Friday, January 20, 1871 | The Woodstock Sentinel (Woodstock) | Page 1, col. 9 |
Tremendous snow storms.
Drifts twenty feet deep.
The Beacon says:—Since the middle of last week one of the most terrible snow storms that has ever visited Ontario has raged in the county of Huron, completely suspending travel from Goderich for three days. On Sunday last the wind below a hurricane, whirling the snow about with such terrific fury that scarcely any one cared to move from their homes. Monday morning found the Grand Trunk Railway, between Stratford and Goderich completed blockaded. At Mitchell, Carronbrook, Sebringville and Clinton the drifts were much higher than at any time for many years, while at Holmes' Cut the snow lay on the track to the depth of twenty feet. Snow ploughs were sent out from Stratford to cut a passage, and although they worked almost incessantly, it was not until Wednesday afternoon at about four o'clock that the track was cleared. For two days a large number of commercial men were shut up in Goderich unable to make their way out in any direction. Business was almost at a stand still in the town, no trains arrived, and the Kincardine stage route was closed by the heavy drifts. The last run was made on Monday, and the driver and his horses almost perished in the snow and cold. They got through only by great courage and perseverance, and the driver would not venture over of the road again until a path was cleared. On Wednesday night it was arranged for the people along the route to turn out with shovels and clear away the snow, so that travel might be resumed. By Wednesday morning the snow plough had reached Clinton, and the first train since Saturday last left Goderich, with a load of weary and impatient travellers, but took till late in the afternoon to reach Clinton, twelve miles distant. From thence the track was clear enough, and Stratford was reached in time to make connections east and west. This storm was without parallel in this district.