BLIZZARD PREVAILS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1933, Page 5

BLIZZARD PREVAILS

PLIGHT IN BRITAIN

WORST EXPERIENCED FOR YEARS (United Press Association—By Electno Telegraph—Copyright; LONDON, February 24Large areas of England are snowbound, as the blizzard continues, in toouth Wales it is the worst experienced tor some years, in Yorkshire and other northern counties many roads are impassable. Deep snowdrifts block some mam roads 111 the west of England and elsewhere, isolating smalt villages. ’ ieieplioinc communication in South Wales and Ireland is interrupted. Heavy demy lias occurred on some of the main line and rail services, particularly between London and the west. Some local services are suspended. London and the southern counties were visited by the blizzard this afternoon. Britain is under snow practically from end to end. The famous Scottish express, the “Royal Scot,” arrived at Euston station, London, five hours and ten minutes late, it reported snow all along the line. The driver said it was the worst journey that he had ever experienced. He drove the last 220 miles through a terrific bliezardi It was impossible places to see signals at ten to twenty yards dis« tauce, Tile passengers crowded round the driver and fireman, thanking them for their safety. Sixty children forming a choir travelling in Perbrokeshire in a motor coach to sing at a concert have been completely lost. It is presumed they are stranded at some isolated spot and are unable to communicate because the wires are down. Wales, has experienced its heaviest fall of snow for 35 years, accompanied by a 70 miles an hour gale. The Irish mail train from Fishguard, due at Paddington at 9.47 p.m., arrived just before midnight. It reported countless stops, one lasting for 21 hours. A passenger described it as a nightmare journey. Several country trains have not arrived pt their destinations, and are presumably buried in snowdrifts. Hundreds of motor ears and lorries have been abandoned by the drivers. Countless lambs and sheep have been lost.

The Dover-Foikestono Road is impassable. The steamer Lairdsburn is missing, carrying the Scottish Rugby fifteen and several reporters for the international Rugby match with Ireland at Dublin to-day. '

AFTERMATH SUFFERING. (Received this day at 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, February 26, . Half of Britain i.s suffering from the aftermath of th© blizzard. The damage amounts to hundreds of thousands sterling. Traffic is still hampered and residents in upland villages are confined to their houses.

Glossop, in Derbyshire, is completely snowbound; but local provisions are ample.

Thousands of applicants fought for one hundred and fifty jobs as street cleaners in Leicester, but the police restored order.

ISOLATED VILLAGES FOODLESS

LONDON, February 26,

An Irish Channel steamer took nine hours to go from Kingstown to Holyhead, which usually takes three. The enow was like a .blanket, and the waves were forty feet high. The steamer had to stop six- times to take her soundings.

Many small villages in the Midlands are isolated and foodless. Hundreds of motor cars have been abandoned in snowdrifts. A thaw is y.ow general.

MOST SPORTS POSTPONED.

DIESEL TRAIN RUNS TO TIME.

(Received this day at 11.15 a.m) LONDON, February 26

At least three large towns, including Aberystwyth, are isolated except telephonieally, following the blizzard. Outdoor sport is impossible, and in many districts rugger, hockey and golf were almost blotted out, while more than half of the league and soccer fixtures were cancelled. Racing was again, abandoned.

The full fury of knockout blow was felt on the south coast where mountainous seas and gales split the granite Martello tower, erected to repel the Napoleonic invasion, and now used by coastguards. Britain’s first diesel train from London to Birmingham covered 1157 miles during the week at a cost of 65/6 without a hitch. When the other trains wore disorganised by the blizzard It ran punctually.