The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-09
WORSE THAN SAHARA
SAND ALONE WORRIES TRAVELLERS
ON THE AFRICAN DESERT,
But ON Kansas Prafries Life Ia
PeriIed by Both snow and sand
A New Enemy for Railways.

AAENoAo Sli1, Mo- april o.-lue RAN
roads have been battling with a new enemy
in western Kansas and eastern Colorado
since last Friday night. 1t was a combi-
nation sand and snowstorm, which swept
over those regions, completely demoralizing
train schedules and causing serious incon-
venience and discomfort to travellers. The
flakes of snow and particles Of sand ming
led and were driven across the prairies at
a terrific speed by the gale which blew
necessarily for two days. There was no
loss of human life, because the storm was
not accompanied by the usual degree or
cold, but many cattle and horses in west
ern Kansas are reported to have been suffo-
Gated by the whirling clouds of sand. The
sand and snow filled up the railroad cuts
and buried the tracks. The snow melted
and the sane settled down in a hard. I'M
yielding mass. Rotary snow plows and all
the modern mechanical appliances for bat
Ting with snow drifts were useless against
this new enemy and the railroad companies
were compelled to engage men with picks
and shovels to remove the sand from the
track. The work was begun while the gale
was still in progress and the suffering OF
the workmen is said to have been intense.
The particles of sand, driven by a sixty
of mlt the men a w5na ner cut tnrou tba,r rn sk elot ines
knives. A few hours work was all that
a man could stand without seeking shell
z AN VI
sand. On board the belated trains the con-
dition of the travellers was not much bet
closed to shut out the sand. yet it sifted
in persistently until the floors of the cars
We're covered. and everything was gritty to
the touch. The air in the cars became hot
and sitting and the passengers in several
instances were compelled to go without
food.
The first train since rrioay TO reach this
city from Denver. except the Burlington
trains, wassthe Missouri Pacific train, which
arrived YESTERDAY. The RurIinctOn'S tracks
were outside of the storm belt and It's
train schedule was not affected. The Santa
drifts. The Union Pacific did not bring ii
this evening, when its "OverIand, reached
the Union Station. The train was held in
which was flied with the a drift Of sand for a
distance OF $50 feet, was cleaned out. No
Rock Island trains from the West had
reached here up to 6 O'Clock this evening
since Saturday. Two be1ated trains arrived
at the Union Depot at s and 8 O'Clock. re-
Reports as to loss of live sick have not
reached here yet owing to Interruption or
cured to Denver until this forenoon. the
telegraph companies being compelled to
send their business for Denver and points
beyond via northern route. There is every
probability, however, that when reports be-
gin to come in they will show that cattle
ships and it is not improbable that consid-
cradle loss was sustained by the stockmen.
Snow Over Thirty Feet Deep.
DENVER. Col, April S.-Belated travel
ers from the east report that the storm
through Kansas was the worst ever known
in that section. Many of the passenger
trains now more than forty-eight hours
late, are battling with snow and sand on
the prairies. Superintendent Bogard. of the
Union Pacific, with headquarters at Chey-
enne Wells, has a large force at work clear
ing the tracks. In places. within sixty or
seventy miles from Denver. the snow was
found in cuts from thirty to forty feet deep,
being near the tops of the telegraph poles
in some instances. The Rock Island ex-
perienced more trouble, perhaps, than any
other line. The first train from the east
over this road in sixty hours arrived to-
day. The Missouri Pacific, the Kansas Fs-r-
cific division of the Union Pacific and the
Santa Fe were also hampered. Trains are
getting through on all the roads to-day.
The reports from northern Colorado and
Wyoming are to the effect that the wind
and sand storm was so fierce that men at
work clearing the way were obliged to
wear covering for their faces. the sand
cutting, even through the cloth, like a
knife and decorating the shovelers in a
painful manner. The loss of range stock In
some portions of eastern Colorado. 1t is
said, will amount to 20 per cent. of the
total. Many cattle wandered into Hugo,
Col, and persisted. They had been driven
before the north wind over two hundred
miles. i