disabled engineer was taken to a coach and
given the best treatment possible under the cir
cumstances
hungry passenger managed to find a farm
house and procured some food. On his return
to the train he was several times on the point
| OF abandoning the supplies he was carrying.
but persevered and got through with frosted
eXtremities. stiff with cold that he had to be
| lifted into the car
The storm ragged all night and with the ther-
mometer at that point (l20 below zero) it was a
was removed to the nearest farm house and il
reported to be in a dangerous condition. The
| train had to be abandoned and the passengers
managed to reach the main line during the day.
ICE IN THE BAY.
Except for a narrow track in the channel
kept open by state steamers and tugboats, says
a special to the Baltimore Sun, there is a solid
mass of ice extending from Annapolis harbor
| into the bay as far the eye can reach and
| across to Kent Island.
Beyond Horn Point the Anne Arundel side is
clear a considerable distance out from the
shore, and vessels were sailing about in these
waters yesterday.
Both state steamers are kept busy assisting
the sailing vessels Of the oyster police fleet,
some of which are frozen up. The schooner May
Brown, Capt. Martin. arrived yesterday. con-
siderably cut by the ice. but not disabled
enough to prevent her keeping guard over the
oyster bars. Capt. Martin says that there is no
dredging whatever on his beat
The steamer McLane, Capt. Turner, carried
coal to the local oyster schooner W. T. Willing
at Herring bay, in the lower part of Anne
Arundel county. Both steamers have been
supplied with ammunition to be distributed to
the vessels of the force
The tug Volunteer, Capt. Leitch, picked up
at Thomas Point the three-masted schooner
Ellen NJ. Golden, Capt Hanson, bound to Bal
| timore, in ballast, from Boston. When $50
miles ont the schooner encountered heavy
gale, which blew away her main gait. She was
just week coming from Boston.
The tug Peerless, Capt. Williams, towed in for
harbor the Annie T. Edwards from Charleston.
loaded with phosphate rock.
The state steamer Gov. McLane, Capt Tur-
ner. returned to Annapolis yesterday afternoon.
having supplied the police schooner VIM. T.
Willing, at Herring bay, with coal. Capt
Waters Ford. of the schooner. drove to Annap-
oils In buggy after ammunition, u distance of
about forty miles, and in returning was so FROST
bitten about the ears that he is considered Sc
rlously ILL., His mate, Robert T. Iowes was in
charge of the vessel yesterday. In comn g to An
napolis Capt. Turner discovered pungy ashore
on Three Sisters Island bar. The steamer could
not reach the boat, which was apparently not
In distress, on account of shoal water Capt
turner says the ice was very heavy.
The thermometer at st. Mary's Catholic
Church yesterday morning between and
O'Clock registered degrees below zero 1t is
said to have been several degrees below at the
Naval Academy. For the first time since 1872
the water pipes in the steam building through
which fresh and salt water fow were frozen
and could not be used
SUFFERING AT ANNAPOLIS.
Merchants of Annapolis, like the oystermen,
suffer considerably on account of the freeze.
and everybody talks hard times. The OYSTER
packing houses are at standstill and shuckers
have been without employment for several DAYS
Many homes are reported to be without food
on account OF the stagnation in the oyster in
dustry, and but for the generous people of An
napolis there would be much suffering among
families dependent upon the water for living
An oyster shucker who applied for aid yesterday
said he was OIL the verge of committing suicide
/ a in 6aatt ty,$a nd.
principally among the watermen, who have not
been able to work for several weeks. The pres
ent weather gives them no encouragement.
ICE IN THE POTOMAC.
The I. s. revenue steamer Crawford,
Capt. ]. c. Mitchell, arrived from a cruise
down the bay. The steamer attempted to pro-
coed up the Potomac, but ice prevented going
more than twenty-five miles.
Running up the bay Tuesday from the
PatuXent river against northwest gale ice
could be seen as far down as Hollands Point or
Sharps Island. No vessels were found in dis
tress. The Crawford will leave today for a
cruise down the bay.
The tugboats Peerless, Volunteer and Stella
of Dougherty's feet came from Baltimore yes
terday.
morning. Two of the tugs stuck in the ice in
the Patapsco which is reported to be at least
fifteen inches thick in some places. The tug
Penwood also passed in the river.
IN MARYLAND.
Not for many years has the thermometer
registered as low ut Westminster, Nd, as early
yesterday morning, when il ranged from l to
degrees below zero at several places in town
In no part did it go beyond l or 2 degrees
above zero. but during the day it moderated
slightly. Water pipes froze in many houses
and the plumbers were kept busy all day. The
cold spell has been longer and more severe than
at any time since 1872, beginning at Christmas
and continuing without intermission to the
present time. The water supply cut off
from two-thirds of the houses in town. Only a
few sleighs were out as the snow is much
drifted on the country roads.
Tuesday night was the coolest night of the
season at Crisfeld Some Of the oldest inhabit-
ants say it was the coolest night since 1857
The thermometer registered 2 degrees above
zero yesterday morning at o'clock.
The herbor ut Crisfield and the Tangier sound
is frozen solid far as the eye can reach
Oysters very scarce and high and many Of
the packing houses have closed until the freeze
breaks.
The steamer Eastern Shore, which was due
Tuesday night. did not arrive until yesterday at
8 o'clock pm. She got into the mouth of the
river last Tuesday, but was compelled to anchor
near Old Island on account of the wind, which
was blowing a gale. and heavy ice Capt
Rayner says it was the coolest night that he
ever saw, his glass going down to zero during
the night The steamer will remain until fur
Their orders