The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-04-23
FEARFUL SNOW STORM
CONTINUED FROM FIRsr PAGE,

In the Ohio river is impending. 1t Is
TOO early yet to predict with accuracy
h extent of the coming flood, but all
signs point to a stage OF water that
must bring devastation of a most ~eri-
Gus nature all along the Ohio river and
its tributaries in Ohio, West Virginia
and Kentucky.
The condition is something Of a sur
prise at Cincinnati, because, while
there has been rain almost every day
in the week, it was not heavy enough
TO create apprehension; but above Gin
cinnati, in Kentucky and West Vir-
GINA flood rains were falling as early
as Wednesday n over a vast extent
of h Ohio river valley watershed il
Was continuous
SNOW FROM CANADA TO AT
LANTA.
Following these rains came the ire
mendous fall of last night which
reached from Canada to Atlanta, with
its western border less than 100 miles
from Cincinnati. By it's mere weight
and by the force of the wind. in many
places, there IA almost a complete
paralysis OF all wire communication
across this snow belt today. From
II to 10 inches of snow lies over east
ern and over the greater part of
West Virginia and eastern Kentucky.
This is supplemented by heavy rain in
the region of the headwaters of the
Ohio river today.
The weather bureau officials are CON
fident that the rain must cease today,
but with warmer weather tomorrow
the vast snow area will melt and add
to the great volume of water. 1t is,
therefore, easily possible for a flood Of
disastrous proportions to sweep down
the Ohio valley within the next few
days. 1t is estimated that a stage of
forty-two feet ct Cincinnati will be
reached by tomorrow. All agree that
nifty feet Will surely come-how much
more cannot we'll be conjectured until
further developments.
Telegraphic communication today
with New York was almost entirel cut
off. Points in Ohio not fifty miles
apart communicated over lines stretch
ing owe several hundred miles. A few
points in northern Ohio were wholly
off from Geographic reports.
STORM OF WIND AND SNOW.
Cleveland, o., April 2O.-The terrific
storm of win and snow, which pre-
vailed in this city end vicinity today
was one of the most disastrous to tel
ephone and telegraph service ever eX-
perienced. The wind, which came from
the north, reached at times a velocity
of more thar sixty miles an hour.
OF poles were torn down and
wire communication with all points
east of Cleveland was entirely cut off.
The conditions west and south were
but little better, although the telegraph
companies succeeded in maintaining
communication with Chicago n Gin
cinnati throughout the day.
Many streets of the city were strewn
with broken poles and tangled wires.
Several persons were severely shock
ed by coming in contact with live wires.
So far as reported, no n was serious
ly injured. Five OF six horses were
instantly killed by stepping on wires
concealed under the deep slush and
snow.
Traffic on the steam and electric
lines was badly delayed. In some cases
suburban electric roads were complete
ly tied up. owing to the immense snow
drifts on the tracks.
No less han eight or nine fire sta
tions were cut off for hours, owing to
the general prostration of wires, and
should 4 fire break out in the isolated
districts it is feared that great loss
would follow. The pecuniary loss suf-
fered by the telegraph and telephone
companies will De very heavy.