Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-02-15
THE WORLD SNOW BOUND.
THE WORST STORM EVER E X
PERIENCED IN VIRGINIA.
TRAINS BURIED IN THE SNOW AND ALL
TRAFFIC. SUSPENDED.

! TRAFFIC SUSPENDED.
The weather bulletin of Thursday, OF
last week, predicted violent storm APP
preaching this section from the direction
OF Alab ma, and a special received at
the pest Office here in the afternoon con-
fleming the morning report, and warned
us that the " ind would he a most furious
one accompanie led with snow and intense
coli. These predictions were more than
verified. Daring the night the wind at
tained force that was simply terrific
while the Thermometer began to drop
down aud the Geld grew intense. The
storm continued with unabat0d ylolice
throughout Friday and that night and
far iutO Saturday night. The snow
which was very light aud dry was rlfted
worse than our oldest people ever saw 1t
1t was dr. wen INTO the smallest cIeVaces,
and it was only by keeping up roaring
fires day and night that many persons
could he 1T all conf Ortable.
Many of our country reads were block
ed 40 completely that travel was only
possible by taking to the fields.
The Valley Division of the B. & U. R.
R, was blocked at many points, and
engines and trains could be found stick
ing in the huge drifts that filled the cuts
| a along the roaf.
From Thursday night until Sun day
evening the only wheels turning on the
whole road was a passenger train with
two engines which managed to keep
moving between Woodstock and Stras-
burg, and part of the time not even that
distance aud az they could not reach a
wafer station the tanks OF the engines
were filled fr'n cisterps here by means
Of the ire engine. brigade Of forty
three men gathered up in this place by
AGENT Chapman and section boss John
Rielsy, went to work on the huge drift
near Narrow Passage on Sunday and in
few hours had cleared the way for the
train here to get through to Harrison.
burg, which it did t bat evening.
The worst blockade on the road was al
points between CharlestOwn, W. Va, and
| Winchester, Va, section of the roaC
that has suffered in this way before bu
never as badly as on this occasion. A
short distance south of Stephenson
passenger train was almost buried from
sight while between that point and WIN
chester two engines which had stated tC
help this train, were in the same fix
Three large consolidated engines whicl
left Harper's Ferry 10 open the rcaC
stuck fast near HalltOwn, the front ont
iumpiug the track in big drift and thus
Completing matters badly. At kerns-
town two more engines struck fast in The
snow and had to be abaudO ned.
On Monday the road was opened from
Winchester south and several trains weI'
moving over It, but the hundreds o
hands did not succeed in getting train
through the block north of the above
place until Tuesday evening, the frs
train from the north bringing passengers
mail and express reaching this place OF
that night at IL o'clock. 1t brought
big accumulation Of anxiOusly looked fo
mail aud papers for this place, as well a.
lot of express matter. Supt. Prince, o
the Valley Division, has been untirlng II
his Efforts to get the .rains out and tn
road opened, as we'll as IN his kind,
Efforts to relieve and make cOmfOrtabl
the snow bound passengers. All tn
officials, tranmen and road bands baY
been doing their level best to get thing
going Agent Chapman, Of this place, !
whole team in himself, and the B. & o
hasn't more efficient or obiging oficia
in its service. John Rely and job
I Howe, the section masters at this point
r have done their full duty, as well as eyer
7 hand under them.
O. The first freight train since IhursdS
: arrived here from the north on Wedne;
: day afternoon.
The Cumberland Valley R. X whicl
has its southern terminus at Winchester
was in as hard luck as the b. q O.,
being badly blocked and its tIains snow
cd up at different points.
/ The Shenandoah Valley branch of tn
IN. & w. K. R., had its trains stopps
and mail communications cut of alon
the line.
Our mSnthly court on Monday Wa
l. more slimly attended than any since th
e war, a uumber of people coming in
y seighs bringing shoyels with them to di
6 through the drifts.
1t was unquestionably one Of the uors
+ S erms that has visited this section With
= thememOry of any one now living an
will long be remem bered.