Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-02
THE STORM.
Heavy Snow All Day, Thursday, Turn
ing to Hail and Rain.
Streets Filled with Torrents oil Water and
Rendered WeIInigh impossible.

| Windy March came in with a bluS-
ter, this year, and presented a storm
worthy Of the reputation of the month
| The snow began to fall, a little after
10 o'clock, Wednesday night. and con-
tinued all through the night and until
about > o'clock. Thursday afternoon
when the snow changed to hail. 1t was
a very disagreeable storm to be out in,
although not great amount of snow
fell. business on the street was very
dull, all day. One business man said
that if one Of his creditors mad not paid
him bill, in the afternoon, he would
not have taken a dollar in cash. during
the whole day. Only those who had to
be out We're on the streets and those
got in as soon as they could.
The 10-cent teams did their usual
stormy day business and We're the most
contented men to be found. during the
day. Few envied them their jobs. how
ever. especially when they had to face
the driving snow on a long drive. There
was scarcely anyone in from the coun-
try, the whole day.
The snow was not Of sufficient vol
ume to delay the trains on the Maine
Central and most Of them were on
time at this station. The Electrics
made their trips with fair regularity.
during most of the day. and everyone
was surprised that they We're able to
do so as we'll as they did.
The icemen had sufficient cause for
worry. The snow that fell would not
have hindered the completion of the
n no ba, al
continued cold. The prospect of a big
rain storm was good, however. and at
dark the prospect Of harvesting more
ice was very much in doubt.
The hail turned to rain at little af-
ter 6 o'clock, and the wind coming up,
it made one of the widest nights to
be out in during this winter noted for
its wild nights. The rain fell in tor
rents and the wind blew a gale. There
was no possibility Of keeping dry for
those who had to be out after 3
o'clock. The wind would wreck the
strongest umbrella.
one Of the pleasantest parts of the
city was the back streets. on most
Of them it was dark. In the streets
themselves there was scarcely track
in the snow that had fallen earlier in
the day. and underneath this there was
several inches of water. on the side
walks there was nothing but clear
water. and this was the better path to
take. one was bound to get wet any
way, and on the sidewalks the walk
ing was better.
ON the hills there We're torrents Of
water. almost strong enough in places
to carry one off his feet. All over the
city there was nothing. but slush and
water. In places it was knee deep and
it was impossible to tell what minute
il would be necessary to actually
swim. 1t was a pleasant night to be
out.
In the early part of the evening the
streets were fairly passable, but after
10 o'clock it was wellnigh impossible
to get about on foot, as the snow was
then worn away and the sidewalks
mostly only a stretch of glare ice.
Every one who could shut themselves
up in their homes. In the light Of the
electrics it seemed like deserted city.
Many Of the paths had not been SHOW
elled out at all and there We're tracks
in scarcely any of them. Only the
cosy welcome Of the lights in the
warm TOO1IlS SIlONtu tlldl there W as
any life in the city in the residential
section.
On Water street things were almost
as bad as they We're in other parts of
the city. Deep pools of water We're
everywhere and no one without hip
boots could go a rod without being
wet to the knees.
In the early part Of the evening there
was much danger from snow slides
from the roofs and there were several
narrow escapes from injury. The
snow and ice that had been collecting
on the roofs for days was loOSened by
the rain and where there was moth
ing to stop it, slid suddenly and silent
ly into the street in sufficient guam
tity to bury any one who happened to
be under it.
The storm was not a bad one for the
trains. however unpleasant it might be
to face. Passenger train No. 2. due at
this station at 1913 =. NJ. was reported
IS minutes late into Waterville but arrived
at this station very nearly on time.
The Electrics managed to keep running
all day and through the evening although
badly delayed most of the time. In the
evening the road machine was used to
clear the slush from the track on Water
street and men were stationed along the
line to keep the water running off the
, track.
| A few men were also at work on the
sidewalks on some of the principal streets
Of the city. draining off the water as
much as they could. 1t was almost use
less. however. to attempt to make the
walks passable during the night. The
banks of snow served as sides to a
/ Continued on page g.