The herald., 1894-03-22
A HOWLING MARCH BLIZZARD,
Plains East of the Rockies
ShrOuded in Snow.
The Union Pacific and other Lines
Of Traffic Blocked
Thousands OF Cattle Perished - some
Loss of Human Life Reported.
The Storm Gradually Nov
ing Eastward.
Rr the Aasociatad Pros.

By the Associated Press
OMAHA, March 81. - The blizzard
which developed in the northwestern
part of the state last night Ia moving
slowly but steadily towards the Mis-
souri, river. Its progress is marked by
drifts from six inches to two feet deep
and a general blockade of business.
Dispatches received tonight from
points in the interior of the
state indicate that the storm has
travelled eastward about 15O miles in "a
hours. At North Platte, Neb., the drifts
are from two to four feet deep. The
Union Pacific line is completely blocked.
All trains are abandoned. and number
are blockaded between stations. Snow
plows are out, and efforts are being made
to clear the tracks.
Kearney, Hyannis, EIsi, Nc Cook,
and other points report snow deep and
drifting badly. 1t is not very cold,
but the mercury ie below the freezing
point, ranging from 10 to 20 degrees
above zero. The Burlington lines IN
the northern parts of the state and the
Black hills are badly blocked.
A mensage from Buffalo, Wyo., says;
The storm here has assumed the pro-
portions OF one OF the worst billiards. in
the history Of this section. 1t is feared
that the ranges will be covered with
cattle succumbing to the exposure OF
blizzard, and the sheep-owners are al
most in despair. The recent warm wealth
or makes the situation all the worse.
Telegraph wires are in very bad shape
and have been useless for hours. There
are rumors of deaths from the exposure,
but these can be neither verified nor
contradicted as it is next to impossible
to take any action to find out the truth.
One cow man belonging to ranch Ii
miles north OF Douglas rode into town
last night and reported having been sep
srated from companion In the height
of the blizzard and that the
horse of the other man was exhausted.
Reports from the neighDoring ranches,
meagrely as they come in, indicate that
the property loss will be great Thou
sands of cattle are known to be OIL their
usual winter quarters, and flr from
shelter of any kind. 1t will be impos-
sible to save these from almost total
destruction unless the blizzard breaks
by noon. Similar are the reports re-
The farmers in the central part OF Ne
braska welcome the snow, as the ground
has been too hard in many places to
work. There will be but little damage
to winter wheat, as the snow is deep
enough to prevent the ground from
freezing.
At midnight the mercury at this
point ia falling rapidly, indicating that
the storm 10 not far off.
DEADwooD, S. D., March 2l.-The
worst storm of the season commenced
Monday night and has kept up ever
since. The snow is about four feet deep
on a level and 10 still coming down. Tel
egraphic communication from Sun
Dance and He'll Fourche states that
snow is falling at both places and ex-
tends to all cattle ranges. 1t is believed
the loss to the cattlemsn will be heavy.
Neither the Elkhorn nor the Burlington
and Missouri river trains arrived today,
the former being showed up st Hays
springs and the latter east OF Alliance.
All trains on the Burlington end Mis-
souri, are abandoned west Of Edgar.
The present indications are that the
snow will rival in depth the memorable
storm OF March 7th, 8th and 9th of
1873, when it fell to depth Of six feet.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., March 2l.-The
worst storm of the season has been
raging all over this state for the past SO
hours and it is still blowing, though
with decreased severity. Csttlemen cay
the loss of range cattle will be very
great, Trains are badly belated. No
train has arrived from the east today,
and all trains, including the fast mail.
have been abandoned until tomorrow.
Indications are that it will be very cold
tonight, with continuation of the
storm tomorrow morning.
CHADRoN, Neb., March 21.-One Of the
worst blizzards ever known has been
raging all over Western Nebraska, East
ern Wyoming and South Dakota eince 2
o'clock Yesterday. All trains are absn-
doned. The loss of live stock will be
heavy. 1t ia feared some people in the
country, especially school children, may
have perished in the storm.
AKRON. Col, March 2l.--It has snow
ed here continuously for over so hours
and the storm does not seem to be
abatinQ. There is a high wind and the
storm is hard on stock, but the snow
will be of incalulahle benefit to farmers
in Eastern Colorado.
Du1urH., Mimi, March 2l.-A blizzard
started in here tonight, and has in
creased steadily ever since. Electric
wires. which are ice-coated by the early
rain, have given way before the wind.
The city js practically without a tele-
phone, police or fire alarm system, and
the electric lights are cut. Damage to
the amount of several thousand dollars
has already been done.
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