The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-10-27
Nearly All Means of COmmuni-
cation ParaIyzed
Throughout the West and
Northwest to the Mountains.
DENVER'S LOSS GREAT
1000 Miles of Wire and 1000
Poles Down.
Railroad Tracks Are Buried as
Fast as Cleared.

Cripple Greek, Col, Oct. 27.-Not in
years has there been such blizzard
here as that which prevails at the pres
ent time. High winds that come in
streaks like waves of a typhoon are
drifting the snow so that sidewalks in
places are almost impossible. Traffic
on railroads is suspended, and teIe-
phone wires are down. CanOns are
choked with snow and it is impossible
to see 100 feet on account of the blind
ing storm. Considerable damage to
property has occurred. Mining opera
! tions are seriously impeded by the
storm which has been raging IA hours,
and continues furiously with no signs
of abatement. The weather is very
cold and it is feared there will be great
suffering among the poor.
Denver, Col, Oct. 27.-Aside from the
tremendous Inconvenience caused to
the public and to private interests, the
storm has wrought an intrinsic damage
in the city of Denver and its suburbs
that is cOnservatively estimated to be
in excess of 800, 000 OF course, should
! the storm continue several days the
damage will double this. 1t is to the
wires that the greatest damage has
been done. Probably 1000 poles are
| down in Denver alone and upward of
| 1000 miles of wires. General Manager
Field of the Colorado Telephone COM
pany estimated the present damage to
| its system at 10000. 1t would be great
| er, he said, but for the fact that in the
| central portion of the city the company
| has recently placed many of it's wires
under ground.
With the exception of the Rock Is
| land, the Kansas Pacific, the Colorado
! Central and the JuleSburg and South
Park branches of the Gulf road, rail-
! roads leading into Denver are COM
/ pletely blocked Snow plOWs have been
J brought into active service on all lines,
| but the tracks became covered with
| snow again soon after they were clear
! ed. The storm was most severe, and
| the greatest trouble was experienced
| Pueblo. All freight trains have been
annulled to enable the roads to handle
passengers without any more delay
| than is absolutely necessary. Rail
| road reports showed that the storm
! was general throughout the eastern
| half and a section of the northern part
| of this state, the southern part of Wy
oming. the northeastern part of Utah
and the western halves of Nebraska
| and Kansas.
A message from Colorado Springs
| stated that the snow and sleet were
| blowing so furiOusly there that it was
| impossible to see across the street.
LeadvilIe has a slight snow fall.
The storm came so suddenly that
| ranchmen did not have opportunity to
| shelter their stock but the fall in tenn
perature is not considered by weather
| experts great enough to endanger the
lives of cattle.
The city was in darkness last night
as the mayor compelled the electric
light company to cut off all its circuits
!
ton. The health department is of the
opinion that the storm will prove of
inestimable benefit in killing the late
Chamberlain, S. D, Oct. 27.-Rafn,
which had been steadily falling for Is
hours, yesterday morning turned to
snow. which fell heavily all day, ac-
| cOmpanied by severe northwest wind.
The snow is very moist and will cause
heavy loss of range cattle.
Omaha, Neb., Oct. 27.-WOrd was re-
la ct mig INV mo- inf in
Nebraska and South Dakota to the eff
! feet that the storm of snow, sleet and
rain that has been travelling eastward
for "a hours still continues. The Bur
| hngtOn trains are delayed and the Rock
Island trains between Lyman and Col
oradO Springs, Col, are blockaded.
East of Grand Island, along the I'm
ion Pacific. the storm is rain; west of
there, it is mingled with snow and
sleet.
At Julesburg. on the Union Pacific,
two engines cOllided in the binding
snow, being but slightly damaged. The
fireman of one suffered a broken leg.
The worst feature of the storm is the
high wind, which is playing havoc with
telegraph wires, communication being
badly interrupted and in many places
cut off entirely.
In South Dakota the same conditions
prevail. A message from Huron says
rain that fell here all day, turned to
snow at nightfan, and still continues.
From Mills, BOden, Sioux Falls, dis
patches are EeCelNeu u TIE SAME CHAR
| acter.
McCook, Neb.. Oct. 27.-After raining
| three inches last night, this morning a
| snow set in with high wind, falling
! heavy, with blizzard indications. The
| storm is general over this section of
| Nebraska.
Pueblo, Colo, Oct. 27.-High wind and
| snow over a wide range of country
| north and south of Pueblo, have quite
| effectually tied up the railways running
in here Mile after mile of telegraph
/ wires are blown down.
! In Pueblo telegraph, telephone, cleo
| trio light and trolley wires have suffer
| ed severely, scores of poles and trees
| being blown down. Little snow fell,
| but the wind attained a velocity of So
| miles from the north and blew down all
the government weather bureau instru-
| ments Some roofs suffered.
| Sidney, Neb., Oct. N.-Raln commenc-
ed falling here last evening and contin-
ued during the early part of the night,
changing later to snow. A genuine biz