The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-04
TRAFFIC WAS
DEM0RAL|ZED.
FierCest Storm Since lS9S-Trains Late.
Rough Experiences of Steamers-Colis-
ions Narrowly Averted.

II was predicted by the Weather bureau
that there would be fall OF snow on
Sunday. but somehow or other the OFF,
cials lost day somewhere and instead
OF simply SNOW on Sunday" there came
on Saturday blizzard that will long be
remembered and especially by those who
had occasion 10 use any form OF transpor-
tation.
II was a hrece, angry, western-like
blizzard. as IL the clements were en-
deavoring TO get even." so to speak, for
having allowed In tho main, such excellent
weather so far this winter. The snow fell.
the wind blew and soon that condition OF
drift became apparent that means so
much trouble 90 transportation companies.
THE STREET RAILWAY.
All night long the company kept its
snow plows going and ran cars on some
lines 40 keep the tracks cleared BY noon
on Sunday all the city lines were running.
but IL seemed impossible to keep schedule
time.
The Buttonwoods line appeared 10 be
the least inconvenienced on account of
the storm OF any Of the suburban lines.
All day yesterday the cars were running
on practically schedule time, while the
Crompton and Hope cars were not run
ming until late In tho day. The River
point cars from this city were compare
lively regular in their trips throughout
the day. every 40 minutes. The Centre
dale cars were on half-hour time yester-
day and experienced little trouble and the
East Greenwich line was kept open by
running cars and snow plows all night
Saturday. Some OF the trips between city
hall and the other terminus occupied no
less than 2ia hours Saturday evening. .e
RAILROAD TRAINS LATE.
The railroad trains had hardly begun
10 run with any regularity mp to last
night and the Union station yesterday
was filled with nervous and apparently
unhappy individuals all OF whom wanted
TO go somewhere and had to wait I'm
patiently. The New York papers did not
arrive until 3 y. m, while the Boston
paper train came slowly In at IL a m.
The 3:27 from Boston. due here at 452.
arrived at the station at b:43. Many
trains were even more behind their
schedule than this one. The Shore line.
due here at ;55 p. m, on Sundays. was
I'm New London about the time Il should
have been pulling into Providence. At
6 o'clock the Shore Line for New York,
due I'm Providence at 6:0e. had not left
Boston. ne fsDo TOT NV i<Onuon itIt
here an hour late. snC SO on through the
list.
The mails ar the pc ,fflce necessarily
arrived several hours late yesterday. IL
was O'Clock In the afternoon before the
first mail came I'm from New York. This
mail was due at O'Clock In the morn
ing. The mail due at 3:ls p. m. arrived
few minutes after 6 o'clock. From
Boston the mail that should have left
c. .s.~A.t
received at the local postoff1ce at 1110
a. m. yesterday. The officials admitted
that Il was pretty had. but they hoped
for better things today.
I.ARCHMoNT"S ROUGH TRIP
The JOY line steamer Larchmont came
through the storm safely from New York
with about 200 passengers and a load OF
freight. arriving at her dock on South
Water street about 10 a m. yesterday.
One OF the officers said that Saturday
night was one OF the worst ever expert
enced on the sound.
'"rhe Larchmont left New York at 5:15
Saturday afternoon" said the officer.
"and the weather was very thick as we
came UP tho sound II was with some
difficulty that we sighted Cornfield
lghtship and again we had trouble In
finding Point Judith light. We were
compelled tn move slowly. feeling our
way up the bay past Warwick light"
The toughest portion of the trip was
crossing New Haven bay. where the seas
were so high that they broke over the
forward deck and pilot house. The water
and spray Immediately froze and the yes
sci had the appearance OF a floating ice
berg. The snow was binding and the
cold was intense.
WITH THE POWhATAN
Capt James OF the Powhatan OF the
Merchants and Miners line brought his
vessel alongside her wharf yesterday af-
ternoon at O'Clock after one OF the most
tempestuous voyages he ever remem-
bered. The Powhatan left Norfolk at
:O5 a. m. Friday and was due here Sat
urday forenoon under favorable condi-
tions. and should have started last night
on her return trip
The captain read some interesting en-
tries IN his log. showing that IL began
showing when he was. off Barnegat at
O'Clock saturday AFTERNOON. The storm
continued all day Saturday after the
snow began 20 fall. with strong north
east wind blowing. The atmosphere was
thick with heavy snow and vapor The
storm was worst at about $50 O'clock
yesterday morning, and NJ that time the
Powhatan anchored of jamestown
Three hours later the anchor was hoist
ed and the steamer proceeded up the bay
NARROWLY ESCAl 49,. COLLISION.
Capt Rowland brought the City OF
Taunton at dock at 3:i5 yesterday after
noon. The steamer was due nere at
A. m but was compelled 20 lay of New
Haven for four hours
They sighted the fremont OF stratford
Point The weather was thick and
heavy. and the fremont was coming
right along straight for the City of
Taunton. The steamers came closer and
closer and it looked as II a collision could
not be averted Just in time TO prevent
the collision. the helm of the -ty OF
Taunton verred just In time TO prevent n
disaster.
AT BLOCK ISLAND
IL was one OF the worst storms that has
over struck this section and az one time
the velocity OF the wind assumed the cy-
clonic aspect OF o. miles an hour. The fog
horn at the southeast light house blew
continually "a n warning Co any bclated
vessel