Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1920-03-11
Big Blizzard Hits East.
Rain, Snow And Wind Worst
In MANY Years.

| Ill Muhy SoA %
The big blizzard reported early last
week throughout the western states,
Travelled fast and struck Maryland and
the east generally on Friday March 9th.
On Thursday the weather was threaten
ing and rain began falling during the
night continuing in quantity steadily I'M
til Friday noon, at which time there came
sudden drop in temperature, turning
rain into snow and hail. this being &C
companied by heavy wind. About four
O'Clock Friday, the full force of the
blizzard was being felt, and it was with
difficulty that persons were able to keep
to their feet on the streets or see any
distance because of the heavy snow.
The heavy fall of rain together with
the melting of snow and ice of previous
days caused all streams in this vicinity
to rise rapidly and in some places stop
ped traffic on the public roads.
The snow stopped falling soon after
dark, but the wind ragged all night and
until noon Saturday.
ouF nuI Ill wall CdTIlcio "SiC SouS IL
in the blizzard Friday afternoon, MIR.
Frank Albaugh anchoring at the home
of Mr. Lemuel Bowers until Saturday.
Mr.. Emory Stottlemyer whose route
is between Thurmont and Lewistown,
got home late Friday afternoon, the
wind causing his buggy to do all sorts
of stunts along the road.
The Jitney Bus between Thurmont
and Emmitsburg stuck on hill and in
a snow drift Friday afternoon. After
getting out of the snow the driver turn
ed and headed for En.mitsburg leaving
four passengers at the home of Mr..
Chas. Eyler near Frank Invite for the
night.
In force, the blow ard snow about
equaled that of March l, 1914, at which
time many barns We're wrecked In this
vicinity. So far as we have learned no
buildings were blown away during this
storm.
Hsgerstown, Md, March Follow
ing a thunderstorm and heavy rains last
night, big blizzard riding in on cold
wave, struck Western Maryland today.
Several inches of snow fell driven by
strong west winds, interrupting traffic.
All streams are raising. Antietam creek
has overfowed at Funkstown, Letters
burg and Keedysville. Como cocheague
creek is out of bank above Williamsport.
The Potomac river at Hancock and Will
Transport tonight was rising with dam
gerous rapidity and is expected to be
Overlooking it's banks by morning.
Acres of farm lands, stretches of roads
and low lands are inundated. The east
end of Williamsport is flooded by the
overlooking of Springfield run. Parts
of Artisan and Potomac streets are flood
ed and cellars filled with water. Ice is
coming down the Potomac river in large
quantities. Beaver creek is out of banks
and cannot be forded tonight.
Communication with Leitersburg by
turnpike is cut off the approaches to the
bridge on the Leitersburg pike being
flooded.
At Security an unusual condition was
caused by the high water in the Antietam
and run being backed up flooding the
Hagerstown and Frederick Railway pow
er plant almost causing shutdown.
The water submerged the conductors to
a depth of eight feet and the plant was
only able to operate to about one-third
ofits capacity. The Antietam Paper
Mill had to close down on account of the
high water, but no damage was done at
either plant.
Cumberland Md, March 6.-The cold
wave has checked the rise in the Poto-
mac river which was inundating the low
lands, the result of the rapid thaw. The
mercury dropped to four below zero at
Altamont, and to zero at Sand Patch.
At Cumberland it stood ten above. The
rain Friday caused the river to overflow
the Baltimore and Ohio tracks on the
Romney branch and at other low points.
Traffic suffered little delay, however.
Although the river tonight still is Is feet
above normal it is believed there will be
no serious loss The great ice gorges
above Dams No. and piled in places
20 feet high and extending miles west.
ward broke up last night and passed
down the river without doing much dam.
age Immense damage has been done
to the road system in this section:
/ WayLesboro, Pa, March 9.-Aftel
weatherng the storms and floods of &
century without break, Welty's dam
on the Antietam just east of this city
was smashed by the maelssrom thai
swept down from the head wat ers of tn,
Antetam today. A gap 40 feet wide
was torn out in the center of the 90-foo
span. The flood poured through thu
opening with the power of AN avalanche
sweeping down the foot bridge below
AS result the -four and grist mill o
Welty Bros is. closed.
The Sick And Injured.