The San Francisco call., 1897-01-24
IN A GRIP OF ICE,
SNOW AND WIND
Middle and Western States
in the ThroeS of a
Blizzard.
Streets of Chicago Filled With
Snow and All Traffic Is
Stopped.
Trains Delayed in All Directions.
and the Prospects Are Good for
a Long Blockade.

CHICAGO, ILL, Jan. 23.-High winds,
heavy and continuous fall of snow and a
temperature only two degrees above zero
combined to make this the stormiest day
of the winter. The wide area of the storm
gave the officials of Western railways
cause for fear that their lines would be
tied up before morning. The conditions
outside the city are rapidly getting worse,
and the prospects for a blockade, over
Sunday at least. even with the most vig-
orous measures for clearing the tracks.
Mail trains came in late tonight from
the West. The city stree t-cleaning bu-
reau and the streetcar companies were
compelled to put hundreds of laborers,
teams and snowplows to work, and at a
late hour it looked as if they had an all
night job before them. AS it was, the
streetcar traffic was much impeded. The
whole Northwest is in the grip of ice,
snow AMI zero temperature.
DES MONIES, Iowa, Jan. 23.-Iowa is
in the throes of the worst blizzard of the
year. 1t began about noon and has been
on ever since. Reports indicate heavy
SHOWS all over the State, northern and
northwestern points reporting the mer-
curry at Is TO % degrees below zero. A
heavy northwest wind is blowing and the
fine sitting snow of a real blizzard Is drift
ing everywhere. Railroads are expecting
trouble tomorrow and streelcar service
here and in several other towns has been
almost stopped.
OMAHA, NEBR., Jan. 23.-Nebraska is
in the track. of the blizzard. The wind is
blowing a gale and intermittent snow
tlurries have been the order of the day.
In Omaha the thermometer registers 13
degrees below zero tonight and the heavy
blow is increasing in velocity.
Reports from the railroads report that
what is true of Omaha prevails all over
the State. The counties TO the northwest
report the worst snowstorm OF the winter
and 10 degrees below zero. Stock will
suffer greatly. Trains on the st. Paul and
Omaha road going north are delayed by
the wind.
Dispatches from points in South Dakota
give details of a severe storm in progress
over the entire central portion of the
State. All the trains on the division of
the Northwestern running through Huron
are tied up, ana nothing can be done
toward opening the road till the weather
clears.
The depot at Arlington, S. D.. was
blown out of shape and many snow fences
have been blown into cuts which are
ehoked with snow.
KANSAS CITY, Mo, Jan. 23.-A biz
gard of unusual severity is raging over
Kansas tonight. The snow falling IN the
western secfIon of the State is driftin o.
badly, caused by the h Ugh wind. There is
much suffering among stock. Indications
point to a blockade of the railroads before
morning.
At Salina there was a fall in the tenn
perature OF so degrees in three hours, and
the mercury was still falling. The snow,
driven by a strong west wind, is filling up
the railroad cuts badly. 1t is feared that
intense suffering and death will be the
result among families in the north and
west, where they have poor homes and
little fuel.
Wichita reports a severe blizzard raging
there.
ST. PAUL, MINI, Jan. 23-The weather
Is excessively cold throughout Minnesota
and North and South Dakota. The ther-
mometer is IL below zero tonight at ST.
Paul, with prospects of furtner drop OF
10 or II degrees before morning. Trains
are moving irregularly.
Aberdeen, S. D.. reports that the Hast
ings and Dakota division Of the Milwau-
kee road and the Great Northern branch
from Breckenridge have been practically
snowbound since January Is.