Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-01

the car barn and Spencer. The indi-
Gators showed that the cars were work
ing, but their location is not known.
The snow is reported badly drifted, in
many cases reaching nearly to the caves
Of the cars.
A force of men was sent out at about
o'clock, and an effort will be made to
get the tracks clear during the day.
Late reports from the Millbury car
barn indicate that this line was more
fortunate than others in keeping the
tracks open. A plow was kept running
on each end of the line toward Worces-
ter and Bramanville; and, during a
good part of the evening the cars were
kept going. At a. m. both plows were
out, but it was impossible to locate
them. The snow is reported as badly
drifted in this locality
STEAM ROADS FARE BADLY.
The steam railroads Jared little better
than the electrics, and at last accounts
four passenger trains that were due
here last night are stalled on their lines.
The train from Nashua, due here at 9.O5,
is lost so far as the railroad authorities
knew at o'clock this morning. The last
heard from it, it had passed West Boyl-
ston; and it must therefore be stuck be-
tween that station and BARRIERS cross
ing.
The train from Providence, due here
at 11.05, is also counted among the miss
ing, so far as the local officials are
acquainted with 1t. The wires gave out
between here and Northbridge about
11,30 and the train had not reached that
station at that hour: and when a Spy
reporter visited the Union station at
o'clock this morning, nothing had been
heard from 1t.
On the Boston G. Albany road, the
trains from the west came in ali the way
from half an hour to nearly two hours
late: but they got here, and started for
Boston, though nobody knows how far
they got on their way as the wires be-
tween here and Boston went down late
in the evening, and no tidings have been
received from them. The passenger
trains due in this city from Boston had
hard luck like the rest and those that
should reach here at 1855 and 1925 have
yet to get in. They are stuck behind a
couple of freight trains at South Franz
ingham, or were at last accounts. Com
ing nearer home, a fast freight, scrap
er and couple of engines are stuck in
the deep cut at Bloomingdale. Mr.. Ager,
the local agent of the company, was
seen at the station this morning at l
O'Clock; and he said the road had
entirely suspended freight traffic and
was trying to get the trains that are out
on the road into shelter, but nobody
could tell how or when they would get
in.
TELEGRAPH COMPANIES SUFFER.
The telegraph companies suffered like
everything else, and communication
with Boston was entirely cut off about
II O'clock The New York wires, how
ever, held out better, and communica-
ton with that city was open at the last
account.
The hacknen did a thriving business
early in the evening, but it finally be
came too tough for even their horses,
and love nor money could not get a
Jehu to take a passenger after mid
night. The horses simply refused to
work.
The mail wagon on it's way TO the sta
ton to meet the Owl train was stuck
on Front street, and the horse was
taken out and led to the stable, the
wagon remaining where it was until
some time today, when it will be dug
out.
SCENES DOWN TOWN.
1t was positively astonishing to see
the number of people that came down
town for the various entertainments,
theatres, dances and the like in the ear
ly evening. 1t would have seemed as if
any one who was out late in the after
noon must have foreseen what the con-
dition would be late in the evening, and
had the common sense to remain ar
home, but such was not the case. The
early evening cars down town were
crowded, and a great number, after
waiting for them half or three-quarters
of an hour even, started to walk instead
of turning around and going nome. AS a
result, when the theatres let out the al
ready almost useless cars were crowded
to their capacity, and many, being un-
able to secure cars, walked home, often
with only light rubbers and overshoes,
when the snow was anywhere from a
foot and half to six feet deep, accord
ing to the street.
Walking any distance on side street
after 10 o'clock was positively danger
GUS The snow was so thick and heavy
that to move along taxed the strength
of powerful persons. The cutting snow
beat against the face until it seemed to
lacerate it, and swished into the eyes
until they Smarted from pain, and it
was almost impossible to see If fatal
tiles from sheer exhaustion do not re-
suit, it will be surprising
Fabulous prices were offered for
hackmen refused to attempt trips of
any distance or runs on side streets.
The horses plunged along with the snow
high up against their bellies, and the
hacks dragging like lead. The hackmen
were covered with ice, cold and thor
oughly used up,
1t was a terrible night; and, if the
temperature had been lower, no western
blizzard could have compared with it.
In fury it was fully abreast with those
dread snow storms Of the prairies which
strike terror to the travellers heart.
BeIated pedestrians gathered around
the Star lunch room and the open drug
stores in hopeless despair, after mid
night, undecided what to do. Many
went to the hotels, others lounged about
as best they could, waiting for the storm
to break or morning to come.
THE MERCURY.
The big storm was preceded by the
coolest snap of the winter. Even the
sheltered standard thermometer in the
miniature shed which sets like a pigeon
roost just outside the north window in
the city engineers office at the City
Hall, shrank it's column Of mercury to
O. point three degrees below zero, and
more exposed instruments, away from
the heat of the big Main street blocks,
sank from to 12 degrees lower. Sun
day night was certainly the coldest of
the winter, if not for several winters.
During the day yesterday, as the
storm increased in violence, the mer-
curry rose, until at 7.90 Monday evening
street thermometers which had stood
below zero "a hours before registered 20
above. The wind was keen, however,
and drove the falling snow into the
faces of the pedestrians with great
force and helped to pile up drifts which
finally brought an end to all street
travel