Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-04-20
HAVOC WITH THE TELEGRAPH
LAKE ERIE A WILD MASS OF
ROLLING WAVES-MUCH
DAMAGE TO SHIPPING
DANGER IN ELECTRIC WIRES.
Heavy Snow Broke Down the Wires
With the Current Stil On-Many
Injured.

Cleveland, Ohio, April 2O.-Northern
Ohio was today swept by fierce storm
of wind and snow that Frustrated tele-
graph and telephone wires in all direc-
tions. The wind came from the north
and during the early hours of the day
reached velocity of 80 miles an hour.
All telegraph communication was sever
ed between Cleveland and points east
and south. Wires We're patched up to
the west, but even these were reported
to be working slowly.
In some respects the storm was the
worst experienced during the entire win
ter. The heavy. wet snow came down
in binding sheets and the streets in
this city were covered with slush almost
ankle deep. Traffic on many street car
lines was badly delayed. Telephone and
telegraph poles were blown down across
the tracks and the trolley wires badly
tangled up. The police and fire alarm
wires were also carried down and some
sections of the city were cut off from
communication with the fire and police
signal exchanges.
Out of more than a hundred wires con-
Meeting Cleveland and Buffalo not one
was in working order during the early
hours of today. The conditions between
Cleveland and Pittsburg, it was said,
were equally bad Telegraph and tele-
phone officials declared that the storm
has been the most destructive experience
ed in long time. The long distance
telephone lines wire reported down in
every direction, there being no commu-
nication with any outside point.
1t undoubtedly will be many days be-
fore full repairs can be made to the tele-
graphic and long distance service. Many
poles are prostrated, causing innumer-
able breaks in the wires.
The electric light companies shut off
their current in some parts of the city,
owing to the general mix up of wires
Notwithstanding this precaution how
ever, number of persons received Sc
we're shocks and several horses were kill
ed. James White. a contractor, stepped
on live wire on Broadway and was rem
dered unconscious. He was badly burn
ed.
Traffic on nearly all the steam roads
entering the city was delayed to a more
or less extent. In many places the
tracks We're reported to be buried under
deep slush and it was found impossible
70 make schedule time.
Lake Erie was lashed into wild fury
py the violent storm. Enormous
waves dashed over the harbor breakwa-
ter, sending up spray TO the height of a
hundred feet or more.
A crib 200 feeet long and about 25 feet
wide, which was anchored at the end OF
the east breakwater, preparatory to be-
inng sunk was torn from it's fastenings
and driven ashore inside the west break
water. The crib crashed into the west
pier. but little damage resulted.
Information from the surrounding
country districts indicate that the storm
was of unusual violence and wrought
much damage. In many places the snow
is reported foot deep on the level and
the roads have been rendered almost inn
passable by huge drifts.
Electric railways connecting Cleveland
with nearby towns found 1t almost i'm
possible to operate cars. Some lines were
completely tied up.