New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-02
NEW-ENGLAND SNOWBOUND
CITIES AND TOWNS CUT OFF FROM
OUTSIDE COMMUNICATIONS.
THE STORM THE WORST SINCE THE GREAT

THE STORM THE WORST SINCE THE GREAT
rIIzzARD- TELEGRAPH WIRES DOWN. RAIL
ROADS BIocKED AND BUSINESS At
Observation-Disclosures TO SHIPPING.
Boston. Feb. IA northeast snowstorm which
set in yesterday and ragged until this afternoon
completely paralyzcd al branches Of business. the
street and steam railroad traffic. and shut on
the city from communication by wire with all
places outside the limits OF Boston. The storm was
tho most severe this city has experienced IN twen-
ty-hve years and caused the loss Of several lives.
besides doing damage estimated In the hundreds
OF thousands.
Between ! and o'clock this morning n foot OF
heavy wet snow settled over the city, and brought
down wires In all quarters. The snow stuck 10 'hs
poles and wires with remarkable tenaciiy ana
aided by a wind blowing at the rate Of hfty miles
an hour. all telephone and telegraph lines out OF
;he city Frustrated over hall the electric
lights O. the city went out and In suburban towns
the fire alarm service was badly crippled In New
ton broken wires falling across others started a
fire In the electricroom Of the elegant residence
OF Charles J. Travei. the wealthy Pittsburg steel
manufacturer and In two hours nothing remained
OF the house but ashes. Mr. Travelll and family
escaped IN their n!ghtclothes without saving any
thing Tho loss amounts to about 100000
While the storm ct its height before day
light several serious fires occurred In suburban
towns They were chiefly due TO the collapse OF the
fire alarm system.
In the business district II was nearly noon WHEN
the employees reached their places OF employment
all suburban trolley lines having been abandoned
at nidr sht and the steam railroads being unable to
| run more than two three suburban trains during
| the forenoon All the through trains from New
York md the West. well as those from the East,
were at least from four TO SIX hours late. and many
! did not get In unit, late in the afternoon
The city and suburbs arc covered with broken
/ poles and tangled wires. Many horses we're Killed
in the streets by stepping upon the ends OF tele-
| phone wires which had fallen across the trolley
wires Tonight the situation assumed such a
dangerous aspect that Mayor Quincy ordered that
non. Of the electric lights be turned on except III
districts where the wires were underground II
/ Will reGulrs weeks 10 restors tho telephone and
/ telegraphic service to its former standard Not a
/ single telegraph wire out OF Boston was IN opera
ton all day, and the telephone wires were IN al
| most as bad shape. This afternoon n telephone
! service as far Worcester WAS established.
! The wholesale and most all OF the business district
! o., tho city was deserted all day. The stock EN-
| change was ufe.ess and transactions were very
limit ed chiefly due 20 the absence or news from the
! New-Yo Stock Exchange. ,
! Shipping I'm III, harbor was considerably damaged
! during last night and the early morning IL is
! feared that many disasters to coast shipping WI
/ be reported when Geographic communication is re-
I stored