Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-04-21
STORM VERY SEVERE N
AND ABOUT CLEVELAND.
UNPRECEDENTED WIND, RAIN, AND
SNOW BREAK DOWN ALL
ELECTRIC WIRES.
ALL COMMUNICATION CUT OFF.
HORSES WE'RE SHOCKED TO DEATH
AND MANY PERSONS HAD MAR
ROW ESCAPES.

CLEVELAND, O., April 20.-The ter
rife storm of wind and snow which
prevailed in this city and vicinity to-
day was one of the most disastrous to
telephone and telegraph service ever
experienced. The wind, which came
from the north, reached at times a ve-
locity of more than sixty miles an hour.
Hundreds 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 tele-
graph companies succeeded in main
tanning communication with Chicago
and Cincinnati throughout the day.
Many streets of the city were strewn
with broken poles and tangled wires.
Several persons We're severely shocked
by coming in contact with live wires.
So far as reported no one was seriously
injured.
Five or 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 SUI
burban electric roads were completely
tied up. owing to the Immense snow
drifts on the tracks. No less than
eight or nine stations were cut off for
hours owing to the general prostratlon
of wires and should a fire break out in
the Isolated districts, it is feared that
great loss would follow. The pecun-
iary loss suffered by the telegraph and
telephone companies will be very heavy.
The electric lighting companies shut
on their current in some parts OF the
city owing to the general mix-up OF
wires. Notwithstanding this precau-
ton, however, a number of persons re-
ceived severe shocks and several horses
were killed. James Waite, a contractor,
stepped on a live wire on Broadway
and was badly injured.
Traffic on nearly all the steam roads
entering the city was delayed. In
many places the tracks were reported
TO be buried under deep slush and 1t
was found impossible to make schedule
time. Lake Erie raj dashed into a
Wild fury by the storm. Enormous
waves dashed owe the harbor break
water, sending up sprays to the height
of a hundred feet or more.
A crib zoo feet long and % feet wide.
anchored at the end of the east break
water. was torn from its ~fastenings and
driven ashore inside the breakwater.
The crib crashed into the west, but
Hbtle damage resulted.
information from the surrounding
country districts indicates that the
storm was Of unusual violence ana
wrought much damage. in many places
the o is reported a foot deep on
the level and the roads have been rem
dered almost impossible by the hugo
drifts.
Electric railways connecting Cleve-
land with nearby towns. found IL al
most impossible to operate cars. Some
lines were completely tied up.
With the exception of the Lake Shore
and Nickle Plate. other railroads into
Cleveland were badly crippled.
A train on the Erie that runs to Pitts
burg in three and a half hours requir-
ed seven hours to-day. Three engines
were needed TO bring six coaches. Snow
in the cuts reached to the windows OF
the coaches. Snow plows housed for
the summer were again put into SER
vice.
The storm in Cleveland continues
with unusual severity. A steady down
pour of wet snow, driven by a high
wind continues.