Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-14

Richmond is practically cut off from
the rest Of ;he world. With the excep-
ion Of the Southern, none Of the railroads
entering the city are running their trains.
and the Southern is operating under great
difficulties. The snow is nearly two feet
deep throughout the State. The trains
have ploughed through the snow as FAR
as they could but on the Richmond, Fred
ericksburg and Potomac, the Atlantic
Coast Line. and the Chesapeake and ohio
there are huge drifts. through which tho
heavy trains cannot pass. and hence traf-
iic has had to be abandoned.
Old railroad men say they have never
experienced any such storm as the one
that has ragged for the past three days,
and not since the memorable snow of 1891
have trains been unable to move TO and
from the city. The Chesapeake and ONO
struggled manfllly to get its trains into
Richmond. and did succeed i'm getting
several through. but drifts at Mechums
river. Alton. and Trevilllan's have block
ed the passage Of trains and forced the
company TO practically abandon ito line
temporarily None of the trains are able
to get into or out of Washington. because
| OF the fact that the Southern railway
over whose tracks they run from orange
| to Alexandria, has abandoned that poN
ton of its roIte. Trains Nos. and T.
| east-bound. encountered the snow drifts
az Alton and Mechum's river and were
| forced to lay off temporarily These
trains were due here Sunday evening, but
were unable to get through. and are now
at Charlottesville. where they Will prob
ably remain until to-day. In the mean
| time. the passengers are being cared lof'
rbe,. will be brought TO Richmond to-day
J SNOW FIFTEEN FEET DEEP.
The drift at Alton was one of the most
severe ever encountered on that ROAD III
! the cut there just east OF the DIG tunh'i
! snow Is packed across the track 10
| depth of y feet, and IL was only alter
many hours of hard work that a passage
| was dug out for the train, ana theh inc
| drift closed again. After getting their
| trains as far as Charlottesville the news
came that there was a drift at TreVl-
ians lust this side Of GOrdonsvilie' ana
orders were promptly issued for the TWO
| trains to Law off at Charlottesville, whete
! the passengers could be coinioftaDlS
| housed. General Manager stevens was III
the telegraph office here most all day at
tending 10 the transportation analrS,
while the superintendents were scattered
along the line. ...
| Three big mOgul engines were sent OUT
| from Charlottesville TO make an attempt
TO break through the drift az IreViillaha'
but no report had been received from tnen'
at the time Mr.. Stevens lett MS o".ee,
and If H. NOT known what result attended
| their effort. Train No. !. for the west
! which was due 10 leave here at 2lo yes
terdav afternoon. left two hours late 10
| make an effort 10 reach CharottesNille.
| II carried "A large number Of men Win
/ picls and shovels 10 assist IN opening q
| wov through the drift at Trevillians ana
| had reached GOrdOnsvlle at mdhlsht'
| The train for Newport News left on time
! Yesterday afternoon though II was re-
! norted that large drift had formed at
/ Williamsburg, and reached It's destination
/ az 73O o'clock. Train NO j. when ieit
! Newport News I'm the early afternoon
was still struggling ina the snow at mid
niobt hut arrived here about 1850 o'clock
| This morning. II brought no passengers
| on the James-Riyer Division or tho
| Chesaueake and Ohio no trains are now
| running TO Richmond The last Train INTO
| the CITY arrived early yesterday morning,
and none have since been sent out. IHe
| line is open. however. between LynchDuiS Z
and Clifton Forge, and the regular mum
ber of trains are being operated between
those two places.
BIT ONE FROM THE NORTH.
The Richmond. Fredericksburg and Po
tomac railroad did not get any 81 IL
trains into the city sunday night. IN
| last train TO arrive here from the Nolti
come I'm shortly after o'clock yesterday
| morning, and stalled opposite the ireis"
| denot ON Broad street, where IL sun re-
| mains Notwithstanding the comblheu ca
| ,or,s 81 three engines to move 1t. Ihl
train left Washington shortly amer
| o,cI,ck Sunday afternoon, and was sche'
| duled 10 arrive here that night az 40
| +, encountered drifts all along the me
| ana was frequently forced 10 stop Iyhs
| enough to have the snow shoVelled asiue
| Seeing the impracticobility OF "ytialilt
| its rains the Richmond. Fredericksburg
IA poromoc management decided e
| abandon the route temporarily ana al
| @r,Iers for the movements Of trains were
| cancelled. Inn,
| ,rbe Coast-Iine, which works in conJunc
| tion with the Richmond, Frederichsog
| and potomac. had the same trouble. ~
Il
| line between hete and south hVeAs
! Mount Is blocked. and all trains have beer
! abandoned. None Of their trains reacnr'
the city yesterday. and none are tryiDs
| to DO so.
CARING FOR THEIR PATRONS.
The last train to come In from 'h'
south reached here at 10 r. NJ SUNDAY
and the passengers bound for hortherl
noints were unable 70 proceed further
! the passenger department promptly saw
| to the needs of their patrons, and IN con
sanction with the Richmond, Fredcflcks
! bnrg and Potomac. the passengers bot'
from the South and from the North wer
taKeu To the jefferson and to Murphy
| Hotel where they are being cared for a
| ,be expense OF the two companies unu
| tnev can proceed on their ways. Tn
| trains over The Coast-I.ine from the SoAu
were NOT allowed TO come further thar
south Rocky Mount after IL became eyi
1ent that they could not reach this city
ana there also the passengers are oein
| cared for by the. company. The operator
reuort that all along the coast-lAne track
between here and Weldon there Is sno'
20 the average depth of S inches
The seaboard Airline. which comes
=. Il