New Britain herald., 1930-10-20
Drifts 10 to IF Feet Deep in Silver Creek-Lake Erie -Chautauqua Section Is Blanketed- Utilities Are Crippled, Food Practical ly Exhausted.

Buffalo, N. r., Oct 20 R-The extreme portion of western New York, from Buffalo south along the shores of Lake Erie. today was en- gagged almost exclusively in one oc- cupation, that of shoveling snow.
 It was endeavoring to recover from one of the worst snowstorms in it's history. certainly the most severe October blizzard of which it has any record. Snow in depth nine inches to four feet mantles the ground all the way from Buffalo to Erie, Pa. The storm over the lake was accompanied by gale, which drove the big freight CTS to shelter and for a time caused much concern over the safety of some. Eight boats early today still were behind the buffeting edges Of Long Point. Ont, but the wind had subsided considerably and they ex- pected to proceed today to their des- tinations No considerable damage was done to shipping, although the steamer E. E. T4oomis. which left Buffalo Saturday midnight with package freight, had put in at Erie, Fa., with much of it's cargo soaked
 Thunder With Snow
 The big and unreasonable snow storm was of freak variety. In this city snow blows were plunging through a nine-inch depth in the southern part, while in the central and northern portions the ground showed not even a trace. Then. too, in places it was reported that thunder and lightning accompanied the snowfall.
 The heaviest fall was in the vicin- 1ty of Angola, where the four foot depth on the level was attained
 All through the affected section automobiles were stalled, many of the cars being those of tourists who had started out unprepared for wintry conditions, during the sum- merlike weather earlier in the week. Wires were down in all directions. trees were leveled, the unharvested grape crop in which western New York brides itself, was ruined. Farmers lamented the loss of fruit trees. in some instances entire or chards having been wiped out.
 Farnihouses Crowded
 Autoists who abandoned cars by the hundreds plodded their way to farmhouses in search of food and shelter. The houses soon were over- crowded by the wayfarers. Snow blows were endeavoring this morn ing to push their way through to them with supplies. urgent appeals having been sent out last night when the few operating telephone lines brought word that provisions were running low. In one ordinary sized farmhouse two miles north Of Farnham, Erie county, no less than 67 snowbound autoists were being accommodated. The beds in the place were too few, even to the women and children of the party, members of which slept on floors from cellar to garret.
 llS SHdlllUCl ol SS SA Silver Creek today took steps to find accommodations for 1900 persons marooned at that hamlet. These people mostly were motorists, from many different states. Their cars were caught in the heavy drifts, which in some places rose as high as ten and twelve feet. Hotels, rcoming houses and many private residences were pressed into service to care for the unexpected crowd. The chamber established a head quarters for the direction of the stranded tourists and Boy and Girl Scouts assisted in guiding strangers Some of the motorists entrained for home, leaving their cars in .he filled highways. About 400 automobiles still were stalled in and near Silver Creek early today.
 Snow Crashes Roofs
 The weight of the snow crashed in the roofs of several garages and that of the Chautauqua and Erie station at Silver Creek. The Angola hotel roof and the Acme Veneering company roof at Orchard Park col lapsed. The front wall of the hotel was forced three feet toward the street. Twenty-Five persons in the place at the time fled and escaped injury when the bulging walls gave warning.
 Power lines were down in great number. as were communication lines. Employees of the Niagara Hudson Power Company and the New York Telegraph Company were out in force in an effort to repair the damage, Many of these repair gangs were able to reach their des- tinations only by travelling on horse back.
 Interurban bus lines and heavy transportation vans were abandon ed. Several of these big trucks stalled at various points between this city and Dunkirk. A Cleveland Buffalo bus and Buffalo Chicago bus were among the vehicles stalled al Angola.
 Showed in at the Y. W. c. A., camp at Farnham, 30 girls this morning were awaiting rescue The party had sufficient food on hand, but the members suffered from the cold. The camp was without lights last night. Boy Scouts, isolated at Toad Hollow, had merry time in camp and radioed that they were snowballing and enjoying them selves Immensely.
 The first automobile which ac- tually ran, which incidentally was s+aar, h1ilt in