The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-03-12
STORM RACED FIERCELY
All Along New England Coast Last
Night.
THE WIND H0WLED AND SNOW
PILED UP In DRIFTS,

Vessels Put Into Portland for Safety
Night Altogether Bereabouts-Other
Seaport Towns Give Similar Reports
No Damage Reported Yet.
q 1t was a fearful storm last night The
worst by long odds of the season. and
from the early evening reports came in
of possibly still worse to come. Two
storms, it was said, had united and a
"howler' was freely predicted.
And it arrived long way ahead of
scheduled time. It piled the snow in ev-
cry place where it wasn't wanted, and it
left it wherever it happened to be in the
| way. 1t was wind no man could count
on to blow in any given direction. 1t
| seemed to blow as matter of fact from
all points Of the compass at once. 1t sent
the snow with cutting force directly in
ones face, and it flung itself in one's
path with persistency worthy of bet
ter cause.
plows and sweepers were kept busy. The
cars from Deering ran on time all the ev-
ming, while the Westbrook cars were
| somewhat delayed, but not badly. The
Cape electrios ran slowly. Over large
portion of the line the extremely erratic
wind had full power, and even frequent
trips of the plow availed but little. The
men of the line made good fight. but
even their best work couldn't keep the
| cars on time. 1t WAS much that SO lit
tie time was lost.
On the railroa DIS the night was far the
widest Of the season, and it was regard
ed as probable that late trains would be
cancelled. "It is about the same as it is
here all over our line," was the report of
the Maine Central at TO- 80, and along
the Grand Trunk the same state of affairs
existed.
The telephone between Portland and
the United States life saving station was
lost early in the evening by the crossing
of the wires, but when last heard from
Captain Trundy reported very hard
night, and thick storm. Later reports
could they have been obtained might
have been more interesting. When last
heard from the Cottage City was off the
shoals, and is supposed to have gone into
Provincetown. She went into the storm
apparently after passing Chatham.
A meeting of the Martha Washington
Society was announced to be held al
Thatcher Post hall, ana the programme
was carried out despite the storm, pu1
the attendance was not very large and
some of. the ladies found it hard work
getting home.
| The storm was badly felt along the
water front last night, and fishermen
predicted considerable damage as a result
of the beating of sohooners against tht
timbers Of the wharyes.
| As one result of the storm a dozer
traMps called at the police station fol
shelter. They were tired out, weary,
wet and thoroughly discouraged lot o.
mortals.
There was one man who probably ISM
tramp. but more likely on his way tt
his home. He had a carpet bag, evident
ly big load for him to carry under the
circumstances, and perhaps had never
before asked for shelter at police sta
iton. He sat his grip down outside the
door of the deputy marshal's room, an6
his "Can you keep me over nightf
showed that he wasn't familiar with suof
places. He was evidently "down on hi
luck" while the others were all tramps
mostly old timers, veterans on the road
Take it all in all it was wild, bad
hard night, with the snow drifting everj
where, and with the wind doing its bes1
to make life and the night unoomfort
able to all who had to be out, police
men. reporters, doctors and other unfor-
tunates had hard time of it.
The telephone wires worked badly a.
was to have been expected, and 81 CAM
get them," was said constantly and un
willingly by the night man at the centra
Office.
A telepho ne message was received il
this city from Beverly, Mass, from Cap
tain W. G. Crocker Of the four mastei
schooner Charles z. Balch, which saile(
from Baltimore ten days ago for Port
land with coal, stating his arrival at Sa
lem, Mass, and also the arrival Of hi
brother in the schooner Anna e. J.
Morse from New York for Portsmouth
Captain Crocker said that he hat
been out In all the late gales but did no
say whether he had sustained any dam
age.
There has been some anxiety felt here
for the safety of the Baloh for seyera
days, some fearing she might possibly b.
the schooner sunk off Chatham, and tn
news was thankfully received in thi
city.
A report reached the PRESS at
o 'clock this morning that a party o
about 30 young people who went owe
to Cape Elizabeth last evening to attent
a private dance in electrics, chartere,
for the occasion, were stuck on Broad
way in a snow drift and were unable t.
return Nothing was known abou