The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1906-03-09
MAReH ZEE Ia Ike A LIaN
A WESTERN BLIZZARD, WHICH
RACED FOR "A HOURS.
The Worst Storm Of the Winter-AH
Traffic in GOOdland, and on the
Rock Island was Suspended

The storm OF last week was the
worst Of the season. genuine biz
zard. Thursday afternoon, q mist be
gan TO fail about O'Clock. with
brisk wind from the north The fore
part Of the day the weather had been
thick and fOggy. By p m gen
uine blizzard was raging, which con-
tinued all night and all the next day,
the worst OF the storm abating about
O'Clock Friday evening.
The velocity OF the wind must have
appropriated sixty miles an hour,
from the northwest, and was accom-
panied with fine moist snow, which
made it impossible to see but short
distance in any direction, even by
daylight The temperature was not
low, just above freezing, which was
indeed fortunate, otherwise great SUI
fering and loss OF stock would have
occurred AS il was, small losses Of
cattle and hogs have been reported,
one man having lost twenty head Of
cattle
Passenger trains were stalled and
the traffic on the Rock Island was
blocked for thirty-six hours One
train, having 200 passengers on board,
No. p, westbOund, was stalled four
miles east OF GOOdland, the engine be-
ing absolutely smOthered by the fury
OF the storm, and the deluge Of wet
snow. A relief party OF five young
men employed in the various depart
ments OF the division here, volunteer
ed to take out provisions to the
train Some carried bags Of bread
and others cooked ham The wind
was diagOnally at their backs or the
trip could never have been made.
They made it, however, after a des-
perate struggle with the storm and
deep snow, and with the provisions
packed out to the train and eggs be
ing shipped to Denver in the express
car, the passengers were fed. Coal
from the tender Of the dead engine,
kept them fairly comfortable in the
cars, and early Saturday morning the
snOwplOT cleared the way and the
train was pulled into GOOdland, only
four miles, 50 near and yet so far.
Some conception Of the force Of the
storm may be had from this fact:
Not only were sheds and other out
buildings filed with snow, but a ma
jOrity Of the houses in town were not
imperviOus to the Sitting, drifting Pc
netrating snow. Even new houses,
built in the most substantial manner,
were not proof against the invading
snow. The next day plastering was
a-drip, and window seats, dOOrways,
basement stairways and even atucS,
had to be cleared Of snow.
Congregations in churches Sunday
had to sit on the south side Of the
main aisle to avoid getting wet from
the dripping ceilings
The storm was general from the
Rock mountains east to the Missouri
river, and, probably, the tOrnadOs re-
ported in Mississippi was the reverse
side Of an extensive CyclOnic move
ment embracing nearly all the cOun-
try east of the mountains to the At
lantiC coast.
Monday a gentle snow fell all day,
with a gentle breeze from the east
The recent storm, and snow fall fol-
lowing, presages a fruitful season for
all the plains country A prosperous
season and a bumper crop Of cereals
is anticipated in the west 1t is the
old story, There is bitter with the
sweet, and sweetness with the bitter"