Evening journal., 1907-03-11
SNOW FLAKES
STROUD CITY
Heaviest Storm of Winter
Raged--TraveI Impeded
and Streets Blocked
ON BLIZZARD ANNIVERSARY

BY far the heaviest snow fam Of the
year visited this city yesterday. and
before the skies finally cleared the sur
face Of the earth was covered with
about a foot OF the coscly packed
flakes, which added to those already on
the ground, presented the general ap-
pearance Of scene in the Arctic reg
ions. rather than in one Of the garden
States Of the Union.
shortly after. midnight yesterday
morning the flakes began to slit down.
small at first, but later becoming larger
and more frequent, until at noon there
was every appearance that genuine
blizzard was with us.
As Is usually the case, the trolley
lines We're under the greatest disad-
vantage I'm keeping their lines open
the snow blowing unto tracks as fast
as thrown out by the huge sweepers,
the rails being hidden from sight ale
most as soon as the big machines nad
passed. In some sections OF the city
the cars made no attempt to maintain
their usual schedules. but ran at long
intervals and then forced their way
through the snow only when coupled
together IN threes and fours.
All Trains Late
on the steam lines the deep SNOW
made careful running necessary 90
that schedules were considerably inter
fered WITH but mo train was blocked,
and as far as can be learned. no ace
cidents of any kind occurred.
Houses of Worship We're practically
deserted during the day, no one SEEM
ing to care 70 venture out unless forced
to do SO. The drifting snow also made
the existence or policemen and letter
carriers more than miserable.
The weather had a peculiar effect
upon the clock I'm the city Hall tower
as It apparently got discouraged and
stopped running during the height OF
the storm.
For the first time in years the power
full snow plows Of the steam railroads
were placed in service. and employ
ment was given to hundreds OF addi-
tional men I'm clearing the intcrlocklna
switches and signals along the line of
the snow with which they were cow
ered.
So much SNOW has fallen during On,
past two months. and at such uneX.
pected times. that it seems useless {,
attempt to predict any other kind Of
weather. Anyway. it is probably SAFE
TO forecast clear roads for the Four.l
Of July,
Blizzard 10 Years Ago
BY q remarkable coincidence yester
days violent snowstorm came on On
anniversary Of the great blizzard Q
lSSs. .a..,.. ..at t..is
Just nineteen years ago to-day WI
mington and almost the entire Unite
/ States were seized in the grip Of
storm that has gone down in histor
as one OF the most disastrous that eve
/ struck the country
Snow began to fall Sunday nigh
/ March H. 1SSS. and continued withou
/ a break until ilte the following night
Altogether at Wilmington ten inche
Of snow fell and turning 10 rain To
warI The end nearly one and one-hal
inches of rain fell,
Accompanying the snow and raj
was a gale that reached maximum
speed Of sixty miles an hour drivin
the snow before o.. pilins it into hug
drifts. blocking trolley cars tying ~
trains. breaking down telephone am
telegraph wires ana isolating ever
/ community.
Cut OFF Five Days
Until the evening of March Is WA
mington was entirely cut off from th
outside world by wire connection, wit
I the exception of interrupted telephou
communication with New York. ia
nearly twenty-four hours no ma
I trains arrived or left the city
Twenty vessels were wrecked Off IA
Delaware Breakwater and "a number {
persons drowned. Many vessels wer
blown Off shore and foundered with %
on board. and in the face Of the ter
rifle storm it was simply suicide