The morning call., 1894-03-22
STOCKMEN OFF THEIR GUARD
Thousands of Sheep and Cattle
Will Be Lost.
TRAINS HAVE BEEN ABANDONED
The Herds Are Far From Their
Usual Winter Quarters and
Have No Shelter at All.

OMAHA, March 21.-Ihe blizzard which
developed in the northwestern part of the
State last night is moving slowly but
steadily toward the Missouri River. Its
progress is marked by drifts from six
inches 10 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 80
miles in twenty-fnur hours. At North
Platte, Nebr.. the drifts are from two to
four feet deep and the Union Pacific line is
completely blocked. Ali trains are aban-
doned and a number are blockaded be-
tween stations. Snowplows are out and
efforts are being made 10 clear the tracks.
kearney, Hyannis, Elsie, McCook and
other points report the snow deep and
drifting badly. 1t is not very cold, but
the mercury is below the freezing point,
ranging T. ON ten TO twenty degrees above
The Burlington lines in the west and
northern part Of the State and in the Black
II lis are badly blocked. A message from
Buffalo, Wyo., says:
The storm here has assumed the propor-
tions of one of the worst billiards in the
history of this section. 1t is feared that
the anges will be covered with cattle sue
cumbing to the exposure of the blizzard,
and the sheep-Owner rs are almost in 6e-
spalr. The recent warm weather makes
the situation ali the worse.
Telegraph wires are in very bad shape
an d have been useless for hours. There
are rumors of deaths from exposure, but
these can be neither verified nor contra
dicted, as it is next TO impossible TO take
81
| man, belonging TO a ranch eleven miles
north of Douglass, rode into town last
night and reported having been separated
from eompan on in the height of the bliz-
I'd. ana the horse of the other man was
exhausted.
Reports from the neighboring ranches.
meager as they come in, indicate that the
property loss will be great. Thousands of
cattle are known to be off their usual win
ter quarters and far from shelter Of any
kind. 1t will be impossible to save these
| from almost total destruction unless the
blizzard breaks by noon.
Similar reports are received from all
over the stock ranges. The farmers in
the central part of Nebraska welcome the
snow, as the ground has been too hard in
many places to work. There will De but
is deep enough TO prevent the ground
from treezng. At midnight the mercury
at this point is falling rapidly, indicating
that the storm is not far off.
CHEYENNE. Wyo., March 21.-The worst
storm of the season has been raging all
over this State for the past thirty-six
hours and it is still blowing. though with
decreased severity. Catlemen say the
loss of range cattle will be very great.
Trains are badly belated. No train has
| arrived from the East In this city to-day,
and all trains, including the fast mail,
have been abandoned until tomorrow.
The indications are that it will be very
! culd tonight, with continuation of the
storm until tomorrow morning.
CHADRoN, Nebr., March 2I.-One of the
worst bl yards ever known has been rag
ing all over Western n braska, Eastern
Wyoming and S nth Dakota since O'Clock
yesterday. All trims are abandoned.
The loss Of livestock will be heavy. 1t Is
feared some people in the country, es-
pecially school-childreD, may have per-
| isbed in the storm.
AKRON, Colo, March 21.-It has showed
here continuously for over thirty hours,
and the storm does Tot seem to be abating.
There is a high wind. and the storm is
hard on stock. but the snow will be of in
calculable benefit to farmers in Eastern
Colorado.
DEADwooD. S. D., March q. - The
worst sn0wstorm of the season commenced
here Monday night and has kept up ever
since. The snow is about four feet deep
on level and is still coming down. Tele-
graphic communication from Sun Dance
and Belle Fourche states that snow is fall
ing at both places and extends to all cattle
ranches.
| 1t is believed the loss to the cattlemen
will be heavy. Neither the Elkhorn nor
the Burlington and Missouri River arrived
to-day, the former being showed up at
HAYS Springs and the latter east of AL
lance. All trains on the Burlington and
Missouri River are abandoned west of
Edgar. The present indications are that
the snow will rival in depth the memora-
BILE storm of March z. and 8, 1878. when
il fe to depth of six feet.
FORT MORGAN. Coio., March 21.-The