The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-03-06
USE sN0WSH0Es
AND skis ON
SIDE STREETS
s
Almost Unprecedented Storm
Conditions in Bennington
BLIZZARD STILL RAGING
Northbound Trains Many Hours Late
and Highways Blocked In
Many Directions

combination of'all the different
nds of winter weather, eliminating in
a b lizard of the Dakota brand, has
created the worst, the most trying sit
uation experienced in this locality dur
ng the present winter. In some re-
spects its equal has no. existed In a
number Of years.
Traffic of all kinds has been tied up
but the railroads are giving better
service than would ordinarily be ex-
pected. The morning train from New
York due at 9:05 had not left Troy
the north ran on a delayed schedule.
The southbound sleeper reached here
at o'c ock. Train service between
Bennington and Rutland yesterday af-
ternoon was delayed by wreck at
Dorset where the northbound went off
the track about s o'clock in the fore
noon. The train is due to pass through
here during the night but 1t was sever
al hours late when it reached the scene
of the wreck. Passengers and bagg-
age were transferred for the local
trains north and south but both flyers
were sent over the Delaware and Hud-
son road from Rutland and Troy.
The track was cleared at o'clock in
the evening. Six of the derailed milk
cars were picked up and taken to Rut-
land and five were ditched.
A Warm wind from the south dur
ing most of the day Friday accompani-
ed by drizziling rain made the side
streets OF the village almost impass-
able. The deep snow which had pack
ed and frozen softened and pedester-
ians made progress with Difficulty.
There was such demand for rubber
boots that some of the stocks at the
local stores were depleted to such an
extent that soce sizes could not be
found. During the afternoon it was no
uncommon sight to see women oper-
atives at the different mills tramping
to work in dads or big brothers hip
boots.
AS predicted by the weather bureau.
the rain changed to snow during the
early evening. The observer who pre-
dicted that the storm would be broken
up and the snow fall light when the
blizzard reached the Atlantic seaboard
must have been afflicted with tenn
porary attack of humor. During the
night the temperature dropped and the
wind increased to gale proportions.
This morning highways and sidewalks
were blocked as they have not been
during the winter and people who were
not compel ed to go out of doors re-
NAMED under cover Mail carriers
made only partial deliveries as it was
impossible for them TO travel any dis
tance over the drifted walks.
Today snowshoes and skis, which are
used for sport, became utilities.
In several sections of the village peo-
pie provided with these supports were
seen moving over the tops of the drifts
while less fortunate pedestrians strugg-
] d through the snow, frequently plung
in to their waists.
There has been no tro ley service
between this village and North Ben
nington during the Gay. Many of the
employees, particularly women opera
half holiday went into effect at noon
tives, Were unable to reach the mills
which were run short handed. The
and consequently the loss TO employers
and workers was not SO large as would
have been the case had the storm ar
rived early in the week.