The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-02-02
ECHOES FROM THE GREAT SNOW STORM.
Trains Delayed-Mail Wagons Stuck In the
Drifts Mail Delivered by Carriers on
Horseback and In Sleighs.

The alamauts nroved too much for Uncle Sans
Free Rural Delivery Wagons on Friday ana Saeuf-
day Of last week. Wagon tied up al Whlheiu'
and two Others made only part of their routes car
riers finishing the unfinished part on horseback anu
in sleighs.
Postmaster schaefer had teams doubled ana re-
lays OF horses and men along the several routes ana
everytbinp was done to facilitate the delivery, but
Boreas concluded to take hand and closed the
roads almost as rapidly as opened. Through ex-
traordinary exertfons the mali was COTTON through
on saturday but the high wind of Sunday nignt
and Monday afternoon brought more trouble poth
to mail carriers and the railroad The latter pelng
drifted shut between Medfofd and Avondale, caus
ing delay of several hours. Onion Bi1dge ana
Westminster were communicated with ana soon
large force of men were at work. and by p m. the
track was opened, but i'll order to keep the track
open an engine moved to and fro durlns the night.
The Littlestowu turnpike was partly closed Dull
DIR. ]. H. Billingsiea. the president. communicates
with the various superintendent ana gave ihs.iuS
tons TO have the drifts removed.
Considerable difficulty was met with on the
Washington and Westminster turnpike hut u large
force of men, under the supervision OF Mr. George
Ieck) Lippy, soon had the road opened
Persons coming to this city from the upper part OF
Manchester district were delayed several nours'
they being compelled to take to the fields as the
roads in many places were closed and were danger
Gus to travel
Many amusing occurrences were reported, occa-
stoned by the upsetting of the sleighs or wagons,
detentions etc.
Some gentlemen connected with the Davis Sew
ing Machine Company. mostly from North Carolina
and Tennessee, had often read and heard of snow
drifts, blockaded county roads and railroads. bat
had never seen them and they have written home
their experience. scarcely expecting them to be
believed
Several funerals were delayed and public sales
postponed owing to the closing of the roads.
About , a. M Wednesday snow began falling and
continued until p. M, attaining depth OF about
four inches. II was accompanied by strong east
to northeast wind, closing roads that had been
opened.
letter from Frederick, January %. says Snow
that fell last week driven this afternoon by a
terrific hurricane into a deep cut between Bruce
vile and Taneytown, and has completely blocked
the Frederick branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad
at that point. A northbound passenger tra1u tna'
ran into the drift was almost buried by the wind
driven snow, and was with difficulty extricateo
this evening by an engine sent out from Frederick.
The southbound train, due here at six O'CLOCK
learned of the drift at Taneytown, and stopped
same point The northbound train, in charge OF
Conductor Mccarthy, set out from Bruceviile, how
ever. unaware of the difficulty ahead, with full
head of steam on as precaution against possible
difficulty in the cut. The engineman ran the train
into the drift He had gotten but a little distance
when the engine stopped, and by the time he dis
covered that it impossible for him to go ahead
| it was equally impossible to back out.
! For over two hours the train was held there lis
failure to arrive at Taneytown was reported back
| to Brucevile, and engine was sent up the road
1t managed to pillow through the snow 10 the pas
senger train and coupling to its rear end, with the
help of the trains own engine, succeeded in pulling
it out and back to Brnceville. All the resources
this section of the road being employed tonigh
! to cut through the bank of snow. Heavy engines
| coupled together by twos are bucking the driit
| both ends but can make little hesdway, the Cd
strueton being five feet high and 900 feet long.