The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-02-14

CHICAGO, Feb. IA BLIZZARD OF the
most approved pattern. with snow sleet
and an energetic wind swept down on
Chicago last night, and today ragged
with constantly increasing violence
Great snow drifts blocked the streets
suburban trains We're delayed and snow
sweepers were kept constantly in use to
prevent stoppage of the street car lines.
traffic on which was badly delayed. At
noon the wind was blowing at the rate
of seventy miles an hour. with indica-
tons that the storm would continue
through the night with the coolest
weather OF the year. All incoming
trains are from one To two hours late,
and the roads are becoming worse block
AIDED. The wind rushed around the
down town corners with terrific force
carrying pedestrians off their feet and
injuring many. Mrs. Jane Brahany was
hurled against a fire plug at Dearborn
and Van Buren-sts. and fatally injured.
Many carriages on Michigan-ave., where
the wind sweeps straight off the lake,
were overturned, but none Of the occu-
pants were seriously injured. Lake
Michigan was lashed into a fury and the
waves rushed over the breakwater and
swept across the Illinois Central tracks
into Lake Front park.
So severe was the storm that at the
public schools only about one-third OF
the pupils We're present. Many of the
teachers were absent. as wen as most Of
the scholars. Business at the stock
yards was suspended. A large observa-
tion window in the Leland hotel was
blown in and several guests narrowly
escaped.
Increased i'm Violence.
During the afternoon the storm in
creased in violence, the wind At times
rising 10 velocity of seveuty-tive miles
an hour and the snow growing heavier.
1t was the worst storm Chicago has ever
known and by I O'Clock in the afternoon
business OF all kinds was at a standstiH.
At that time the big office buildings were
practically deserted. people having start
ed for home in order to do their travel
ing before nightfall. Trains were terri
bly, delayed during the afternoon and
tonight most of the eastern roads did
not send out trains Of any kind. The
New York limited on the Erie pulled out
al o'clock with two engines and three
hours later was twelve miles from Chi
Cago. stuck fast and two additional ones
which had been sent after il could do no
good. The incoming New York limited
on the same line stuck in a snow-ban6
at FOurteenth-st-. one mile from the
depot, and six engines gave it up as a
bad job.
The Rock Island started out one pas
senger train and IL came back after run
ming something over mile in three
hours. The same conditions prevailed
on all lines. and this evening most of
them declared that unless the storm
moderated by midnight. they would not
attempt 10 turn a wheel
4 Wreck Occurs.
Owing to the driving snow. which made
1t impossible to see fifty feet, a wreck
occurred ON the Lake Shore road at
Seventy-ninth-st. and Stony Island-ave.
The fireman, Luther S. Webster of Elk
hart, Ind. was caught between the en-
Rine and tender and badly crushed.
Several freight cars were knocked into
kindling wood.
On the streets collisions and accidents
were numerous Charles Chase, driver
of a bakery wagon, received a broken
leg when his vehicle was overturned by
the wind. w Il. Cunningham was
blown down by gust of wind as he was
;passing the corner of WabaSh-ave. and
-Adams-st. His left arm was broken and
he was badly bruised.
Moses Bloom. jr., member of the board
of trade. was badly injured while on his
way to the board. A gust of wind car
ried him twenty feet and he struck
against the cuTbstOne, fracturing his
wrist John II. Wood, manager of Car
son. Pierre Scott & Co.'S retail store
was truck by falling sign and painful
j. injured
Dangerous Spot.
An exceedingly dangerous spot to pc
destrians was directly behind the Ma
sonic Temple, which is twenty-five stor-
fes high. The wind was drawn down the
narrow alley behind 1t at an awful rate
and whoever attempted TO cross the alley
was blown off the sidewalk and was
very fortunate if he kept his feet So
many people We're injured here that Il
special detail Of police was made to keep
every body off the side of the street
The new addition Of the pOstoffice was
badly damaged, windows were blown in
and the glass roof shattered. Snow an
inch deep covered the floor and the
water dripped through the roof, softened
the plaster covering of the beams and
great Jumps Of the plaster fell to the
floor superintendent OF Carriers StoH
was struck on the arm by a larges tucco
ornament and badly bruised.
The gale from the lake continued fu-
riously well into the night without abate-
ment and before it was driven a blind
ing snow. Drifts six or more feet deep,
which formed in the streets along the
lake front. made them impossible. The
high wind caused numerous fires and it
was almost impossible for the firemen
TO get through the streets. The street
car tracks were practically blocked by
vehicles and the snow was too deep on
the sides OF the street to admit OF any
progress at all -Four and six horses
We're put on each fire engine and even
then with the most desperate efforts one |
block In five minutes was excellent prog
greSs.
At IL O'Clock the storm showed signs Of
dying out and the wind was abating
somewhat
Dispatches tonight from all over north |
ern Illinois. southern Wisconsin ard !