Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-08
BLIZZARD HITS
MIDDLE WEST;
TRAINS TIED Up
Coal Shortage Is Aggravat.
ed In Chicago and
Other Cities.
LAKE VESSEL CAUGHT
AMONG BIG ICE FLOES

Chicago, Jan. THE blizzard which
for more than twenty-four hours has
swept the territory within a radius OF
200 miles Of this city continued today
and although the weather forecaster
gave promise of early relief, there
were few indications that demoralized
transportation facilities would be i'm.
proved during the day.
The snow fall in Chicago since early
Sunday morning has been more than a
foot on the level and gale Of more
than 40 miles an hour formed huge
drifts from five to ten feet deep, tying
up steam railroads and electric lines
in all directions. 1t is said to be the
heaviest January snow fall in Chi
cagos history.
The weather bureau characterized
the precipitation here, 14.8 inches, as
the heaviest snowfall on record for a
single storm.
MANY TRAINS STALLED.
The snow and gale continued all day
Sunday and not until after midnight
was there any sign of abatement.
Toward daylight this morning the
snowfall became lighter and the wind
died down, but even with this assist
ance snow plows were able to make
only meager headway against the big
drifts along the railroad and car lines.
Dozens Of trains on the trunk line
railroads were either annulled or left
their stations many hours behind
schedules. Trains due here last night
from all directions were many hours
behind time and in numerous in
stances were abandan n The storm,
which is said by weather bureau Of
fcials to be the worst the mfddfeWeSt
has experienced in years. was most
severe in central and northern ILL.,
nois. 1t covered Michigan, Wisconsin
and parts Of Iowa, Indiana and Ohio.
FUEL FAMINE THREATENS.
It was said today that unless i'm
mediate relief can be found for the
crippled transportation facilities many
towns will be faced with serious fuel
famines and possibility Of food short.
age.
In Chicago there is said to be
enough coal to run the city several
days but dealers are finding it next to
impossible to make deliveries because
of the heavy snow drifts which are
blocking the streets. City officials
estimate that it will be two or three
days before traffic in Chicago can be
restored to anything like normal. Sew
eral factories may have to close down
until they can be supplied with coal
Immediately.
MILK SHORTAGE SERIOUS.
Half dozen milk trains are stalled
fctl h0 rSf
and serious milk famine is threatened.
Not more than one-third the usual sup
ply of milk has been received in Chi
cago during the twenty-four hours II
is said and there is little prospect for
relief Approximately 5000
men and 800 teams nre at work today
the streets.
The snow drifts became SO deep
and last night that practi-
cally every surface line in the city
with the exception Of those in the
down town district suspended opera
ton. Dozens Of automobiles were
abandoned in the drifts. Along the
lake shore the velocity of the wind at
times seemed to be nearly 60 miles an
hour and in some places light auto
mobiles we're blown over or became
WIRE SERVICE CRIPPLED.
There was practically no attendance
at churches. but despite the intensity
Of the storm theaters were fairly we'll
patronized One playhouse turned
away dozens of persons and at sew.
eral others the standing room only"
sign was displayed.
Telephone and telegraphic service
was seriously hampered and for hours
Chicago was completely cut off from
wire communications with many large
cities. The telephone and telegraph
were also crippled by q
shortage of operators, few of whom
we're able to get to work Several big
business firms are keeping their EN-.
oloyes in downtown hotels until street
,ar service again becomes normal.
Schools have been suspended temper
,rily in practically all the towns sur. ,,
Chicago.
TWO DEATHS IN CHICAGO.
Employees Of the Union Stock Yards
,attled through the greater part Of
Sunday getting the live stock arrivals
inder cover. BY nightfall every head
If stock was safely put away. More
han 100 cars of stock arrived yester. F.,
lay.
Two deaths in Chicago have been |
so far as the result of the (!
blizzard. Many persons are reported !
injured. mostly in collisions which re- !
suited from the snow. Seventy-five |
Tres were reported during the past |
wenty-four hours.
The heavy gale and binding snow.
combined with great cakes of ice,