The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-27

OiiN was hliiNtls 50 lar dS known.
Light Snow in Tennessee.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Nov. 26-Last
nights storm of wind and rain was
followed by cold wave, with light
snow and a drop in the temperature
from 63 degrees to 30. No damage of
moment was done by the storm.
Virginia's Oldest Conductor Dead.
RICHMOND, Va, Nov. 26.-Captain
Merritt BirdSong, one of the oldest
railroad conductors in Virginia, died
at his residence in this city this morn
ing. He had been running on the Rich
mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
road for twenty-five years. Captain
Birdsong enjoyed the distinction Of
being the only railroad conductor in
Virginia ever held up by train robbers.
He was i'm charge of the train which
Morganfield and Searcey held up at
Aqua Crek, and robbed last fall.
Much Damage in Kentucky.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Nov. 26.-No loss
of life has beer reported as a result
of last nights gale, but much damage
was done among the Ohio river towns
vile several residences were unroofed,
chimneys were leveled and awnings
and signs demolished, but across the
river the damage was more severe. At
Jeffersonville many barns were wreck
ed and along Front street residences
were unroofed and windows blown in.
The Arctic Springs, Captain Hoff-
mans coal feet was wrecked and two
of his doddlers sunk. Three shanty
boats at Port Fulton were sunk and
Captain Duffy's coal feet was torn
from it's moorings and twenty-five coal
boats lost.
Heavy Snow in Missouri.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Nov. 26.-The biz
Zard which set in here early this morn
ing, this evening subsidized after six to
eight inches of snow on the ground,
badly crippling railroads and greatly
impeding all lines of traffic. Telephone
wires are broken in numerous places,
and telegraph wires are down in all
directions. No damage, however, has
yet been reported in this city. It is
learned that the storm ragged violently
throughout Missouri, Arkansas and
Texas. In the latter State it swept
over the ranches, covering them with
snow several inches deep.
As it is, there is much suffering. The
mercury has not fallen below the
freezing point in this city or vicinity,
nor has there been anything like a
gale.
Blizzard i'm Illinois.
CHICAGO. Nov 26.-The blizzard
last night and early this morning was
one of the worst that ever struck this
city. The wind blew gale and rail-
road traffic was greatly delayed. The
street car companies had to abandon
some of their minor lines, devokng
their energies to keeping the main
lines open. Dispatches received here
show the same state of affairs through
out Illinois. Quincy and Peoria re-
ported a howling blizzard, impeding
street and railroad traffic. At Fair
bury, H., sleet caused considerable
damage On Lake Michigan the gale
was very severe and the sea is running
very high.
Up to IL o'clock this morning the
city was practically dead telegra-
phically. The storm utterly prostrated
within the city limits. The heavy ae-
cumulations of sleet and snow broke
down wires of all sorts. In the busi-
ness district telegraph and telephone
wires are under ground, but in the out
skirts they are carried on poles. The
weight was so great in many places
that the poles were broken and went
down with the wires. Even the heavy
trolley wires were unable TO stand the
strain that were mingling in inextri-
cable confusion with the teleL1one
and telegraph systems, including the
city police and fire alarm wires.
Altogether it was the most complete
telegraphic isolation which this city
has suffered in many years. Freight
traffic from every direction by raif Was
practically blocked and all passenger
service, including suburban trains,
were much delayed even inside the
city. Passengers on the Calumet Eies-
tric Street railway were snow-bouna
in desolate portion of the city and
some of them were compelled to re-
main last night in the ears, being un-
able to reach their homes in South
Chicago.