The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-17
Rain, SIeet and Snow Swirl
 in B|izzads
CAR TRAFFIC INTERRUPTED
Man and Beast Suffer as Ice King Elm braces the country-Rivers Rising In Kentucky and ohlo-The
 Cold Wave Is General.

LoulSVllle, teDfudry lo.-ffdln, snow and sleet. combined in many places with high winds. are the prevailing conditions throughout the south tonight.
 As result railroad traffic is delayed while in a number of cities the street car service Is almost at standstill.
 Reports from Tennessee, Arkansas Mississippi. northern Texas, Alabama, Georgia and all parts of Kentucky tell of damage done by the blizzard. of swol- len streams and suffering the part of man and beast, of traffic of all kinds de- layed and in some instances loss of life is reported.
 In Louisville the snow was 4.1 inches deep at o'clock and though the fall had about ceased at that time, a strong wind piled the snow in drifts to the de- triment of the street railroad company. which, with the greatest difficulty. kept its cars in motion at irregular intervals during the day. Several of the trolley lines were entirely abandoned tonight snow ploughs trying to clear the tracks. These conditions tonight were followed by drop in temperature throughout the southwest and zero weather Is expected In AenluChy by lOuioilOW Aupliiii6.
 All the rivers in this state and through out the south are rising, the Ohio river at this point having risen three feet in the past thirty-six hours. It is expected, however that the cold weather will check the rise.
 Ohio Valley Hit Hard.
 Cincinnati February 16.-The heaviest snow storm of the season strucx the Ohio valley tonight. Following the heavy rains of Saturday and Sunday and a sieet storm last night snow began falling early this morning, and from five to eight inches of snow now covers the ground. The indl- cations are that the storm will continue throughout the night. Train service Is Ladly crippled, nearly all reads reporting their trains several hours late owing to the snow impeding traffic. Street car service at some points Is entirely sus- pended, while at other places it is badly crippled. The telegraph companies have had only slight delay.
 The heavy rains of Sunday and the sue ceedng snow caused a rapid rise in the Ohio river at all points from Pittsburg to below Cincinnati At Parkersburg the river rose five feet since Sunday, making stage of twenty feet, and from Point Pleasant on down to near this city it rose over eight feet during the past twen- ty-four hours.
 At Cincinnati the stream rose eight feet since Sunday morning and at oclock to- night the stage here was 39.1.
 Forecast Official Bassler today issued a flood warning, notifying all river inter- ests to prepare against a stage of 45 feet at Cincinnati
 At Nashville.
 IVaI. rains and sleet here changed about 10 m to snow, which is still falling at o'clock tonight. A stiff wind blew all day and tonight between and o'clock developed into gale, street ear traffic being seriously interfered with for time Railroad schedules are disarrang- ed. At o'clock the thermometer was 16 degrees and falling.
 At Atlanta.
 Atlanta, February 16--A special to the Constitution from Royston, Ga, station on the Southern railway states that a furious wind storm passed over the town of Bowman, in Ebert county, this after noon, demolishing several houses and killing and injuring a number of people. The wires are down beyond Ryston, and further particulars cannot be obtained.
 At Montgomery.
 Montgomery. February 16-The ther- mOmelef dropped rom f2 10 3Z degrees in few hours today, following a heavy fall of rain. Tonight a heavy wind is blowing from the northwest. So far it is believed that fruit trees have not been injured. but the prediction is for colder weather.
 At Little Rock.
 Little Rock, February 16-Snow was general over Arkansas today, averaging two and one-half inches in depth except in the northern portion of the state where 1t was slightly deeper. The precipi- tation in the last forty-eight hours was 26 inches. The lowest temperature was 15 degrees. being a fall of 21 degrees Trains were delayed several hours An overflow of the Black. White and Cur rent rivers is feared.
 At Tupelo.
 Tupelo, Miss, February 16-A severe windstorm prevailed over this Gee) coun- ty last night and considerable damage was done lat several points. At Verona which is situated on the Mobile and Ohio railroad, | several general stores were slightly damaged and other buildings were partially twisted from their founda- .tions At lPlantersvile. on the Frisco, the house of lGeorge E. Piggers & Sons was completlyl demolished and the stock of goods blown away. Other property loss was sustained. As far as reported no lives were iost Ine monetary lOSs nds not been estimated
 At Memphis.
 Memphis. February 16.-One of the worst sldet and snow storms that have visited this section for years prevailed last night, and today, causing serious de- lay to street car traffic and interfering to some extent with telegraphic and tele- phone conpmuncation in all directions. Trains arc arriving from three to eight hours late.S A steady rain all day Sun day turned into sleet last night. This was followed by snow storm which, during the day assumed the proportions of blizzard. At o'clock there was a decided drop in the temperature and the snow ceased falling.
 Reports from Arkansas, Mississippi and northern Texas tell of similar conditions At Fort Smith and Dallas the snow fall was the heaviest in years Trains are running On belated schedules. and in many instances are annulled. Tonight it