Frederick citizen., 1895-02-15

sHsNioC obu thC WItlu bU SlIOtlR
t1at it was tIrture to face it. The dif-
ferent gangs reached here about IL 30
p. M, and the four heavy locomotives.
with loud ringing bells and hearty
Cheering by the men, told the people
that the track was cleared and the
snow-bOund men relieved. The next
! day the trains were run on regular
schedule time with few delays, surely
an admirable showing.
None of the county roads have been
op med, although MANY men have been
employed IN clearing the pixies. There
never has been such acOnplele e blockade
IN this county. No mails arrived here
except from adjacent postoffices, for
several days, and then only by circu-
itous routes through fields. All the
snow seemed lodged in the roads, as
many OF the fields have little or no
snow on them. 1t would take many
thousands OF dollars TO clear these
roads. The great trouble will come
when thaw sets in.
Numerous incidents have happened
in connection with the great storm
which cannot be collected in shape to
publish. Conflicting accounts are
heard of this and that experience and
many wild and wonderful tales are 90
ing the rounds. But only those who
have encountered the severity of the
snow drifts and the chilling winds can
appreciate the situation. Great suffer-
ing Is reported and some loss of stock.
No fatality, as far as human life is con-
cerned, has been heard of, but accounts
of frozen feet, hands and ears have
been numerous. Eggs, milk and but
ter have been quite scarce here since
Thursday and bring round price. The
provision market is fairly well stocked
and things are gradually assuming
their natural level again.
Conductor G. j. McCarty in charge
OF the p. r. r. train arriving in this
city at l0.35 a. m., came in half an
hour late on Tuesday last. He had
been snow-bound from Friday until
Monday night, when he reached Col
tmhia. His experience was anything
but enjoyable, although from appear
ances, one would not suppose he had
been for nearly eighty hours battling
with heavy snow drifts and chilling
winter winds. He had forty-one men
working under him, and ON Friday
night all hands had to abandon SHOW
elling and seek refuge i'm the cars. But
Tor let up in the heavy gale that as
blowing, so the men could make some
progress with their work, it is possible
that t he road would yet be held by the
snow-king. Provisions were furnished
by kind hearted people along the route,
and at one store the men purchased
all the cigars, chewing and smoking
tablcco, hankerchiefs, rubber and
leather boots in stock. Water was had
by melting snow. Meals were taken
every twelve hours with will, backed
up by ferocious appetites. Capt. Nc
! Carly says that his engine was literally
covered with crusted snow from pilot
to coal tender and around the boiler it
caked six inches thick.
1t is variOusly estimated that the
cost the railroad companies will be put
to in this State to clear their tracks for
travel of the snow which now impedes
perfect progress, will be in the neigh
borhood of $50, 900, which in addition
the amount expended by the turn
pike companies, will run the sum to-
tai of damages or loss caused by the
storm, ii this respect alone, up to $751;
600. In many places men We're scarce
at 20 and 25 cents an hour and some
of the coldest days workmen stopped,
unable to proceed on account of frozen
hands or feet. Some crews worked
continuously for forty-eight hours
without rest and scarce ratiOns. The
Baltimore and Ohio and Pennsylvania
officials deserve great credit for their
prompt and energetic efforts made to
| place this city in connection with the
outside world. For three days no
mail came in or went out and the ac-
| cumulation took many hours to dis
tribute when it did arrive. All trains
are now running on schedule time.
1t was noticeable fact that during
the heighth of the SNOW blockade,
which is even now eXistant, when
there was call made by railIo ID and
turnpike companies for men TO help
clear u passage way through the heavy
drifts, and wages of Is to 90 cents per
hour offered, very few, if any, of the
many idle colOred men, who thr0ng
the street corners and petition humhly
for help in their pictured destitutiou,
took advantage of the golden opportu-
nifty To earn II few dollars to help along
during the cold weather. These are
the objects of our charity. Of course,
there were eXcel ti0ns, as in most any
case, but exceedingly few. Ga the
other hand, our young mechanics and
lab0rers anxious to get chance to
work and make an honest penny APP
piled at the above places aud were sue
cessful. Idle and loafing persons,
white or colored, when work is at
hand, deserve no pity or charitable al
| lowance.
ANOTHER BLIZZARD AND BLOCKADE.
We had return of snow, cold
weather and high drifting winds on
Tuesday night, lasting until late on
the following day. Snow began fall
ing about seven o'clock and the next
morning on level there was
about three inches 1t soon be-
CAME evident that the progress made
in opening roads aud cutting through
heavy drifts had only been of tempo
rary usefulness and that the same
ground would have to be gone over
again. No mails from any points were
received until Wednesday night at
late hour. Mr.. Mullinix soon had
gang o. men at woik on the big drift
this side of the Junction, on the Balti-
timore and Ohio Railroad, and not un-
til after o'clock p. in., "Wednesday,
was the track cleared for travel. A
number of passengers had laid over at
the Junction from number of trains,
aud some of them started to walk to
town, but the intense cold and high
wind made them retrace their foot
steps. This is the second blockade
Frederick mas endured within the
short space of week, during which
| time ali forms Of brlsiuass "a ra aHff.,rinp