St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-02-23
THE BLIZZARD.
IT Blew Hard and the Snow was Piled
High-The Worst Day of the Season
Schools Closed and Business 0uiet


This is Minnesota blizzard!"
So said citizen of the village on
Monday morning, as he urged his
team along through the drifts that
had taken possession Of the streets
while the community slept.
And he was as near right as he
could be. The wind was howliug
with demon-like fury, the air was
thick with falling snow as well as
with snow which had fallen once
and had then been picked up by the
gale and flung into the faces OF those
whom necessity had driven out on
the streets. Only those who had to
be out ventured to show themselves.
The wind and the drifts had their
own way, and the force of the gale
was unusually terrific. With the
surrounding hills levelled to give the
breeze fair chance we should have
had blizzard that would have done
credit to the wild West, from whence
come the stories of winds that lift
houses up bodily and play with them
as il they were but toy structures.
The blizzard was surprise to
everyone save the few individuals
who were about in the wee sma
hours and could tell by the shrieking
Of the gale that something was
up"
1t was the worst storm of the sea-
son and was by no means local af-
fair. 1t was felt all along the line,
and all over New England. Trains
were delayed and business seriously
interiered with 1t was perilous for
the children to be out, and only a
few of them dared to start tor
school and educational work was al
most entirely suspended-or at least
badly broken into-for the day. The
blizzard had quieting effect OF
trade" so called, and the store:
were not crowded. The wind, for
tunately, did no damage hereabouts
though it was fierce enough to war
rant some anxiety on that score
ST. Johnsbury has seldom seen 4
a worse day, for weather, than last
Monday.
Trains on the Lake road were or
time over the eastern end OF the line
but all trains were cancelled through
the White Mountains. Supt. Bios
som had two snow plows iE con
stant service on the western part o
the line and the track was kept pretty
clear over Walden heights" The
Hyde Park train coming East wa:
stalled at Danville in trying to SCI
off some cars and this accident de
layed traffic all day. Early in the
evening the transit service was re
sumed and the road was opened
Trains were from three to six hour:
late on the Passumpsic road and the
noon train going north was not rur
above Lyndonville.
Reports from different parts of The
country show that the storm ragec
widely. At Concord, N. H., outdoor
business was suspended for some
time; at Hanover the streets were
impossible, and no attempts were
made to open the public schools; al
Lewiston, Me-, two feet of snow fel
and the wind blew gale; at West
Randolph it was the worst blizzaro
for years; throughout New Hamp
shire trains were delayed; at Water
bury mercury dropped 250 in five
hours, and the storm was at it:
worst. Business was at discount
at many points, and in New Yorl
and other harbors much damage
was done to shipping.
Nearly 20 inches of snow fell yes
terday, which is the heaviest storm
for many years. The wind started
up in the early evening and there
were heavy drifts this morning. AL
trains on the Passumpsic road were
about six hours late.
PERSONAL MENTION