The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-02
THE STORM IN LEWISTON.
Terrible Experience of an Electric Line
EDploye.
Ls7Ec1AL TO THE PREss.J


IsFEc1AL TO THE PREss.J
Lewiston, February 1.-This section has
just experienced the worst storm known
in years. Last evening about 10. 80 1t be-
gan to snow and a regular blizzard set in.
The storm ragged like demon until about
ten O'Clock this forenoon. In the streets
the snow is piled many feet deep and the
country roads are literally impossible.
The electric road has not been able to
move a car since two O'Clock this morn
ing. NO trains have arrived today over
either the lower or upper Maine Central
lines and none are expected much before
morning. This morning train left over
the lower Maine Central and succeeded in
getting as far as Brunswick. This morn
ing train left the Grand Trunk station
for Portland, but was obliged to turn
back AT half past six this evening a
train arrived over the Grand Trunk from
Portland, but there has been no oommu-
nication further west than that and no
communication whatever with any point
east. This morning train arrived over
the Portland and Rumford Falls road,
but it only came from Mechanic Falls,
about ten miles from this city. Veteran
railroad men say they never have expert
enced anything like this storm. The
heavy cuts are filled with snow and it is
packed in SO solid that the snow plows
made no impression upon the mass. Even
on the level ground there are big drifts
which are SO hard that they are almost
impenetrable by the snow plows.
The high wind which most Of the ii me
during the night blew at the rate of from
65 to IS miles an hour has done much
damage in this city and Auburn. Doors
and windows of residences were blown in
and In exposed places houses were rocked
as If by an earthquake. The temperature
was low and these who were obliged to
be out in the storm suffered much from
exposure. In Auburn the policemen
were obliged to carry shovels with them
in order to make their way through the
high drifts.
c. H. Stanley who is employed by the
Lewiston and Auburn Electric railroad
had most thrilling experience and
narrow escape from death. He started for
his house on Orange street about l.3O
O'Clock this morning. He became dazed
in the storm and about three O'Clock as
near as he can estimate he had reached a
place on Sabattus street not much more
than half mile from where he had
started He wandered from the road and
next found himself among the hea1stones
of an old grave yard. He was now nearly
exhausted and for a long while he grouped
about in the storm, which was now
coming in dense binding sheet, and 1t
was so dark he could not see foot before
him. His sufferings were intense. be
does not remember how he got out OF the
cemetery, but in some way got back into
field back of Sabattus street. He finally
walked and crawled to Webster street and
went to house and pulled the door ball.
The residence was that Of George Towle,
who happened to be awake. He went to
the door and on the steps found Mr..
Stanley half unconscious and nearly dead.
Mr.. Stanley was tenderly cared for but
is still suffering from his terrible expert
enoe. He does not remember any of his
wanderings after being in the old grave
yard.