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
Ashprington, dug out a flock of fifty, of which fifteen were dead.
Orchards were completely wrecked, and many fine forest trees were
destroyed. In the town the damage done to property was not very great,
but the glass roofs of several conservatories were broken in by the
weight of snow. The snow in the streets was three feet deep, and in the
adjacent country roads a depth of from six to eight feet was recorded.
TRURO.--At the cathedral city of Cornwall trade was at a complete
standstill for days, owing to the heavy fall of snow. Snow lay three
feet deep in all the roads outside the town, and, going farther into
the country, the drifts were from ten to twelve feet deep. Great damage
was done to property, and some accidents, none of them, however, having
a fatal termination, occurred. To make matters worse for those having
business matters to look after, the train service was altogether
disorganised. The "Dutchman" arrived on Monday night forty minutes
late, and then had to wait the arrival of the train from Falmouth.
This, due at Truro at 7·25, did not arrive until ten minutes to nine.
Its course was blocked by fallen telegraph poles and wires, which
had to be cut away before the train could proceed, the most serious
obstacle being between Penryn and Perranwell. The "Dutchman" had to
pass by Grampound Road at full speed, or it would probably have been
in danger of being embedded in the snow. It was only when the end
of this memorable week had been reached that telegraphic and other
communication with neighbouring towns was restored, and that the city
once more returned to its usual condition of comfort and tranquillity.
CHAPTER VI.
IN PARK AND FOREST.
There is no stronger testimony to the overwhelmingly destructive
character of the blizzard of March, 1891, than that afforded by
the spectacle of thousands of forest trees, that had, in numerous
instances, withstood the storms of centuries, lying, some with their
roots above ground, others snapped short off or twisted asunder, but
all mercilessly and hopelessly wrecked. Many of these fallen monarchs
had experienced heavier gales undoubtedly, but they had not been so
rapidly laden with the heavy burden of clinging snow that caused them
to sway and stagger, and rendered them helpless victims to the fury
of the blast. The effects of this blizzard-like nature of the storm
are apparent in the peculiar form the havoc in the parks and forests
has assumed--some trees appearing as if the tops had been wrenched
off, and in other instances a trunk being left standing--a mere bare
pole--denuded of all its branches. Many trees that were old and feeble
weathered the storm best, the apparent cause being that their stronger
brethren sheltered them from the fatal garment of snow as much as from
the gale, and that when the protector at last fell the fury of the
blast was spent.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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