Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-08

ence 1t was impossible to keep the tracks
clear on account Of the winds, which
changed the positions OF the drifts more
rapidly than they could be cleared away.
Any number of drifts, from four to six
feet deep, were encountered, and time and
again the train came to full stop on ac-
count of the snow.
Considerable difficulty was had with the
air brakes and number of times the
triple valve which regulates the brake on
the driving wheel froZe solid and gave
considerable trouble. The condition of the
engineer and fireman was about as bad as
could be ina gine I. If the windows Of the
cab had been kept closed they would have
been banked sup in a few minutes with
snow and ice, making it impossible to see
ahead along the track So it was neces-
result was the snow beat into the cab in
great drifts. AS it struck the faces of
the men it melted and then froZe solid
again in the icy wind, and their faces We're
covered as if with masks of solid ice.
Several times the men thought they
would be overcome with the cold and eX-
posure, and they were almost surprised, as
we'll as pleased, when they pulled into the
station this morning still alive and appar-
emily not so very much worse off for their
terrible experience. This was only a sam
pie of the stories told by the crews of the
various incoming trains.i The storm does
not appear to have been very much worse
in the mountains than it was nearer to
Washington, as is shown by the reports of
the trains of New York ard the north.
Outgoing Trains.
These stories Of hardship were not con-
fined solely to incoming trains, but the
greatest difficulty has also been expert
enced today in getting trains out from The
station. The storm has been felt in its
greatest severity in the outer yards, and
it has been hard matter to get in en-
gines and cars with which to make up
trains. All the turntables, switches and
water supplies We're frozen up. causing the
greatest Inconvenience to the makeup
crews. All the trains leaving the city this
morning Were from fifteen minutes to
half hour behind time in getting off.
General Manager Alvey was on hand at
the station all last night battling with the
and doing his level best to bring order out
of seeming chaos. This morning he came
in On n freight engine on The Metropolitan
branch, which was used in clearing away
number of drifts five ana six feet deep,
and says that they had the greatest dif-
fculty in making any headWay at all One
rection was pair of frost-bitten ears, and
he looked pretty badly battered today as
result of his official battle with the ele-
ments.
The Pennsylvania.
Alexandria was completely cut off from
the rest of the world this morning. The
running in all directions are covered with
snow to the extent that it Is impossible to
move railroad trains. AT the Baltimore and
Potomac depot this morning business was
almost at a standstill. Star reporter
was told there by the railroad officials that
it was possible TO run trains over the rail-
road between here and New York this
morning. although all trains coming this
way were hours behind time. TIE clerks
trains between Baltimore and this city
came In late, but there was nothing mo.-
jrg south. Last night at 10:1Q the Florida
special left here on it's way sonth, but soon
after passing Four-Mle Run II encountered
a snowdrift through which the pressure of
steam could not push tie wheels. This
drift which was not far from st. Asaph s,
it is thought. was the largest on the road.
When ii was seen that the train could not
get along. ar attempt was made to return
to the city, but this was also impossible.
and 1T was not until about o'clock this
morning that two engines were able to
rescue the train from the huge pile OF
snow and return here. The Florida spe-
cial on its way In this direction was un-
able to pass QuantIco last night on ac-
count of the snowdrifts on the track.
1t was impossible this morning for trains
to move over the Washington and Ohio
road between here and Round Hill, and the
many clerks who live along the line Of this
road were compelled to remain home today.
Snow plows and gangs of workingmen
were sent out from the station this morn
ing to clear the tracks. and it is thought
that the Alexandria trains will be moving
on time late in the afternoon.
Street Car Travel.
Street car travel was carried on with
great difficulty last evening, and the situa-
tion this morning, as far as the suburban
lines were concerned and some portions
of the city lines, was not improved. Even
the cable road experienced several delays
last evening, owing mainly to the diff
Guilty in operating the brakes. The col
lision at 14th and u streets with the Chevy
Chase car, which was mentioned in yester-
days Star, stopped all travel for some
time, and then there was slight col
lision at the corner of B and 1st streets
northwest between one Of the cars and
snow plow. The brakes were unable to
hold the cars as they came down the MIL,
and blockade resulted, which affected the
Belt line as well.
On the Metropolitan line travel continued
at irregular intervals last night. but prac-
tically the regular schedule was followed
this morning. The snow plows and the
sweepers We're kept busy all night. and in
spite of the drifting snow the tracks on
this road are comparatively free.
An enormous drift of snow on 14th street
near the monument blockaded travel on
the Belt road, and although a gang of men
was kept at work all night a large part
of the drift was still there this morning.
The cars were run down 18th street in
stead of 14th. The section of the road on
drifted snow. By attaching four horses to
the cars travel on the Belt road was main
tanned pretty well during the evening and
was resumed again this morning.
The electric portion of the lexington
road was able to maintain travel pretty
well, but the drifting snow proved rather
formidable for the plows.
Snow piled to an unprecedented height on
and along the tracks of the suburban roads
rendered travel this morning impossible.
Owing to the high wind which prevailed,
the efforts to clear the tracks were rem
dered fruitleSs, as the snow seemed to be
blown back as rapidly as removed. Piles
of snow six and eight feet high were
ported along these lines. Even the cars on
the Anacostia road stopped running. The
managers of the roads expected to be able
to accomplish something in tho way of
clearing the tracks as soon as the wind died
down.
Hard on Gripn,cn.
The storm was especially severe upon the
gripmen and car conductors, the wind hav-
ing full play through the grip cars along
the avenue. Many Of the gripnlen had not
counted on the severity of the storm which
came later in the evening, after they had