Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-03-06
EMBARGO ON BUSINESS.
ABOUT ALL TRAVEL SUSPENDED FOR A
TINE RY THURSDAYS STORM
SMALL WRECK on THE NORWAY
BRANCH.

/ BRANCH.
March came In like lion without an
doubt this year. Not for years ha
travel by MI mesns OF locomotion bee
so generally tied up as It was last weel
for time. The snow, which was fallin,
at good rate with fairly fresh north
east wind Thursday morning, kept Of
through the day, rather increasing II
force. At first II was q cry winter snow
Later II changed to dry, sandy hail
then TO rainy sleet which froze as l
fell, and through the day Friday !
steadily drizzled light fall Of rain
snow, sleet, or some mixture Of tn
three.
Communication was kept up about a!
usual on stormy day until about night
fall. The street railway made its las
trip to South Paris for the day about
O'Clock. The afternoon up train wa
only some half-hour late. but the even
ing train, due here nc Z :5S, did not gel
here until about 3 80 Friday morning
Meanwhile blockade on the line abov,
was holding back all trains, and M
down train went through from 9:53 A
NJ. Thursday until about 2P.M. Friday
IL was a dubious prospect that greeted
people when they got out Friday morn
ing. A foot or two Of heavy snow was
topped by a sharp crust 10 which 1t was
uncomfortable II not unsafe for horse
to travel. The street railway track wa:
covered with several inches of hard.
packed, icy snow. AS for steam railroad
trains, they were an utterly uncertain
quantity. The Norway train crew and a
freight train crew were stalled In the
ward all night, and had to stay by their
trains.
Owners OF teams were unwilling to
put their horses into the crust, so the
grocers went their rounds on foot, and
the road breaking teams stayed inside.
Porter and Curtis, the milkmeu, got
around with more or less risk 10 their
horses feet, aud theirs were the only
horses seen out for portion OF the fore
noon. Gradually other teams began TO
make their appearance. and after dinner,
the crust being somewhat softened, \
team OF six horses WAS got out 10 break
roads. The road machine consisted
simply Of sled with spring tooth har-
row hitched behind. A triangle was of
70 more use In that snow than a railroad
now pillow would have been.
Work was kept up Saturday, and by he
use OF harrow, triangle and road
machine, the streets were gradually
worked down into psssable condition.
But there will be no more first-clsss
sleighing this spring-it can't be expect
I'd. In the present condition OF things.
The mail from the Hill was brought
down on hsndsled, all trips Friday and
Saturday.
Superintendent Jones Of the street
railway put on large force Of men with
shovels and picks, behind 4 horse and
breaking up pillow, and considering the
burden which they had to remove, they
got along At fair speed.
By hard work the electric road track
was cleared nearly to the Methodist
church during Friday night. The car
runs no farther now, but stops opposite
Church Street. Below that the street
has been plowed off smooth.
The Norway Branch track got buried
up so as TO be impossible early Thurs
day evening. A little before noon of
Friday, s snow pillow pushed by two en-
zines. which left Gorham at 6 O'Clock
the night before, arrived at South Paris,
and made an attempt 10 open the Nor
way track. No trouble was encountered
until they got TO the Hicks Crossing.
There the pillow struck hard bunch,
and left the rails, turning more than
n 70 80. "a. -a,nd IN tho 1af, 'Thts thrau,
the forward engine of on the opposite
side OF the track, and she stopped with
her nose stuck through the fence OF the
cattle guard. The cylinder head which
struck the pillow rs It went by was
broken, the connecting rod was bent,
and numerous other small items OF
damage were done, while the cab was
badly wrecked, though strange 70 say,
the men In il were not at all injured. A
wrecking train Was on the scene In few
hours, and made quick work Of clearing
up the hesp.
Friday forenoon another attempt was
m lde to pillow out the Norway Branch.
The snow pillow started, pushed by the
regular Norway engine, No. lS5, and
another one. Just after they passed the
at the electric road crossing,
only few rods from the depot, crank
pin broke smooth on lS5, letting the
rod down, aud the connecting
rod on the other side was badly bent.
The engine was put on the disabled list
and slowed away, and another took It's
place behind the pillow. More or less
picking and shoveling was necessary be-
fore the Branch WAS finally cleared.