The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-28
EAST SNOW BOUND
Washington in Grip of Worst
Blizzard in Twenty Years.
Two Feet of Snow Has Fallen
in National Capital.
ALL Transportation BLOCKED
No Passenger Service Out of
ID. C. Since Midnight.
Big Snow Storm Holds Up Vote
Expected.
ILL TRANSPORTATION BLOCKED

Washington, Jan. 28.-The national
capital struggles today in the severest
snow storm in twenty years. Attended
by a blizzard which swept northeast
ward from the Carolina capeS, the
snow has been falling steadily since
yesterday afternoon, demoralizing
traffic, blockading streets and result
ing in numerous automobile accidents.
The weather bureau reported this
morning there was no sign OF a let up
in the snow fall and predicted it
might continue most of today and to-
morrow. Sixteen states in the east and
south, down to the southern extreme
ties of Alabama and Mississippi are
also reported to be in the grip of the
storm.
The street car company worked hun
dreds of men during the night in an
endeavor to keep their tracks clear
but were forced to abandon many cars
feet deep.
Washington was cut off from the
outside world today so far as trans
portation was concerned. Officials at
the union station shortly before 500
o'clock reported that no passenger
trains had left Washington since mid
night and with the snow continuing
prospects of getting any trains out was
said to be poor.
One Man Found Dead
Pennsylvania avenue, the capitals
historic thorofare, was strewn with
abandoned automobiles. Altho the
snow fell with an absence of wind,
thereby preventing drifts, the flakes
fell so thick and fast during the night
that numerous accidents were report
ed and the police received several calls
from persons who lost their way.
One man was found dead near the
treasury, in the heart of the city. His
body was stumbled over by pedes-
trians trudging thru the drifts of snow
piled several feet high. He was iden
titled as John O'Hagan. The belief
was expressed that he died from nat
uraT causes brought on by exposure.
Three trains had arrived since mid
night, two from New York long over
due and one Baltimore & Ohio express
from Cincinnati.
Train service from the south where
snow storms have been reported for
two days and from which section the
stom came was wholly suspended.
Several trains from the south were re-
ported stalled between Richmond and
Washington with others being held at
Richmond.
Railroad officials were attempting
! to get a train, comprising day coaches
| only, out before noon for Baltimore
and possibly to Philadelphia and other
points north. Trains from the south
were eported held up in yards be-
tween here and Baltimore
In the Maryland city starting late
yesterday afternoon and still continu-
ing early todav the snow had covered
| the national capital to depth of from
a foot and a half to two feet.
Street cal service was practically
suspended early today and prospects
were all activity, governmental and
For two or three days snow had
been falling in the Atlantic states to
the south of the Potomac river in
some states, such as Virginia, break
| ing long standing records as to
depth. Pennsylvania avenue here was
strewn with stranded automobiles.
Absence of wind prevented the for
nation of drifts but the depth on the
| level was enough to strand practically
all vehicles except those of the heav-
/ ier type.
The storm is the worst since the
blizzard of February, 1899, when the
fall was nearly three feet.
Storm HaIts Senate Vote.
The blizzard enveloping Washington
today forced the senate to postpone
final consideration of the $11,O0O.-
000,0 foreign debt refunding bill
Inability of many snowbound SEN
ators to reach the capital upset the
I "gentlemen's agreement" between Re
publican and Democratic leaders for
final vote On the measure by to-
night.
Baltimore Tied Up.
Baltimore, Jan. 2S.-Baltimore is in
the grip of the worst blizzard expert
enced in fifty years. Snow has been
falling steadily since early last night.
The snowfall is accompanied by a ter
rifle northeast gale. Street car and
other vehicle traffic is badly ham
pered.
Train schedules are halted Snow
in outlying territory is banked several
feet high. Several ocean going ves-
sells, tugs and barges are imprisoned
in the ice in Chesapeake bay but are
in no danger.