Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-01-07
ABILENE WEEKLY REFLECTOR ABILENE KANSAS JANUARY 897-wELW PAGES
THE STORM AeArlNe
Weather Bureau Gives Hope for Better
Things-The Storms Record.

THE STORM AeATiNG
Weather Bureau Gives Hope for Better
ThIngs-The Storms Record.
CHICAGO, Jan 5-The storm which
has been racin.' for the past So hours
in the northwest has not increased in
severity, save, perhaps, in Iowa, and
the signal service office in this city,
which runs affairs generally in the
northern Mississippi valley, is upon
record as declaring that within short
time the storm will probably abate."
Throughout the northwest the blizzard
has been very severe, and the train
service was badly crippled. In
number Of towns business
was about suspended. DEVILS Lake,
in North Dakota, reported no
trains for s6 hours and Grand Forks
makes a similar report, adding that
the schools are closed and wires down
to the west OF there. In South Dakota
there was more snow, but the storm
was little more severe than In the
north state. Huron reports drifts Is
feet high, and the storm still raging.
Vermillion states that all business has
been suspended. Mitchell says no trains
since the storm began. Sunday morn.
ing, and streets deserted. Brookings
classes it as the worst blizzard known
for years, and all business suspended.
A dispatch from Omaha, Neb, says:
There has been little abatement in the
fury of the storm that has ragged in
tn s section for go hours The snow
has ceased falling, but the wind still
blows gale. and the temperature is
very low. So far there has been no
loss Of life reported In this city bust.
ness has only been slightly inter.
rupted.
The storm was unusually severe at
Quincy, Ill.,, and vicinity. On the st.
Louis. Keokuk h Northwestern, and
Quincy, Omaha & Kansas City roads
there were bad washouts which inter-
fered with travel. The rainfall was
five inches in 40 hours. The walls of
st, Johns Catholic church, now being
built at a cost Of $50 600, we're washed
out on two sides, and the edifce will
have to be rebuilt Many cellars are
flooded and the stocks OF lumber yards
along the river bank were washed into
the stream. Considerable live stock
has been drowned. Over In Missouri
the ice has broken down many fruit
trees and damaged telephone and tele-
graph lines.
The state OF Iowa is in the tolls Of
fierce blizzard. The temperature has
been falling and the loose snow is
drifting and threatens to interfere
with railway travel. Owing to sleet
many Of the telegraph and telephone
wires are down.
From St. Louis comes this report: As
a result of the heavy rains north and
west of here, the tributaries Of the
Mississippi and Missouri rivers have
swollen to such degree that an un.
precedented rise OF about Is feet has
taken place in this harbor since Sun.
day morning. The water is still ad-
vancing. The hard freeze, however,
will check the rise so that but little
damage is likely to occur in this
vicinity.
A dispatch from Topeka, Kan, says
All trains have been delayed by the
blizzard. and in western Kansas many
were held at eating houses to avoid
snow drifts The storm is abating,
however, and trains are moving eau.
tiously. The wind is still blowing
furiously, but the temperature is fall.
ing and clear sky is reported from
the west, where the storm was
particularly severe. Throughout
the state the snow fall varied
from three inches to foot, the heav-
lest fall being in the vicinity of Dodge
City. The greatest damage by the
blizzard was done on the praries of
western Kansas where there is very
little shelter 1t is reported that many
cattle persisted. There is no report of
human suffering.