davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
NO TRAINS run
ON either One
OF RAIL LINES
With Wires All Down Penn
sy and C.. & O. Make No
Attempt to Move Cars
Early Today.

Richmond was isolated from the out
side world practically all day for the
storm which ragged during the night
and this morning cut off rail communi
cation with other cities.
No attempt was made by either the
Pennsy or c. & o., to get any trains
through until late hour this morn
ing It being impossible to move them
on account of the telegraph and tele
phone service being tied up.
Number 18 on the Pennsylvania was
the only train that arrived at the
depot before 9 o'clock and 1t came
struggling in about three hours late
and was held at the station until the
tracks could be cleared and some
communication established with ad
Joining towns. n ~. Il a. .33e. 81
All the west bound trains were
stalled along the line but it was i'm
possible to learn where they were..
-. ,@z g" Gangs Clear tracks. --+ >.7s~~
Gangs of men were sent out to re
move fallen telegraph poles and wires
every man available being pressed In
to service 1t has been years since
the roads were so completely tied up
Brakemen on Number Is were
forced to get out at ever switch ant
run ahead and clear the ice from the
frogs before the train could proceed
and it was practically tagged in al
the day.
Travelling men who are in the city
did not venture TO travel today for th'
railroad companies did not hesitate t
tell them Of the conditions existing
and the uncertainty of moving an!
trains and they contented themselves
at their hotels as best they could.
1t is expected that by tonight thu
service will be renewed but 1t /.
doubtful if any of the trains will b.
running on schedule.
Aside from the blockading of th'
roads by poles and wires the tracks
were covered with ice and all trains
that moved at all had to proceed at /:
slow rate of speed for the wheels o
the engines slid around as though tn,
tracks were creased.
Both railroad depots this mornin,
were deserted expect by employees
and the traffic today will be the light
est in the history of the roads SO ia
as Richmond is concerned.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
COLD WAVE COMES
IN WAKE OF STORM

The storm which arrived in this
locality early today was due to rath-
er unusual condition central over Lou
isiana yesterday" said w. E. Moore,
local weather forecaster today THE
southern storm instead of going east
went straight north, out of its antici-
pated course, causing heavy rains in
the south, and rain, snow and sleet-
storms in the central states. Rich
mond was north of the storm center
as it passed through this locality
Another great storm, starting in
the. northwest, Is moving rapidly east
ward and probably will meet the
storm which passed over Richmond in
the Great Lakes region late today or
tonight. This will be followed by a
touch of real winter weather In this
locality, the mercury dropping close to
the zero mark"
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
HIGH TENSION WIRES
BREAK UNDER STRAIN
MENACING PEDESTRIANS

and grounded wires and large force
of men was kept busy making re-
pairs all day. The same trouble was
experienced by the Light, Heat &
Power company.
High tension wires falling on tele-
phone wires caused considerable dam
age in the telephone office. Fuses
were burned out and wires burned in
two by the high voltage of light and
power wires
In the alley between North Tenth
and Eleventh streets, the high tele-
phone poles were so burdened with
the weight of the ice that they fell
ions with practically all the houses on
the west side of Eleventh street
Electric light wires were also broken
by the strain of the poles leaning
across the alley and the houses were
without electricity early this morn
ing. One pole in the second square
fell across the alley on to the roof
of barn.
The telephone company experienced
the greatest amount of damage south
of the city. On the Straight Line
pike, about 40 poles had been weighed
to the ground. 1t will be several days
before repairs can be made to place
telephones in this vicinity in COM
mission again. -....
On the Boston pike, the telephone
company suffered considerable dam
age. Near the overhead railroad
bridge, at the edge of the city. poles
had fallen across the road blocking it
for traffic. 1t was noon before traffic
was resumed over this road.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29

Police headquarters was swamped
this morning with complaints about
fallen trees, poles and wires. Head
quarters promptly notified every pub
lie service company using wires OF
complaints as soon as they we're filed.
Trees, these complaints show. fell at
the following places, In most cases
bringing down a network Of wires:
80 South Nineteenth street; South
Ninth and A streets; South Tenth and
A streets; South Tenth street, be-
tween Main and A and North Sixth
and A streets; North Ninth and B
streets.
telegraph pole fell on the Doran
bridge knocking out two panels of the
steel railing and for a time making
the bridge impossible because of the
many grounded wires. A trolley wire
broke at the corner of North Eighth
and E streets, causing a brilliant cleo
trio display. A city pole with live
streets, and another pole, with it's
burden of high power wires. came
down in an alley between South
and B streets.
The danger of fire kept the men,
bers of the fire department on the
anxious seat all day. For a time prac-
tically all the fire alarm system was
out of commission and the telephone
system badly crippled in various parts
of the city. At 10 o'clock all repairs
on the fire alarm system in West
Richmond had been made.
The municipal electric plant exper-
fenced much trouble with fallen poles
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
MOTOR HACK LINES
DELAYED BY SNOW

The auto hack lines were tied up
today by the storm and few of them
ventured to make the trip. The Con-
nersville hack left at its regular time
this morning and the New Paris bus
arrived considerable behind time.
All along the road between New
Paris and Richmond the ground was
covered with tree boughs and the
driver of the hack had to stop five
times on the trip and clear the debris
from the road before he could pro-
ceed.
At the top of the Gaar hill at Nine
teenth street a dead horse was lying
in the road. The animal was owned
by a man named Miles at New Paris
and is reported to have been killed
by falling in the road and breaking
its neck.
The country roads are almost i'm
passable big pools of water having
formed at different points and the
auto from New Paris went through
pools that almost reached the top of
the wheels.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
Council Decides on Publicity
Campaign to Acquaint
Public With Details of L..
III. and p. Deal.
FAyORS SHORT LOAN
McMahan Reports $129,172
Available to Apply Toward
100000 Price Fixed by
Commission.

Council, at special meeting held
last evening. with the exception OF
Councilman John White of the Second
ward, approved the plans of the ad,
ministration for purchasing the cleo,
trio plant Of the Richmond Light. Heat
& Power company, thus providing a
municipal monopoly of the electric
service business White said he could
not give his approval of the project
until it had been endorsed by the citi-
zens at special election. Councilman
Steinbrink also stated he would prefer
to have this question submitted to the
people at a referendum election. but
In the event this was not attempted
he would offer no objections to carry
ing out the purchase plan proposed by
the administration. 4-
One Of the most important deci'
sions reached at the meeting last even
ing was to conduct a publicity cam
paign through the newspapers to thor
cughly familiarize the public with the
details OF the plan for the city acQuir-
ing the privately owned electric plant
and to explain the benefits which
would accrue from such action.
Report Hazy Conceptions.
Several councilmen reported that
large number Of their constituents
had very hazy ideas concerning the
proposed purchase, but expressed the
opinion that the great majority OF the
voters would endorse the project 1t
they obtained complete information az
to the results which would be obtain.
ed through It's contamination.
Controller McMahan submitted what
he called very conservative estimate
Of the funds which would be available
February l to apply to the purchase
of the privately owned plant. Tabu'
lated, his figures are: ~<~st
Bonds in city plant sinking .., =
fund ...................s $ 33,s3e IS
ary ..........,..... 2s2.sa
Feo;uary I .-.,4 4, $50 OO
Estimated cash in general
frla February 1..... ..-.'- 80 W
Tcti.l 20 G1D.y to pur-
chase .$129.17a51
As the total purchase price Will ap
proximate s200,00o, less than $4,000
Tcontirued On Page Three.]
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
BUSINESS TIED up
BY SLuSHY STREETS

Trade in Richmond was almost at a
standstiil this morning on account OF
the condition of the sidewalks and the
inability OF country people to reach
the city. This afternoon, after the
snow and ice began to thaw. the side.
walks and streets were in almost as
bad a condition as they were this
morning, so there was scarcely any
business transacted utsssssGss- s~-ssyss.zst
Many business men did not 60 to
their offices this morning, and most Of
those who did went In taxicaba- The
clerks at the postoffice said that not
until late in the forenoon did persons
call at the window. for mail. and con-
trary to the usual condition there was
scarcely any business until at least
9 o'clock. The tie-up of train service
prevented mail from reaching the city
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
TRAFFIC CRIPPLED
Al INDIANAPOLIS

INDIANAPOLIS. Dec. 70 = Tele.
phone and telssraph wires are down,
street car and interurban electric ser.
vices are demoralized as the result OF
the severe sleet and snow storm which
began early today. AS the morning
advanced the storm grew in severity.
Several trolley wires were snapped
off on Indianapolis street car lines.
Interurbans are running irreSularly.
Though big forces of men everywhere
are combating with the storm, they
are unable to keep the traffic moving
Trains on steam roads entering In.
dianapolis are hours behind time. I'm
less the storm lets up soon 1t will
mean one of the worst traffic tie-ups
in years.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29

Postal Telegraph company. The West
ern Union Telegraph company at 3
o'clock this morning had direct com.
nlpnication to Cumberland. eight
miles east of Indianapolis but was un-
able to reach any other cities Chi
cago was obtained at 1880 o'clock but
was lost soon afterward- All wires
were reported down south and east Of
Richmond.
All service over the wires Of the
Postal Telegraph company was stop
ped. Repairmen of both companies
were out early today. Manager n. A.
Ryan of the Western Union aud em-
ployes Of the Postal were unable to
estimate the damage.
Later in the day wires were work.
lax to Indianapolis and Chicago.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
WEATHER INCREASES
PREVALENCE OF GRIP

Old Man Grip will reap a harvest
from the storm of last night. is. the
opinion of physicians consulted, unless
the people who were forced to be out
today and mush through tine slush take
extra good care of themselves. Wet
feet are certain to develop into colds.
and colds develop into grip. and when
one member of a family is stricken.
unless precautions are taken II is
bound to spread to others who come
in contact with the person who is i'll.
Fifteen hundred persons are down with
the disease in Richmond at present.
and unless care is taken many more
will follow.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
firm
ESTIMATES LOSS
CLOSE TO $4,000

w. H. Bailey. manager of the Rich.
mond Home Telephone company. esti-
mated at noon today that the storm
caused the company damage that will
require at least $1,000 to repair. He
said the greatest damage was done in
Richmond and along the Boston pike.
Thousands of wires broke under their
coating Of ice and quite a number of
poles collapsed. For a time today
sections OF the Boston pike were al
most impossible.
UP to noon today not one Of the
company's long distance wires out Of
Richmond was in service and Mr
Bailey said that the city would prob
ably be cut off from long distance
telephone service in every direction
until tomorrow.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
STORM CUTS ALL Wires:
3. RICHMOND IS ISOLATED

Practically all communication be-
tween Richmond and surrounding
towns and cities over the lines Of the
Western Union and Postal Telegraph
companies was interrupted and untold
damage to wires and poles was one
OF the results of the storm last night.
Managers of the companies estimated
thaf It will be two or three days be-
fore service is restored TO its normal
condition.
A farmer, who gave his name as
Rhinehart, living several miles from
town telephoned to the offices here
that three miles Of poles and wires.
east and west of the Indiana Ohio
state line were down. As he declared
they ran along the road, instead of
along the railroad. they belong to the
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
ONE INTERURBAN
REACHES DEPOT
5 HOURS LATE

Traffic over both the intarurban
and Richmond city lines of the Terre
Haute,, indianapolis and Eastern
Fraction company was seriously ham
pered and considerable damage from
falling poles and wires resulted from
the wind and rain storm last night.
Schedules were completely disar
ranged aud hours will elapse, 1t is es
timated before conditions are restored
TO normal The damage could not be
computed this morning.
The first interurban car to reach
the city came from Cambridge City
due at 5:55 o'clock and reaching here
after much difficulty at $3.50 O'Clock
with Motorman Bowles and Conduc
tor Chapman in charge. 1t brought
workmen to Richmond and started on
a return trip. Other than a telephone
message from Conductor Holman OF
the New Paris-Westville line in which
he said his car had made one trip to
Westville, no communication was re
ceived this morning from the cars on
the Ohio Electric.
Trolley wires and supporting poles
everywhere along the line are down.
il is understood. City cars were run
ming this morning but made slow pro
gress on all lines.
Line cars carrying workmen were
sent out early this morning.
AT noon no interurban cars from
the west had arrived with the eXcep
tion of car from Cambridge City
The crew had all sorts Of trouble max
ing the trip on account Of fallen trees
and trouble keeping the trolley on the
wire on account Of the sleet which
covered it.
1--WE didn't run in," said the con-
ductor. we merely crawled here.
Time after time we had to get out in
the slush over our shoe tops and clear
the right of way. Telephone and tele-
graph poles are down all along the
line and they'll have a dickens of a
time Strengthening out the present
tangle."
Only one car had successfully made
the trip from the east up until II
o'clock This car arrived at 10: 60 1t
was due here at $40 and the expert
ences of the crew were similar to
those of the men on the car which
arrived from the west excepting that
they reported greater number of
Trees down.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
GALE LITTERS
CITY STREETS
WITH .BOuCHS

The streets of the city presented A
bedraggled appearance this morning
and traffic was almost impossible.
Only those who were compelled to.
venture out Of doors for the pave
ments were two inches deep with
water and II was impossible for pedes-
trians to cross the street without get
ting wet feet for all the crosswaiks
were flooded with from six inches to
foot OF water
Every street was Uttered with limbs
which had been blown frcm trees dur
ing the night and which had broken
off on account Of the fee coat Few
(continued On Page Eieht.l
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
CARS DESERT STREETS BUS ABANDoNs TRIP

Although little damage to property
was done at Lynn. lad, according to
J. Delnison who arrived in town late
this morning on the G. r. & l. he re-
ports isolation of the town SO far as
wire connections and dirt roads are
concerned. Mr.. Dennison, one OF the
proprietors of the Lynn auto truck
line, says the hack started out this
morning but found the pike between
Fountain. City and Lynn completely
blocked by fallen wires and telephone
poles. It will be several days. he estf-
mated, before communication can be
restored.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29

Few automobile owners attempted
to operate their machines today on
account of the bad condition of the
streets, even the venturesome taxi
drivers who infest the Pennsy depot
failed to appear until a late hour. The
passengers who came in On Number
1s were forced to walk to their desti-
nations for the street car lines were
not running. The streets were al
most deserted SO far as automobiles
were concerned.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
U. s. PROTESTS
NAIL STOPPACE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-On the
basis of reports received today from
Consul General Skinner at London the
state department is preparing to pro-
test against British interference with
American mail to and from Holland.
The protest will be transmitted to the
British foreign office as quickly as Of
ficials can draft it. Great Britain may
be asked to explain its acts immedi-
ately. .---
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
FRUIT TREES RUINED

Farmers estimated that heavy dam
age was done to fruit trees in Wayne
county orchards. The covering of
sleet to which was added a coat of
clinging snow bent the tender limbs
low, and in many instances SO many
limbs broke under the weight that the
trees were damaged SO badly that they
vii! have to be cut down. Orchard
lists place the loss at thousands of
dollars.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
ECONOMY AUTO BUS
REACHES RICHMOND

OF the fifteen auto hacks running
into Richmond only three have been
heard from today. Aside from those
mentioned elsewhere the hack from
Economy managed to make the trip,
but had much difficulty in doing SO.
Trees were down all along the road,
and telephone wires strewed the
ground nearly all the way between
Richmond and Economy.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
TOM SHEvlIN DEAD

MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, Dec. 20
Tom Shevlin. wealthy lumberman.
noted coach at Yale. died this morn
ing after fight against pneumonia.
Four days ago he was confined to his
bed. Shelvin contracted coal while
coaching Yale last fall and he was un-
able to overcome its ravages.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29

One of the worst see that
almost completely isolated Richmond
today All Postal Union telegraph into the city
today only direct Western Union connecting Rich
mond with Chicago
by the Indianapolis operating
mond far west Cumberland, Ind
The city will be absolutely without long distance telephone
service until tomorrow Up to three railroad trains
rived in Richmond Pennsylvania train Indianapolis
due at $40 arrived at $3.50 o'clock Pennsylvania
No. 49, from the east 10 did
o'clock southbound c. O. train pulled morning
hours late
Only three traction able their into the
city through barriers of fallen poes the
fifteen auto trucks which reached their
destination at truck for Cenerve Cambridge
Connersve left Richmond this morning abandon the
trip Centervile
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
DISEASE BATTLES PHYSICIANS

ROCHESTER,, Ind. Dec 29-Mrs
Dal Black is believed to be dying of
an attack of lockjaw which followed
closely on bad case of grip. Physi-
clans are puzzled. -
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
TREE CAUSES RUNAWAY.

Frightened by the crash of a tree
a delivery horse broke away from the
Clayton Mitchell meat market a. Six
teenth and Main street and dashed
down Sixteenth street but was caught
before any damage was done
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
Highways Are Blocked.

travel into Richmond from the rural
districts was almost impossible be-
cause OF the debris OF fallen wires.
poles and trees littering the roads.
One hardy mot0rist by the aid Of an
axe and wire pinchers succeeded i'm
driving his car from Liberty to this
city.
Fortunately no deaths nor accidents
In Richmond and vicinity resulted
from the storm despite the grave dan
ger presented by falling trees and
poles and grounded high power wires.
One horse was eIectrocuted near tn.
water works pumping station.
All rural carriers left to carry their
routes early this morning. Henry
Weisbrod was forced to turn back
The others had not been heard from at
noon.
Farmers report the greatest damae.
done by the storm outside the city
was injuries received by fruit trees.
Heavy loss was sustained by all
wire companies. The Home Tele-
phone company alone estimates its
loss to be approximately $1,000.
The advance guard of the storm
which swept into eastern Indiana from
the south was lively rain. Late i'm
the evening it turned quite cool csus-
ing the water on trees. poles and wires
to freeze. After daybreak a hail storm
swept the county followed by rain.
Not since the great flood of 1913 Ina
Richmond been so completely isolated
fro mthe world as today
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
STEAMER IS SUNK

LONDON, Dec 29.-A British
steamer was sunk today by German
submarine. Two members of the crew
were saved.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
SIDEWALKS Uttered.

Fallen trees and limbs are strewn
over the streets and sidewalks of
North Sixteenth, Seventeenth and
Eighteenth streets according to deliv-
cry wagon drivers who cover that sec
tion of the city
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
ONE coMPLAlNr MADE.

Only one complaint on the sewers
has been made today to George Knoll
street CONF 111sAjQAer. The
street gang was called upon to re.
lieve the situation at Eighth street
and Elm place where water was back
ing up. With this exception the sew
ers are carrying off the surface Wa
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
WIND DAMAGES TREES

ReECrts from Easthaven were that
limbs had been broken off the shade
and fruit trees. but no damage was
done to the buildings and the barns by
the heavy covering of snow and sleet
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
Weather Forecast

Local Forecast-Snow this after.
noon. tonight and probably Thursday.
A severe cold wave will probably ar.
rive before Thursday evening.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
CRASHES INTO RIVER.

The heavy load of ice on the wires
across the Doran bridge. caused one
Of the poles to fall into the river with
it's load of wires. When the pole fell.
large part of the iron railing was
torn away causing damage estimated
at $50. 1t fell with a crash that arous-
ed the entire neighborhood early this
morning.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-29
ICE STRIKES BOY.

A heavy cap which he was wearing
prevented Jerry Bly, from receiving a
bad scalp wound this morning when
q large, sharp strip OF ice fell from a
telephone wire. striking him on the
head as he was walking along on
West Third street early today.