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

Richmond IS I'm the grasp OF a blizzard
that has more of the characteristics OF
the genuine Arctic article than any eN-
rsrienced I'm the memory of the most in
sistent oldest inhabitanL
The great snow-stom Of 1897 has been
SURPASSED in fury by the henceiorwaid
historic storm Of 1899 Those Of the elder
generation who have constantly cited the
storm Of the earlier date as the greatest
on record in Virginia must now allow
vouurer mon a show 10 talk Of their eN-
rerience and tell stories of the storm OF
1850
For more than hfty-lNe homs-tWo uays
and seven hours-the snow fen as Rich
mond people have rarely seen it fall At
. o'clock Saturday afternoon IT began.
Those who knew anything Of weather
from appearances Of the heavens and
general weather conditions. expected a
heavy storm. They did not expect such
a one as came. II did not let up till mid
night Saturday.
Early sunday It began again. The snow
fell more rapidly than ON Saturday. 1t
kopt Il up am day. Every hour the storm
vaxed in fury. At dark IL was raging
more fercely than a' any hour since II
regan. At midnight it had lost none OF
its fury. At daylight it still RACED as
though a fresh start had just been taken.
AT noon none OF its fury had been lost;
at 2 o'clock IL was as bad as ever; at o
o'clock fl began to show signs of abate-
,neut. AT $3.50 o'clock it had stopped, but
the sun had gone down behind clouds as
heavy and ass angry as those which ma
tbe face of Heaven when the great storm
began two days before
SIGHTS AND EXPERIENCES.
THE sights I'm Richmond and the eXpe-
rienccs of Richmond people during lhe
storm were such as were never known
here before. Big storms i'm the past nave
NOT bccu infroqucnt. but never one so bad
as this None has ever lasted so long.
None has ever shown such fury. None
has ever created more widespread neon
Veuience. None has ever SO nearly com
pletelv shut Richmond off from the out
side world, or so absolutely stopped
etreet-car travel Lastly, but I'm no sense
Of least importance. so much suffering
was never caused by a snow-storm in
EichmOnd.
passage along the streets at any hour
impossibility The high wind that pre-
vailed during the storm caused drifting
that almost equallod if it did not exceed.
that of 1857. Early Sunday morning the
curbstones disappeared. The daring way
farer had 10 keep close 10 the walls to
mako sure OF not stepping into banks be-
yond his knee in depth.
Cburrh-roars escaped such discomforts
bv using the car-lines. After / O'CLOCK
such escape was not possible Ihere were
no cars outside the sheds, or lhr leW
scattered along the lines unahie 10 se'
homo During the afternoon All theSS
dcreuet. were gotten I'm by the help oil
the nI0ws They did not come OUT as az"
Drifting snow covered the tracks as las
a. the p,OWs cleared them. II was lao"i
lost to attempt 90 keep the lines open.
SLIM CHURCH ATTENDANCE.
Attculanc. 20 church was sim 9uhu'i'
morning. Sunday night AT was nearly
nothing and many churches were no
ODen one pastor reported thirteen per
sons present at the night service-a physi
clan. three undertakers. eight others ah'
the pastor himself
There were few persons on the stree, =
Only business OF pressing nature broush
PEOPLE out Many slcishs were soon u
evidence. The jingle of The bells wa'
pretty music. but ~ did not reduce ta'
temperature. nor lessen the storms tury
cabs were much used during Sunday an'
Sunday night. and the same was true, Il
a measure vest 'rdaN.
But the Mvcrymcn sent their drivers an'
horses out under protest. II was weather
that made shelter for both ana absolute
necessity. Yesterday prices were put ~
n order 10 lessen the demand. 1t had
tho desired effect. and few animals were
seen ON the streets. save the mules at
tachcd 10 carts hauling coal.
THE RUSH FOR FUEL
The coal carts broke the tracks on near
ly every street. Early in the morn
Ing while the storm was at the heish'
Of ns fury-if there were periods OF re-
laxauon-the demand upon the dealers
Tor coal began. Nothing Ike II was eve
seen in Richmond before. The offices OF
The coal and wood firms were besieged al
day Nearly everybody seemed out OF
fuel or nearly 80, or fearful that ms
supply would be exhausted before Dettei
weather
The demand was not supplied. Every
firm worked its hardest 10 MI ORDERS
Every possible means was used 10 get t'
eeas1Iners tbs means OF keeping aD ths