The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-28
IN STORMS GRASP
Kansas Visited by a Blizzard
Yesterday.
TRAINS BLOCKED BY SNOW
Telegraph and Telephone Co.
Suffer From the Storm.
TRAINS BLOCKED BY SNOW

The snow storm yesterday was proba-
bly, the most severe one which has visited
this section in recent years. Train SER
vice was interferred with, all traffic being
suspended on the Rock Island and Frisco
lines, while telegraph and telephone com
panies were seriously Inconvenience by
the breaking down Of their wires. The
street railway attempted to keep their
cars running, and did manage to do 50
until quite late yesterday afternoon, but
they were finally caught and had to be
abandoned at different points along the
line.
It began showing about O'Clock yes
terday morning. The snow fall was re-
markedly heavy, several inches falling in
less than an hour. About ) o'clock the
storm was 50 severe that IL was impossi-
bic to see across the street Later in the
morning the storm lifted somewhat and
the snow changed TO a drilling rain.
This continued until afternoon, when it
began TO sIeet. The wet snow was COW
cred with thick coating Of sleet and
began to freeze. The wind began to blow
at high velocity and Wichita was in
the grasp Of a regular North Dakota biz
zard. The storm seemed to grow worse
as the day became older. the air being
filed with sleet and snow, and it reached
its heighth about o'clock. The fall then
gradually became lighter as the hours
passed during the night
Early in the afternoon the Rock Island
- 3
service was suspended. Several train
loads Of stock and sheep which were be-
Ing shipped to eastern markets, were
stopped here and the animals yarded over
for the night at the Wichita Union stock
yards. The Frisco road was also blocked
by snow during the afternoon, the cuts
near Neodesha being filed up with snow
70 such depth that the light snow
plows on the passenger engines were IN
able to clear the tracks.
The Santa Fe and Missouri Pacific
roads managed to keep the trains on their
main lines in operation by the use of
heavy snowplows, but all trains were be-
hind time. The Wichita and Western was
showed in, as were several Of the
branches of the Missouri Pacific. It was
thought several times that both of these
roads would have to discontinue freight
service but they managed to keep their
engines moving.
The telegraph and telephone companies
were seriously Inconvenience. The sleet
during the afternoon and early morning
accumulated upon the wires to such an !
extent that many OF them were broken. |
The electric light company suffered also |
and many lights about the city were out.
While the snow will be Of great benefit |
10 farmers by offering the best protec- |
ton to wheat and other winter crops. vet |
the storm viii doubtless result in great |
damage to the cattle interests. especially |
should the weather turn very cold. The
cattle. which are unprotected from the |
weather. will be covered with snow and
sleet and viii be wet to the skin. IL the
temperature drops any considerable ex-
tenn the snow will freeze and many cattle
VIII be unable to weather the storm in
their weakened condition.
Reports from all parts Of the state in
dictate that the storm is general. The
snow in the eastern part of the state is |
especially heavy, while west of there the |
storm is not quite as severe.