Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-03-17
GALE SWEEPS NORTH
Worst Storm in Years Buries the Dakotas
Under Deep snOwdrihs.
RAILROADS ABANDON THE STRUGGLE
All Efforts Directed Toward Housing Pas
sengers at Stations,
BLIZZARD HITS THE CANADIANS HARD
Winnipeg Streets Are impossible and Busi-
ness is Suspended.
STORM SHOWS NO SIGN or ABATEMENT
After Thirty-Six Hours of binding
BLIZZARD HITS THE CANADIANS HARD
STORM SHOWS NO SIGN or ABATEMENT
After Thirty-Six Hours of BlindinE
Blasts the Smitten People Pray
for Relief, but None IL
in sight.

ST. PAUL, Mimi. March 16.-North Da-
kota and the Canadian northwest has eN-
perienced the worst snowstorm in many
years and railroad traffio Is practically
paralyZed. The Great Northern and the
Northern Pacific have not moved wheel
in thirty-six hours in the blizzard stricken
district and have abandoned all efforts TO
do so until the blizzard abates. The high
winds have pilet and packed the snow into
mountainous masses. The temperature has
been gradually falling and is now at, or
below, the zero mark.
Not transcontinental train has arrived
in st. Paul since Friday and none is ex-
pected in several days. The Northern Pa
chc reports it's westbound coast train,
which left ST. Paul yesterday morning. tied
up at Fargo the road beyond there being
blocked. 1t will start coastbound train
tomorrow morning. The eastbound coast
train due here Sunday morning Is held Mt
Mandan, N. D.. and no attempt will be
made to move 1t before tomorrow. Every
effort is being made by the road TO keep
those OF its passengers who are snowbound
warm and we'll fed. and for this reason
trains are being held at stations where the
accommodations are good, rather than at
tempt to get them through with a posi-.
bility OF being tied up between stations.
One Division Wholly Abandoned.
The Red River Valley division Of the
Northern Pacific between Frankforts and
Winnipeg is entirely abandoned. No trains
have attempted to run since Friday night
and the exact conditions on this division
are not known by the general officers here,
as the telegraph wires have been carried
down by the burden Of sleet which pre-
ceded the heavy snowfall.
The situation on the Great Northern Is
| equally bad The line is tied up between
| Grand Forks and Williston, N. D., a dis
| tance OF thirty-fve miles, and all wires
have been lost beyond Fargo. Thirty miles
of wire are gone between Fargo and Cassel-
ton. NJ D., and all communication with
western Dakota and Montana points has
| been lost. So fierce has been the storm
that 1t has been deemed inadvisable 10
l.attcmnt to rvopeA the road nntil il nbates,
Reports received at the general ofiices to-
night indicate that the gale has somewhat
subsidized, but that the snow continues to
| fall.
| The branchi OF the Great Northern run
ming to Winnipeg is also tied up. No trains
have been started northward since Friday
night. and those that were caught out on
| the road by the storm have been held at
the station near the border.
winnipeg Cut on.
Winnipeg is reported entirely cut of from
railroad connection with the outside world
| The Canadian Pacific transcontinental
trains are snowbound somewhere west OF
there and no prospect OF relief is yet In
sight. The storm started Friday, being pre-
ceded by a light rainfall and accompanied
| by high winds, The rain soon turned to
sleet and then to snow. and this has fallen
without cessation for over thlrty-six hours.
The terrific gale drifted the snow so
badly that the streets OF the towns In the
storm district we're filled so deeply that II
was next to impossible to wade through
them Business of ali kinds has been at
standstill since Friday night and not much
! can be done until the storm subsidies.
So far as known there has been no loss OF
| life but owing to the demoralized condi-
tion Of the wires little news has been re-
| ceived from the remoter districts.
The farmers hail the advent OF the snow
with delight as the ground had been very
dry and this abundance of moisture will put
1t in excellent shape for the spring seeding.
MoNTEVIDEo. MINI, March 16--Violeni
gales, with binding hurrles OF snow. Sc,
in last night and still continue. All trains
are from ten to twelve hours late.