Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-13
DARK IN DANYILLE.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS co OUT AND COM
MUNIcATION CUT OFF.
Telephone and Telegraph Wires Broken
by Sieet and 1ce-Big Rise In the
Dan River Mission Work.


DANvILLE, VA. January I2.-tSpecial)
This has been one Of the most disagree
able weeks that has been witnessed by
this community for long time. DAN
Vile yesterday and last night was shut
out from the rest OF the State and the
country. only one wire being available.
and that railroad wire. on the Atlantic
and Danvile railway TO Norfolk and
thence to Richmond. This city and sur
rounding country was enveloped on Tues
day In one Of the heaviest and thickest
fogs ever seen In this section. 1t was
barely possible for person to see ten
yards In front OF him.
About 1890 that day there was light
sprinkle Of rain. and as the fog disap-
peared the rain became harder until 1t
developed into downpour. This con-
tinucd all that afternoon and night.
through Wednesday and up to o'clock
Thursday night.
On Wednesday afternoon the rain turn
ed into sleet. and the trees. poles. and
wires OF the electrlc-lght. telephone. and
coating OF ice. Limbs and branches of
tho trees snapped and broke under their
weight Ike p!pe-stems. Telephone wires
tumbled and the electric-light after mid
night went out. leaving the town in dark
ness.
PULLED DOWN by AN ENGINE.
The telegraph wires running across the
Southern railway between Pelham and
Rufiin. n. c.. ard on the Richmond road.
were so thickly coated with ice that they
sagged In the centre OF the track and
was caught by an approaching engine and
pulled down and piled up for hundreds
of feet. Between this place and Rich
mond about 500 telegraph poles fell and
a large number tumbled on the Virginia
Midland between Danville and Lynch
burg. Freight trains were at a standstill
owing to the dispatchors not having the
means 10 communicate orders to con-
ductors and the trainmen.
AS soon az possible Western Union
linemen were sent out to work to repair
damages, but II could not be learned
when repairs would be made.
Captain w. T. West. master OF trans
portation on the Southern railway. came
to Danville Thursday evening to lock
after trains. not being able TO hear from
this section. Mr.. John T.. Barnes. OF Rich
mond. foreman Of the Western Union
lnemen. also reached here Thursday
night from Lynchburg. and proceeded to
organize force for work on the pros
trate wires.
A BIG RISE.
The heavy fall of water In the up
country. melting the snow and breaking
up the frozen ground and ice. has caused
a big rise in the Dan river, and the water
has reached ten feet and still rising The
river below the town is out OF It's banks,
and the islands are submerged. The high
wates caused the mills TO shut down last
night and yesterday. and suspended all
work on the canal.
business for the week has been pracu-
caly at a standstill. But little tobacco
has come into the city. and buyers had
rather remain in their Offices than plunge
through the descending rain.
The loss TO the Western Union Tele-
graph Company in destruction Of wires
and poles, not to say business. Will be
quite heavy.
THE OPEN MISSION.
The open-door mission. which was inau-
Curated here last year by the Methodist
yayrnen's Union, was put into practical
effect last night. The mission Is located
on one Of the downtown streets. on the
line of the street railway. and in close
proximity TO houses Of Ill repute. Services
were conducted 10y the chaplain appointed
by the last conference. and the attend
ance was good. there being a seating ca
pacity for 200 persons. Connected with
the mission Is reading and sitting
room. which will be kept open all doy
and until late hour at night. 1t IL In
tended to hold Gospel services every night
during the week.