The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-02-28
SWEPT BY 4 BLIZZARD.
TT RACED FROM NEW YORK
TO OMAHA.

TO OMAHA.
Came Out of the Southwest-With a
Front Of Thousand Miles IT
Rushed Across the Country Sea-
ward-Snow, Sleet and High Old
Winds.
A blizzard nearly five times greater in its
area than the historic storm Of March, 1888,
swept up from the Southwest and ragged with
great severity throughout the Northern,
Eastern and Western States. Its front was
a thousand miles wide. From Virgin'a
southward the country was wet; from Viz
pinia northward It was white.
New York escaped anything like tne sever
ity of 1888. but the snowfall was easily tue
greatest Of the secson, and th9 snow ana
moderate wind Of early afternoon became
hail and wind of cyclonic force at mldnlgnt.
The storm area was a vast, irregular pear,
its southern edge resting upon Florida, its
northern boundary at Eastport, Me-, reacn-
ing Davenport, Iowa, to the westward ana
falling far OF the Long Island coast TO tne
eastward. The main storm passed on to the
eastward OF the Delaware Capes and centred
beyond them.
4 new storm centre was then formed In the
rear Of the first disturbance, its centre penS
between Cleveland, Ohio, and Detroit, Mlch,
With an unusual snowfall in all the country
thereabouts.
In New York City it clogged up the street
RAILWAYS, and It was with much difficulty
that the cars could bs dragged over the md
den rails. The surface cars went by IN tow
of four horses, and the cable lines were
taxed to their utmost capacity. The sectlon
of the Third avenue cable road from Sixth
street to the Postoface was where
the effects OF the storm were
most felt. The wagons all the way down
the avenue delayed the cars at intervals, and
many of the passengers, becoming disguised
with the long waits at every few blocks, got
ont and walked From Grand street to the
CITY Eall the elevated railroad tracks formed
a sort of dark tunnel. and to prevent acci-
dents guards with red lanterns were sta
toned along the track to warn the grlpmen
when anything was In the way.
Traffic OF all kinds was lmpeded and the
Inconvenience to pedestrians was SO great
that none but those who were compelled to
ventnred on the streets. Railroad traffic was
demoralized. All the trains were behind
timeI and the mails from the South and
West, where the storm got in ita
Ane work. were greatly delayed.
Great difficulty was experienced In
getting in telegraph messages from the
Sonth and West. The storm played havoc
With the trolley cars in Brooklyn, Jersey
CITY. Newark and the suburbs. Those IN
Long Island City were almost compieteiy
stopped. Those who returned to Long
Island City after the theaters let out had to
walk home The snow plows IN use maoe
little headway against the storm,
On the Long Island and New Jersey shores
the storm had a free sweep. The sea ere
ated by the wind dashed high upon the
beaches and did considerable damage.
An along the shore of Lake Erie the storm
ragged with great fury, and, the heavy OH
shore wind, in driving the water with ire
mendous force up the lake. caused tne cut
ting off OF the entire water supply IRON tne
city OF Dunkirk. n. Y. One couid wax OUT
dry shod to the nearest crib, which is six
hundred feet from shore to shore. and at the
outer crib. fifteen hundred feet from shore,
the usual depth of nine feet OF water was
reduced to thres feet, leaving the Intake
pipe above water.
Reports from along the Hudson River near
Kingston say that large forces OF men were
put to work storing the Ice crop, but thar
owing to the severity of the storm WORK had
to be suspended. 49,.
The blizzard was The worst which ever
struck Chicago, ILL.,, so far as the Weather
Bureau records show for twenty-three
wears. Street traffic was greatly impeded,
and walking was accompanied with great
danger 10 life and limb. Many persons were
injured by being blown to the ground. against
walls and street posts by the wind. The
velocity was eighty miles an hour; at
the corners where "sky scrapers are
built, especially the Monadnock and Annex
block, dozens Of women were lifted on their
feet and blown 10 the ground, or else pushed
across the street until they came in violent
contact with walls, posts and other obstruc-
tIons. The driving snow made signals on
railroad tracks practically useless and caused
a collision between two freight trains on the
Lake Shore traces near Seventy-ninth street
and Stohy Island avenue about noon.
The worst snow storm In years ragged all
over Kansas and Missouri. and not single
train in the two States was on time. The
snow averaged from foot to two. feet on
the level. High winds accompanied It and
at some points in cuts it is twenty or thirty
feet deep. At many places the schools were
closed. In towns with street railways the
service was paralyzed. This was particularly
trueof Kansas City, Leavenworth, Topeka
and Fort Scott. The snow was dry and the
telegraph service was not injured.
Nebraska was snowbound in the strictest
sense OF the word. For twenty-four hours
terrific blizzard prevailed throughout tho
State, lpiling the snow in enormous drifts.
With few exceptions Omaha traffic of every
description was suspended. Trains in every
direction were abandoned. Reports from the
interior show stock in good condition, and
farmers are pleased with the immense snow
fall, as it assures fine winter wheat crop.
Advices from the interior of Wisconsin are
to the effect that the storm ragged everywhere
and that railway travel was considerably i'm
peded.
A high wind-storm passed through Central
and Southwestern Kentucky. Reports of
damage are received from many interior
points.
! The storm ragged violently all over Ohio.
In a binding snowstorm, which ragged
all the morning, freight train No. 40, west
bound, and east bound light freight No. Is
on the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad
came into collision two miles west of Belle
vue, Ohio. Both engines and several freight
cars were smashed and pilee up in confusion.
Both engineers, fireman and brakeman
were killed. ...