The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-16
Storm Of Sleet and Snow Descends
ON the City and Rages with
Violence.
RAILROAD TRAINS OFF TIME
TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE SERV.
ICE SERIOUSLY CRIPPLED.
Snow, Sleet and Wind General
Throughout the West-Texas Stock
men Fear Heavy Losses OF Cattle.

The cold wave predicted Friday morning
for this locality, and which was thought to
have fooled the citizens of indianapolis.
noon. 1t brought rain followed with sleet
and a heavy fall of snow. Weather Fore
caster Blythe said last night that the cold
wave would undoubtedly reach this city
this morning. He said he thought the tenn
perature would fall at least twenty de-
grees by o'clock this morning. Last night
at Z o'clock the thermometer ON top of the
Majestic building registered "a degrees
above zero. If the predictions of Mr.. Blythe
do not fail Indianapolis will awaken this
morning to find the mercury close to the
zero mark
The weather since Saturday night at $3.50
o'clock, when the rain began falling, has
not been equaled this year for contrariness.
After many hours of a slow, cold rain, the
temperature fell yesterday morning at s
o'clock and the rain turned to fine sleet.
This stung for nearly five hours, making
sidewalks and roadways a mass of crusty
slush. The temperature continued to fall,
and then furries of snow made their ap-
pearance. The snow continued falling for
the remainder of the day and through the
night, until at least two inches of snow had
fallen by l o'clock this morning. When the
weather bureau closed last night at 8
o'clock Ia inches of snow had fallen in
seven hours With the snow and sleet was
a high wind which drove the ice into the
faces Of those who happened to be out. The
wind drove the sleet curling about the
streets, and those who carried umbrellas
were never able to tell which way it was
coming.
STREET CAR SERVICE.
The sleet which began falling in the
morning made matters very unpleasant for
the street car company and also for rail-
road traffic. The sleet covered the rails
and would not allow good electric current
connection with the rails On many Of the
street car lines cars went dead" Motor
men and conductors with the of switch
hooks were seen scraping the rails for sew
eral feet ahead of their cars. They would
then run cars ahead for several feet in the
hope of crushing the ice that had caked
on the tracks. The work proved futile until
the large electric sweepers from the COM
pany's barns made their appearance. The
sweepers and the construction car loaded
with salt went over every line and softened
the ice, enabling the cars to proceed. Every
thing went lovely until the heavy fall of
snow during the afternoon. The tracks
were soon covered and the cars were again
tied up. The regular schedule was badly
disarranged. Several times during the
afternoon and evening ii was no uncom-
mon sight to see Washington street bare of
street cars. 1t looked like town where
such conveniences were unknown. Little
knots of people stood about on street cor
ners shielding themselves with umbrellas
while they waited for belated street cars.
In some cases they waited for an hour.
The railroad traffic was seriously de-
ranged also by the storm. Trains were re-
ported late in many instances. Some of
those that arrived early in the evening were
entirely Gov covered red with WITT SNOW; and looked as
Firemen and engineers reported that the
weather in Indiana was severe. They said
they were totally unable to make time with
their trains.
HARD ON HORSES.
Horses that were driven in the morning
had great difficulty in keeping their equilib-
rum on account of the smooth condition
of the improved streets. due to the heavy
fall of sleet. In many instances horses
were seen lying on the street, while their
drivers stood over them, making strenuous
efforts to bring the animals to their feet.
Blacksmith shops were opened in several
parts of the city. but they did little work.
The great wind that accompanied the
storm in conjunction with the sleet and
snow badly impaired the telephone and
telegraph lines. The Associated Press wires
were bady crippled In the early evening.
started into this city The local telephone
lines seemed crippled badly In many cases
il was reported that the lines were put out
of commission entirely.
But few people ventured out either yester-
day or last night The streets were en-
tirely deserted The storm had a marked
effect on the attendance in many OF the
churches. Last night. as the snow con-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5. COL. -