The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-03
Dynamite to Be Used to Clear
Tracks of Snow.
Hundreds of Men Are Digging
Out Roads.
ANIMALS ARE TAME
Rabbits, Quail and Coyotes Seek
Food From Man.
Train Crew Marooned Several
Miles From Town.

That few people realize the extent OF
the wintry weather now being expert
enced in western and central Kansas
despite the Geographic reports is shown
by reports from persons who have just
arrived frc 4 that section together with
the heroic measures which are being
adopted to clear roads and railway
tracks Only those who have lived in
that section of the state for 30 years
have seen worst storm conditions IN
Kansas.
Dynamite is to be used to clear the
railway tracks and roads in some places,
as well as an army of men. HUNDREDS
of workers have been busily engaged in
trying to dig down through the snow
to Kansas and about the time they
seem in a fair way to succeed along
comes another snow to cover up the
results of their efforts.
Snow Is 10 Inches Deep.
At Liberal Monday night the snow
zvas 10 inches deep on the level The
white covering which now extends from
the Oklahoma line to the north pole was
reported highest at Anthony where II
was only inches deep. And Tuesday
there was more snow The wind mas
piled the snow in drifts. some of which
are 20 feet deep Railroad conditions
which were reported as improved sun
day were worse Monday and trains We're
annulled in many places Complaints
began coming in that train and man
service were abandoned. Some towns
were reported without food or coal Dut
supplies were taken to them or bob
sleds For she first time in years men
and women persisted OF cold on the
western plains of the state.
For ten days two Santa F'e brakemen
have been marooned in the snow sew
eral miles from Laird, in Ness county
They were on a freight which stuck in
a big drift. The rotary snow plow res
cled them and went its way Then they
he
wind blew the snow in drifts SO deep
that their engine could not pillow
through. The rotary was sent back and
the snow and ice broke the blades.
leaving It as helpless as the train it
was sent out to rescue. A second ploW
met a similar fate. Tt is reported the
road viii not be opened for at least n
week. The brakemen were told to stay
with the train. They are doing SO and
having a lot of fun killing rabbits and
the trains cargo.
Animals Lose Their Fear.
Another cosdition brought about by
the storm is the noticeable lack of fear
on the part of game animals Rabbits,
driven to desperation by hunger creep
close to the houses for food and seem 10
fear neither man or beast Dogs pass
unnoticed and the rabbits are not no
ticed by the dogs. When the doors of
houses are opened they leap into the
DullQlnSS ana search Tor IoOQ t2uall
come into the yards and sit within
reach. waiting for food that is passed
out to them by tender hearted men who
would have gIoried in killing the birds
short time ago. Farmers feed them
and it is said the birds viii eat from a
mans hand. so great is their hunger.
More coyotes have been killed this
winter than for many years. Cold and
hunger drive them, too. to the shelter
of man and they are killed as soon as
they come within shooting distance.
So desperate are they that the death of
one Of their own number by a gun in
the hands of farmer does not brighten
the remainder Of the pack
And on top of it aII is the promise of
another cold wave and more unsettled
weather