The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-27
snow and Sheet at some Points, Cold
Rain at others, and a High, De-
structive wind blowing.
GREAT DAMAGE IN DENVER
WHERE OVER 1000 MILES OF WIRES
ARE DOWN IN THE STREETS.
Freight Trains Abandoned on Some
of the Colorado Lines-Temper-
ature Falling Rapidly.

DENVER, COL, Oct "a severe snow
storm, accompanied by a high wind from
the north, began here last night and con-
tinued with increased fury this forenoon.
The weather is not cold and the snow is
not drifting. Electric cars were unable to
run this morning. and Denver people ex-
perienced much inconvenience. Wires are
generally down to the west and south, and
railroad trains are much delayed. In this
city many telegraph, telephone and electric
light poles have broken down and shade
trees have been badly damaged. Mayor
McMurray has ordered the electric light
plant closed down on account of the dan
ger from broken and crossed wires.
Aside from the tremendous inconvenience
caused to the public and to private interests
the storm of last night and to-day has
wrought an intrinsic damage in the city Of
Denver and its suburbs that is conserva-
lively estimated to be in excess of 100000
OF course, should the storm continue sew
eral days the damage will multiply several
times. The damage to the wires and tele-
graph poles is great. City Electrician Stern
said to-day that probably one thousand
poles were down in Denver alone, and up
ward Of four thousand miles of wires Cen
eral Manager Field, of the Colorado Tele-
phone Company, estimated the present dam
greater, he said, but for the fact that in
the central portion of the city the company
had recently placed many of its wires under
ground.
With the exception of the Rock Island,
the Kansas Pacific the Colorado Central
and the Julesburg & South Park branches
OF the Gulf road, railroads leading into
Denver have been completely blocked all
day. Snow plowS have been brought into
active service on all lines. but the tracks
became covered with snow again soon after
they were cleared The storm was most
severe and the greatest trouble was ex-
perienced by the railroads between Denver
and Pueblo. All freight trains have been
annulled to enable the roads to handle pas
sengers without any more delay than is abb
solutely necessary.
Railroad reports showed that the storm
was general throughout the eastern half
and a section of the northern part of the
State, the southern part of Wyoming, the
northeastern part OF Utah and the western
halves of Nebraska and Kansas. A mes
sage from Colorado Springs stated that the
snow and sieet were blowing so furiously
there that it was Impossible 70 see across
the street. Leadville had a slight snowfall
last night, but none to-day.
The storm came suddnely that ranch
ment did not have opportunity to shelter
their stock but the fall in the temperature
to endanger the lives of cattle. The city
is in darkness tonight, as the mayor com
PEELED the Electric-light Company to cut
of all its circuits on account of their
dangerous condition. The health depart
ment is of the opinion that the storm will
prove of inestimable benefit in killing the
late germs of disease.
dispatch from Cripple Creek says: mot
In years has there been sucn a blizzard
here as that which prevails at the present
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 railroads is sus-
pended, and telephone wires are down. Can
yons are chOked with snow and ii is inn
possible to see one hundred feet on account
of the binding storm. Considerable dam
age to property has occurred. Mining OPP
erations are seriously impeded by the storm
which has been raging fourteen hours and
continues furously, with no sign of abate-
ment soon. The weather is very cold and
1t is feared there will be great suffering
among the poor.
High wind and snow over wide range
Of country north and south of Pueblo since
3 O'Clock this morning have quite effectu-
ally tied up the railways running in there.
Mile after mile of telegraph wires are blown
down. In Pueblo telegraph, telephone cleo
trio light and trolley wires have suffered
severely, scores of poles and trees being
blown down. Little snow fell, but the wind
attained a velocity of flfty-sx miles from
the north at u:1o o'clock a. m. and blew
down all the government weather bureau
Instruments Some roofs suffered.