The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1895-04-11
FEARFUL STORM
OF SAND AND SNOW IN
WESTERN KANSAS AND
COLORADO.

Special to Gin. Enquirer.
KANSAS CRY, April s.-The rail-
roads have been battling with new
enemy IN Western Kansas and East.
ern Colorado since last Friday night.
1t was combination sand and snow
storm which swept over these re-
gions, completely demoralizing
train schedules and causing serious
Inconvenience and discomfort to
travellers. The flakes of snow and
particles of sand mingled, and were
driven across the prairies at terrific
speed by the gale which blew incess-,
antly for two days. There was no
loss of human life, because the storm
was not accompanied by the asual
degree of cold, but many horses and
cattle in Western Kansas are report
ed to have been suffoaated by the
whirling clouds of sand. The sand
and snow filled up the railroad cuts
and buried the track. The snow
melted and the sand settled down in
a hard unyielding mass. Rotary
snow piows and all the modern me-
chanical appliances for battling with
snow drifts were useless against this
new enemy, and the railroad compa-
nies 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
sixty-mile- an -hour wind cut through
the clothes of the men and perforated
their skin like knives. A few hours
work was all that man could stand
without seeking shelter from the
binding, suffocating storm of sand.
On board the bleated trains the con-
dition of the traveller was not much
better. Every door and window
was kept closed to shut out the sand,
yet it sifted IN persistently until the
floors of the cars were 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 90 with
out food
The first train since Friday to this
city from Denver, except the Bur-
lington trains, was the Missouri Pa
citic train, which arrived y esterday.
The Burlington's tracks were outside
of the storm belt, and its train schel-
ule was not affected.
The Santa Fe's Colorado train ar
rived last night, protracted battle
with sand and snow drifts.
The Union Pacific did not bring
single train from Denver until
o'clock this evening, when their over
and reached the Union Depot. The
rain was held IN Denver until a cut
lear Cedar Point, Kan, which was
lied with drift of saud for dis
ancc of % feet, was cleaned out.
No Rock Island trains from the
Vest had reached here up to 6
''clock this evening since Saturday.
Two belated trains arrived at Union I
)epotat 8 and 9 o'clock respect lively.
Reports as to loss of live stock have
lot reached here yet, owing to in
eruption OF telegraph service. NO
irect wires were secured to Denver
ntil this forenoon, the telegraph
ompanies being compelled to send ;
heir. business for Denver and points {
eyond via the northern route.
There is every probability, how S
yer, that when reports begin to {
ONE in they Will show that cattle
n the ranges have suffered great i
arslships, and it is not improbable !
lat considerable loss was sustained S
y the stock men. I