Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-12-27
EAST BLOCKED BY BLIZZARD
Traffic from Philadelphia to Maine
Tied Up by Snow.
KNOWN DEAD NUMBER FORTY
only One street Car Line I'm PhtIn-
delphiR Is Open aud MIX short
age Threatens City--An-
other storm Expected.


cities from Pennsylvania TO Maine and
disarrangcd train schedules throughout
half a dozen states.
Conditions, however, are rapidly improv-
ing and railroads and municipalities are to-
day bending every effort TO move inter
city and local traffic There is reason to
believe conditions will be normal again by
Tuesday night when another storm is eN-
pected from the west,
At least forty persons have met their
death through exposure or accident, five
In Philadelphia and New York and at
least fifteen in New England.
In Philadelphia general business this
morning was practically at standstiu
All through trains were late only one
street car line was running and the city
is suffering from shortage OF milk.
Washington did not suffer severely. but
communication with Boston is maintained
only with difficulty The storm in New
England seems to have been worse in tho
vicinity Of New Bedford, Providence, Fan
River, Newport, Pawtucket and woon-
socket.
In New York City, 1000 men are at work
cleaning the streets.
Eighteen Dead I'm New York,
NEW YORK, Dec. N-Eghteen persons
in and near New York perished in the
Christmas storm or from accidents caused
by it. Six died from exposure after being
caught in snow drifts. Others were
drowned and several were killed by trains.
Today New York was rapidly digging
itself out from under cover OF the tep-inch
snowfall. BY noon traffic conditions APP
preached normal as the result OF the la
Dor of nearly 10000 men in the employ OF
the city and the traction lines, while
steam railroad conditions also were rap
idly improving.
Wire communication, which was badly
interrupted during the worst Of the blow
was again fairly good today, except to
New England points.
Blockades on railroads created a short
age Of food supplies and a CONSEQUENT in
crease in prices which contributed to the
hardships Of the poor.
Shipping felt the storms effect seri-
ously. While no heavy loss is reported
from any one wreck, many small craft
suffered damage dragging their anchors
and being driven ashore. The wrecking of
the freight steamer Thurman off Toms
river, New Jersey and the sinking Of the
schooner Mary Ann Kirby in Long Island
sound were the worst wrecks, but neither
was attended with loss of life.
While incoming Transatlantic liners re-
port hard weather, none seems to have
been badly delayed. l .sa tsl..s
Fifteen Killed In New England.
BOSTON, Dec. 27.--Up to noon today
fifteen lives were known to have been
lost in New England by Yesterdays storm,
three In Chelsea and Everett and twelve
through the wrecking OF the five mastCd
schooner Davis Palmer off Boston harbor.
The loss of the Davis Palmer with all on
board, was the first OF the fatal marine
accidents to be reported. wreckage from
the vessel was picked up on the beach
at Hull
According to the shipping agents in this
city, the Palmer carried a crew of eleven
men beside its captain, Leroy McKown of
Maiden.
Five million dollars loss is the estimate
made today of the havoc wrought in ana
around Boston by the blizzard which yes
terday swept New England and drove q
record tide over the coast.
Thirty-two citieI and towns which last
night were plunged In darkness owing to
the cutting Off Of the electric light service
hope to have their lighting facilities re-
stored by ton, ,ht.
The storm was easily the greatest that
New England has experienced In eleven
years All along the coast phenomenal
tides were reported. In many places sea
walls were battered to pieces, boulevards
razed and curbs and houses along the
shore Destroyed.
In Boston the tide swept over the
wharves, across Atlantic avenue and as
far inland as the Chamber of Commerce.
1t is estimated that the damage in this
section win reach 100000
The worst damage wrought by the
storm was in Chelsa and Everett, where,
It is believed, 1t will be several weeks be-
fore the tide gate on the Island End river
can be repaired and the flooded district re-
claimed
Having escaped through the snow
scantily clad and many of them bare
footed, the residents of the submerged sec
tion of Chelsa had to stand for hours in
the blizzard waiting for wagons to take
them to shelter Hundreds Of the home
less were taken care of in relief stations
established in public schools and churches.
No further damage resulted from the
tide late last night. The water did not
rise as high as I'm the forenoon.
PITTS6URG, Dec. N.-After q night OF
the greatest activity on the part Of the
railroad officials trains east and west of
Pittsburg on main lines were moving
slowly today. Although a light snow con-
tinued TO fall and the roads were badly
congested through trains were struggling
into the Union station here from thirty
minutes to eight hours late.
Branch lines throughout this district were
out Of commission.
All efforts OF the officials were directed
towards opening up through facilities the
branch lines being temporarily abandoned
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.--Little incOn-
venience was felt In Washington today as
a result Of the Christmas storm beyond the
late arrival of trains from the north with
belated Christmas gifts and mails and tho
presence In the city OF four ana one-half
inches Of snow and icy pavements.
Traffic conditions on the trunk line rail-
ways were such that President Taft
thought It advisable TO cancel engagements
in New York which he had made for to-
night although little difficulty was ante
ipated by railroad officials In the move
ment OF their trains northward today. In
fact, Washington escaped the full effect
Of the storm. Street railways are running
on schedule time.
Hopeful conditions were held out this
morning by the authorities at the weather
bureau who said that the storm, which
began on Christmas eve had passed out 10
sea off the Maine coast and evet.Vl hine,