Evening star., 1943-01-29
Traffic Tied Up
By Icy Streets;
AT Least Dead
Districts Equipment
Unable to Clear
Heavy Coating
Pictures on Page A-2.)

(PcttreS on rage A-Z.)
Washington struggled to work
this morning In the wake of a
sleet, hail and snow storm that
left at least two persons dead,
several injured and the worst
transportation difficulties of the
season.
Traffic was seriously snarled at
most downtown intersections, and
streetcars and buses were running
considerably behind schedule.
Workers generally were so late ar
irving that Offices in some instances
were an hour or more behind time
in opening.
The serious traffic condition was
due primarily to coating of nearly
five inches of Ice which the Dis
trict's snow plows were unable to
handle. William A. Xanten, super
visor Of city refuse, reported that
100 plows had been kept busy on
streets until midnight last night
and then had been halted simply
because they we're doing nothing
10 reueVe the situation. .--
Resume Work at Noon.
This is what you call Ice and
there Is not much you can do about
It," Mr.. Xanten explained. AS fast
as traffic turned it up it froze. We
tried every facility we had at our
disposal and could do nothing. Even
highway graders failed to break the
solid sheet of ice"
He said the plows were scheduled
to go back on the streets in another
effort to clear them at noon today.
The delay, he explained, was called
in the hope that the temperature
would warm up enough for the ice to
thaw some. This was in accord with
Weather Bureau report that the
mercury would rise some during the
day, but would drop to below freez-
ing again tonight.
Mr.. Xanten reported that another
difficulty in connection with efforts
to clean the streets was the depart
ment's inability to employ extra
help. He said the work so far had
been carried on only with regular
crews and that all efforts to employ
extra help this morning had failed.
400 Work All Night.
A crew of 400 was at work
throughout the night, turning their
! attention mainly to cleaning of gut
| ters to guard against floods in case
of quick thawing. Sixty from the
refuse department and 120 from the
highway department. went out a.
the night crew came of duty this
morning and rs more we're slated
to 60 out at noon Mr.. Xanten said
another large force would work
again tonight.
The first death attributed to the
storm occurred yesterday when
Frank M. Settle, 80. of Lanham. Md,
was killed after his automobile had
skidded and been struck by a train
on Defense Highway at the B. & O.
crossing at Bladensburg. Prince
Georges County police reported that
he was alone in the car at the time.
He was pronounced dead on arrival
at Leland Memorial Hospital.
A native of Missouri, Mr.. Settle
had been in the lumber business In
the Washington area for the last IL
years and owned a sawmill at Halls
Station, Md. Funeral arrangements
have not been completed. He Is
survived by his widow, Mrs. Alice
Settle, and daughter, Miss Roberta
Settle.
Dies While Sweeping Steps.
The second victim was Gustaye g.
Pauls, SO. of 1888 Irving street NV.
who was stricken with a heart at
tack while sweeping snow from the
steps at his home at 4:30 pm. yes
terday. He was pronounced dead on
the scene.
Miss Mary NJ Bran, 80. of 815
Eighteenth street NV, was ad-
mitted to Emergency Hospital this
morning with possible fracture Of
the back after she had fallen on the
sidewalk in front of her home.
Alexander Hodkinson, IS, watch
man for construction Office at
Benning road and Oklahoma avenue
Sc. was removed from his home
at 2009 Rosedale street NE. to Cas-
ualty Hospital shortly after mid
night and treated for possible frac-
ture OF the hip and of the right leg.
Police said he had slipped on an 10y
plank while at work early last night.
William E. Vertz, 80, of 3l3 A
street Sc, was taken to Casualty
Hospital after he had fallen on tho
ice near the Library of Congress.
He was treated for brain conclusion
and possible skull fracture. Nicho-
las Cinorelli, SIS, address unknown,
was treated for similar injuries
after he had fallen from a slippery
scaffold while painting at the new
underpass at Fourteenth street and
Maine avenue S.W., police reported,
Rebecca Price, 30, colored, Of 1880
Cathedral avenue NV, slipped and
fell while crossing Wisconsin avenue
at Dumbarton street NV. She was
admitted to Georgetown Hospital
and treated for fractured right
ankle.
Intersections Blocked.
Many instances of stalling at
street intersections in the down.
town area added to the general
confusion. Both buses and auto
mobiles, rolling to q standstill for
traffic lights, we're unable in many
instances to get out of holes worn
In the ice by spinning tires. They
were forced to remain there until
they could manage to free them
selves by their own power or with
the help of some one else. AS re-
suit, street cars and motor vehicles
were snarled in jams extending IN
the worst cases for a block or more.
While they we're unable at pres
ent to predict what will be the ex-
tent of damage, bus officials, par
ticularly those On the Virginia side,
expressed alarm over the effect Of
the rough surface on buses al
ready overworked by war condi-
tions. Drivers were instructed to
proceed slowly and TO operate with