Middletown transcript., 1895-02-16

ing snow flakes, became more and more
intense, the drifts piled higher and higher
the mercury got lower and lower. end the
outlook became more and more serious as
the hours went by. The blockaded trains
q few miles to the north of us were n OF
moved until Sunday evening. when the
train that had been stuck at Beasten's cut
near Mt Pleasant since Friday morning
came laundering into the station with five
engines, throwing the snow as high as a
house top. and presenting as magnificent a
spectacle as was ever looked upon. The
sound of the whistle was welcome signal.
and hundreds of people were at the station
when the storm-ridden train come steaming
in greeted by wild cheers from the town
folks.
The crew and passengers were COM
fortably cared for during the night, 1lS
persons wese breakfasted at the National
Hotel Monday morning. The train pre-
sued its journey south, leaving here about
9o'clock.
The first train came north about noon
Monday.
The loss TO the Delaware railroad is the
heaviest ever experienced from storm Il
Is estimated that 1000 men have been work
Ing trying to clear the track, but the drifts
we're SO great that the task seemed hope
les one at first
Ali along the route there were storm,
bound trains; relief parties were numerou
fo ka
made IS comfortable as the occasion per-
mitted. The trains however were not run
ming regularly until Tuesday when Il de-
luge of mail almost swumped the Posi-
master and made glad the hearts of many
people who were eagerly awaiting the ~
rival of the long delayed letters and papers
Middletown has stood the storm wei
We are threan,ened with coal ianline.brt
are hoping it will be ave red. Both coal
yards are about empty, and thhush large
orders have been sent in our local dealer>
cannot tell when the ''dusky diamonds vii
arrive in may be in a day, it may be III
weeks.
The r. Il. company is threatening to raise
the freight rate 81 per ton, which will
make the cost of c "a over So to consumer.
Some o, our psop!e have uttered from
lack of water, pumps and water pipes have
been very generally frozen up, and not q
few have to resort to melted snow for do
mestic uses. Provisions are also getting
low in some quarters but where one is
short another is flush, and Middletown
never loses a chance to help the unfort-
unate of our own number.
There has been general cessation of busi-
ness, the country roads being impossible for
days. Hundreds of men are at work OPEN
ing the roads. and even yet there are
block ldes. The scene in the Brick Mill lane
is nearer approach to the artics than any
we have ever looked upon. A narrow pa 5.
sage that has been opened W ith snow walls
about 20 feet high on either side is sugges-
tive Of tunnel through some vast artic
waste. with only the snow and sky in view.
One could well fancy himself among Green
lands icy mountain. .as he struggled through
the drifts that are piled mountain high in
places.
.ltis an i'll wind that blows no good. The
idle men are given employment, but the
tax payers will have the brunt to bear.
The many experiences that have come 10 |
the people during the reign Of this storm
to come. There is nothing to compare with |
a sn,wbound passenger train for remin-
iscences.