The Blizzard in the West: Being as Record and Story of the Disastrous Storm which Raged Throughout Devon and Cornwall, and West Somerset, On the Night of March 9th, 1891Unknown
History
The Blizzard in the West: Being as Record and Story of the Disastrous Storm which Raged Throughout Devon and Cornwall, and West Somerset, On the Night of March 9th, 1891
Unknown
Blizzards -- England -- Cornwall (County) -- History; Cornwall (England : County) -- History; Devon (England) -- History
DARTMOUTH.--At Dartmouth the storm was severe, and all telegraphic
communication was cut off during the week of the gale, but by the
following Sunday a staff of telegraphic engineers had restored
communication with Exeter by a single wire, and also with Brixham. On
one night during the week a wall gave way at the Castle churchyard and
fell on to the rocks beneath, carrying with it several tombstones, and
disturbing the coffins in the graves. At the market on Friday morning
buyers arrived in the town by train, from all parts, for the purpose
of buying provisions, but their journey was fruitless, as the farmers
had not been able to get into the town, the roads being impassable for
vehicles. Railway traffic was only partially suspended, but the first
through communication to Kingsbridge was not effected until Monday the
16th, when Mr. Sanders, driver of the Dartmouth coach, managed, with
the assistance of Mr. Cross, of Strete, Mr. Watson, of Chillington, and
a number of volunteers, to get a conveyance through from Dartmouth.
They had to cut their way through about two miles of snowdrifts, which
in many places, were upwards of six feet deep. When Mr. Sanders and his
party got to Frogmore they invited the co-operation of the villagers,
offering money and beer for help. This, however, was declined, but
the party arrived in Kingsbridge shortly before three o'clock, about
two hours later than the usual time of the arrival of the Dartmouth
coach. Messrs. Cross and Watson rendered admirable service. The only
papers delivered between Dartmouth and Kingsbridge since Monday the
9th, were the copies of the _Western Morning News_ and _Western Daily
Mercury_ distributed by Sanders along the line of route on Thursday
and Saturday. Among other damage enormous destruction was done to the
plantation at Blackpool, almost the whole of the young trees being
spoiled.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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