Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-17
WILD WINTER STORM RACES
Howling Northwest Gale Accompanied by
a Heavy Fall of Snow.
THREE DEATHS REPORTED NEAR NEW YORK
December Weather of the Most Nio-
lent Kind Makes Its Appearance
In the East nnd Inter-
fcrcs with Travel.

last night grew into violence until at G
o'clock bowling gale of fifty miles an
hour ragged The storm, which cannot be
called a blizzard because lacking the ele-
ment of cold, was the worst since 1883. At
daylight this morning five inches of snow
had fallen and was being whrled about by
the wind. AS the day wore on the snowfall
diminished and the wind abated At 4
o'clock the light began to disappear and
with nightfall the gale disappeared, NOV
ing to scourge New England. About eight
inches of snow fell The lowest tempera-
ture reached was 23 degrees above zero.
Surface and elevated roads and ferries suf-
fered much Inconvenience but now are
running as usual. Fifteen hundred men are
cleaning the streets and by o'clock to-
morrow the snow will have been removed.
Fair and warm weather is predicted for
tomorrow.
Ample warning of the approaching storm
was given to the mariners and probably
not much damage was done to shipping
Three deaths. due directly or indirectly to
the storm, have been reported up to this
time. They are:
JAMES GULLY an elevated railway en-
poye, found dead on the track.
LOUIS BESTER, tailor. found frozen
to death in a hallway in Pel street.
by Pennsylvania railroad train while
working on the track near Waverly, n. ].
In addition to these, William Beckley
was found unconscious in snow drift in
Jersey City, so badly frozen that he can
not recover, and George w. Fears was
picked up in this city unconscious from the
cold. He cannot survive.
The same train that killed Zenano fatally
injured Guiseppi Calotto. a fellow laborer.
TRAFFIC MUCH INTERRUPTED.
In the city considerable interruption of
street traffic resulted from the storm.
Elevated railroad trains ran on time, but
the cable and other surface lines of street
railways were working under difficulties.
The wind was fierce and cutting, the snow
striking tho face with a singing force. The
street railway companies had their sweep
ers out all night and during the forenoon
and the full force of the street cleaning
department, men and teams, were set to
work early in the day to clear the streets
of snow The telegraph and telephone
wires were but little disturbed by the
storm.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. i6.--The wind and
snow storm which began early last even
ing continued throughout the night and at
noon today shows no signs OF aDating. Dur
ing the early morning hours The wind blew
a gale. and railroad and stree: car traffic
suffered considerably. The suburban troll
ley lines. with one or two exceptions, are
Snow to the depth of six
inches has fallen. Reports from the Della
ware breakwRter state that no marine dis
asters have been reported and that the wind
has fallen to about twenty-five miles an
hour.
NEW LONDON. Conn, Dec. 16-Ths ex-
pansivo harbor 10 crowded with sailing craft
of all sorts which have sought refuge from
one o. the ugliest storms In years. Tho
sound steamers succeeded in reaching this
city not far behind their schedule arrival,
but no navigation was attempted today. The
snowfall continues and promises to rage in
BRIDGEPORT Conn, Dec. 16.-The Sc
verest storm of the season Is raging here
today. The snow has reached depth OF
seven inches and the wind is blowing n
hurricane. Only a few trolley cars arc
and the schools are closed Bust
ness is at a standstill.
LlTCHFlELD, Conn, Dec. 16.-The worst
storm ever experienced in this region thus
early in the winter is raging In Litchfeld
county. Snow began TO fall at 2 a. m, and
still continues, with no sign Of abatement.
1t 10 accompanied by bowling gale, which
is causing mammoth drlfto.
SANDY BROOK POINT Conn, Dec. Is
One Of the most violent northeast gales for
years Is prevailing along the Connecticut
shore of Long Island sound. The waters of
the sound have been llshed in wicked
Driving snow renders navigation
been seen passing today, and the few that
ran into Connecticut river last night have
not ventured out,
MIDDLEToWN, Conn. Dec. 16.-Steam-
ship traffic is greatly delayed by the record
breaking storm which now prevails, and the
trolley. lines are badly crippled. The snow
Is ten inches on the level and has drifted
four to five feet deep. All country roads
leading into the city are blocked.
FURTHER UP THE COAST.
BOSTON, Dec. 16.-A severe storm has
been raging here since shortly before mid
lay. The wind is from the north and blow |
ng at the rate of thirty-seven miles per
hour. The barometer marks 1916 while |
he temperature is is degrees above zero.
With the exception of the steamer How
ard, which left here ON her usual sailing |
lour yesterday afternoon for Baltimore |
here have been no sailngs of local steam |
srs. OF the large feet OF European steam |
RS now some days overdue at this port. only |
me, the st. Romans, from London. came to |
nchor, after a fearfully rough passage, fully |
hree days late. No accidents were reported |
n the harbor. Telegraphic communication |
With the highlands and other points on Cape |
)od are Is interrupted
HULL, Mass, Dec. 16.-The three-masted |
chooner Ulrica. which left Hillsboro. N. b.,
asst Friday for Hoboken, n. j., with cargo |
II plaster rock, was wrecked on Nantaskei |
Beach just before noon today Captain John |
Patterson and his crew OF -lX men were res
ued in an exhausted condition, after under |
,ong a terrible experience. furious
northeast gale accompanied by snow, struck |
he vessel before daylight this morning, and
II her sails were blown away. Captain
Patterson let go all his anchors but the
ca was running tremendously high and they
allied TO hold. The wind gradually increased
o hurricane and the thick snowfall made |
t impossible to see vessels length away.
waves broke over the vessel
nd thoroughly saturated the clothes OF the
rev. The temperature was far below the
reezing point, and the men were badly
rostbtten. At II 80 the Ulrica struck on
he big sandbar of the beach, and in a short
ime broke completely in half. Several OF
he top spars went overheard. The life saw
lg crew of Stoney Beach, headed by Cap
ain James, launched boat. but could do
othing at first in the sea. The second time
he boat had made considerable Roadway
hen 1t capsized, letting the crew into the
'ater. They narrowly escaped drowning,
ut finally they reached the wreck and took
n Captain Patterson and all OF the crew,
no were dashed to the afterpart OF the yes
nl The men were completely exhausted, |
he hands and feet of several being frozen.
was late this afternoon before they were
BILE to tell the name OF their vessel and OF
leir experience. The lifesayers themselves
ere almost exhausted when they reached
md.
nf the prengnrx