The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-03-19
WORST STORM OF The WINTER.
Severe Blizzard Raging for Thir-
ty-Six Hours in Northwest.

ST. Paul, Mimi, March 16.-North
Dakota and the Canadian northwest
has experienced the worst snow storm
in many years and railroad traffic is
practically paralyzed. The Northern
Pacific and Great Northern have not
moved a wheel for nearly So hours in
the blizzard stricken district and have
abandoned all efforts to do so until the
fury of the storm shall abate The
high wind has piled the snow in noun
tains and packed it in solid masses,
many deep cuts being entirely filed.
The temperature has been gradually
falling and is now at or below the zero
mark. Not ns-continental train
has arrived at st. Paul since Friday
and none is expected for several days.
The Northern Pacific reports its west
bound coast trains which left st. Paul
yesterday morning tied up at Fargo,
the road beyond there being blocked.
1t will start coast bound train to-
morrow morning and hopes to be able
to get it through. The eastbound
train due here Saturday morning is
held at Mandan, N. D., and no at
tempt will be made to move it before
tomorrow. Every effort is being made
by the road to keep its passengers who
are snowbound warm and well fed and
for this reason trains are being held
at stations where the accommodations
are good rather than attempt to get
them through with a possibility Of
being tied up between stations. The
Red Valley division of the Northern
Pacific between Frankfort and Winni-
peg 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 that preceded the heavy snow
fall.
The situation on the Great North
ern is equally bad. The line is tied
up entirely between Grand Forks and
Williston, n. D., distance of about
50 miles, and all wires have been lost
beyond Fargo. All communication
with western Dakota and Montana
points has been lost. So fierce has
been the storm that it has been mad
visable to attempt to reopen the road
until it abates. Reports received at
the general Offices tonight indicate that
the gale has somewhat subsided, but
that the snow still continues to fall.
The branch of the Great Northern
running 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 is reported entirely cut
off from railroad communication with
the outside world. The Canadian
Pacific trans-continental trains are
snowbound somewhere west of there,
anda no prospect of relief is yet in
sight.
The storm started on Friday,
being preceded by light rainfall and
accompnied by high winds. The rain
soon turned to sleet and then to snow
and this has fallen without cessation
for more than IS hours. The terrific
gale drifted the snow badly and it is
next to impossible to wade through
the streets. Business of all kinds has
been at "a standstill since Friday night.
So far as known there has been no
loss of life, but owing to the demoral-
lied condition of the wires little news
has been received from the remote
districts. The farmers hail the advent
of the snow with delight, as the
ground has been very dry, and this
abundance of moisture will put it in
excellent shape for the spring seeding.