The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-02-17
Iocal ano 4>ersonal.
The Great Mid Winter Storm.

The February storm of 1899 will long he
remembered We had been wont To look
back to the blizzard of 1895 rs Il memora-
bile event. hut the record of that remark
able year has been broken The month
was nshcred in with fall of snow which
lasted fora few days. 1t had scarcely
been melted by the rain before the snow
lakes began Ia fall again and early last
week the Sleighs were running. Thursday
the Sth inst, was quite cold day, but on
Friday of last week the thermometer
ranged from to degrees below ger" in
the cities and even 10 degrees lower in
exposed localities in the county. On
Saturday morning again il was bitter cold
bni it moderated toward evening and il
was hoped that the worst was passed. On
that evening while the sun was shining
snow flakes were seen floating from the
sky, and the local weather prophets began
to predict severe weather. Ali day sun
day it showed; on Monday morning it was
still showing and blowing cold and cold
err Those who were short of fuel began
to despair. The weather was such that
neither man nor beast could stand cx-
posture for any length of time. Our local
merchants were doing the best they could
to relieve pressing necessities. Fuel and
provisions were shipped rs lon" as the
wagons could run. Finally towards even
ing they became snow bound and every
body had to seek shelter. Two four-mnle
teams from the Furguson Contracting
Company camp. came here on Monday for
supplies. but they were unable to get rs
far as Mr.. Martins store and the wagons
and provisions had to be abandoned. For
the past two days laborers have been cut
ting way from the camps to the snow
covered wagons in order that pressing
necessities might be relieved. To say
that there has been much suffering iii the
community is putting it mildly. Many
were caught with little fuel and infnrtu
nately in some cases little food. Servants
were unable on Monday to report for duty
and in some cases the master of the house
had to feed stock and poultry to save it
from perishing while the ladies prepared
the meals. We have not yet heard
many reports from the FARMS but think it
likely that cattle and stock of all kinds
have suffered severly and in some instances
persisted from the cold.
On Monday night the wind blew furions
ly. and although Tuesday was bright and
cheerful overhead, it found every house
hold snow bound. The drifts in some
places were ten feet deep. The streets
were absolutely impossible. Some persons
finally forced their way through on horse
back, and others dug paths through the
huge banks of snow. In the afternoon
Mr.. J. J.. Edlavitcl had Il pair Of mules
and a pair of horses hi.ched to a SNOW
plow and amid the hurrais of the boys,
the animals were forced through the
drifts, and some of the principal streets
were made passablc for pedestrians or for
slc'ghS Mr. Lillard, Of the Standard Oil
Company, also rendered valuable assis-
lance in this respect, being the first to
attempt the work.
OF course, the public roads arc absoute
" blocked, and must remain 50 for some |
time Railroad travel was suspended from
Saturday until Wednesday evening. The
special train which was sent down OH Tie |
P0pe's Greek line on Monday to keep the
track open did not get any further than
Brandywinc.
Except for the trade OF our merchants
in distributing supplies all business
has been suspended No mails reached
here, and, but for the limited tclegraphic
communication, we were completely
cnt off from the outside world until Wed |
nesday evening.
We would urge upon everybody to aid
in opening the thoroughfarcs. The
establishment Of Communication will bcne
fit all There are still some weeks of
winter before us, and there may be a con
tnuance of severe weather and conse
tllent suffering and distress