THE Blizzard in the West: BEING A Record and Story of the Disastrous Storm WHICH RAGED THROUGHOUT Devon and Cornwall, and West Somerset, On the Night of March 9th, 1891. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. COPYRIGHT. _The right of reproduction is reserved._ London: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & CO., LIMITED, PATERNOSTER ROW. Devonport: A. H. SWISS, PRINTER AND STATIONER, 111 & 112 FORE STREET. THE LARGEST FLORAL AND FRUIT ESTABLISHMENT WEST OF LONDON. W.G. HODGE, F.R.H.S. FLORIST AND FRUIT & VEGETABLE PURVEYOR, 49 GEORGE STREET, 17 UNION STREET, 90 OLD TOWN STREET, PLYMOUTH. AND _76 George Street, DEVONPORT_. Telegrams, "FLORIST," Plymouth. Telephone No., 80. NURSERIES: CROWN HILL. Specialities: Wedding & other Bouquets. FUNERAL WREATHS, CROSSES, &C. From 5/- to Two Guineas, Per Parcels Post to all parts of the Kingdom. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. INDICATIONS AND OBSERVATIONS. II. THE BLIZZARD. III. ON THE RAILWAYS. IV. AT SEA. V. IN TOWN AND COUNTRY. VI. IN PARK AND FOREST. VII. AFTER THE STORM.--THE WATER FAMINE IN THE THREE TOWNS. VIII. SOME STRANGE EXPERIENCES. SPOONER & COMPANY. FLOOR COVERINGS. S. & Co. beg to draw the attention of their customers to the large portion of their premises reserved for the exclusive sale of the above, ever increasing variety of BRITISH & ORIENTAL FLOOR COVERINGS, and for the development of which SPOONER & CO. have given their special attention, resulting in their having always on sale an unrivalled selection of AXMINSTERS, WILTONS, BRUSSELS, TAPESTRY CARPETS, KIDDERMINSTER CARPETS, FLOOR CLOTHS, LINOLEUMS, CORK CARPETS. Fully maintaining their reputation for Superior Designs, Durability, and excellence of Material. SPOONER & COMPANY, Complete House Furnishers and Art Decorators, =PLYMOUTH=. PREFACE. The record of the Blizzard of 1891 was undertaken in response to a generally expressed desire on the part of a large number of residents in the Western Counties. It would have been impossible to compile the work, imperfect as it is, without the assistance and co-operation of the editor and staff of the _Western Morning News_, who have been most active in its promotion. Assistance has also been kindly rendered by the editor and staff of the _Western Daily Mercury_. Thanks are also largely due to many others, who, besides furnishing us with interesting details and views, have offered us every facility for obtaining information. Valuable particulars in some instances have been afforded by Dr. Merrifield, of Plymouth, and Mr. Rowe, public librarian, of Devonport, who has also sent some of the views appearing in this book.