Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1899

[?] The GReat Blizzard N.W. Wind

We have heard of the next western & North Western Blizzards but we know now from H what it means. It has been snowing more or less for serveral days past but last night it commenced blowing a heavy gale from N.W. accompanied by [feirce?] snow and has continued with increasing violence all day to day the snow haveing drifted to an [?] unpreceidented in this country the weather being extremely cold together with the depth of the snow has paral ized every body & every this so far as out of doors efforts are concerned the mail got as far as Burtonsville this morning & there it is still the in coming mail from Ravenel did not [slant?] out. I went in next door through drifts over three feet deep in the lowest place I could find. Not a vehicle passed today since the sludge [sleighs?] started early this morning. The weather guage ? a depth of 31 inches of snow before sunset. It is still snowing & blowing to night at bed time but I hope not qiute as violently.

8 [degrees} Clear N.W. & S.W. Winds

The storm continues until near morning, when it cleared off but the wind continues vlosing until near noon today. The snow is so deep that it was impossible to get out of door until paths of trench es were dug even to get around the horses. This afternoon they commenced diging a passage way along the turnpike and got from Sandy Spring P.O. as far as out front gate the backed on either side being shoulder high in many places. between here & Henderson's the drifts are eight or nine feet deep on the turnpike which must be dug through tomorrow before any mail can be taken or received. The telephones have been a great blessing & messages have been passing constantly all day beween the neighbors and from Ro?ville, Lau rel, Gatherburg & all telling the same tale of snow blockage. Edward & I dug lanes around the house & some of them more than 3 feet deep. It certain ly will be a snow long to be remem bered. The thermomitor went up from 8 [degrees] this morning to 30, at 3 oclk p.m but [] falling again since sun set the wind has changed to S.W. since noon.

3 [degrees] Clear & Cloudy Variable Wind

Clear & cold this morning. The turnpike [?] put alot of horses on the road digging a "cut" through the snow from Sandy Spring to Ashton, & another "gang" to Olney & one to Edmon & beyond, they went as far Edwrd Beattens by Noon and to "Alf" Bells by sun set. The average depth of the cut is about 6 feet. Edwd & I dug a passage out from our big gate to the cut along the turnpike that is higher than out heads where it intersects the main cut. We made it quite wide enought to admit sleighs going in or out. Henderson's cut passed along from the mill to Sandy Spring & back & towards evening a sleigh with milk cans and J Moore in his sleigh with a colored driver also passed the latter went as far as the mill but how far the other went I do not know. I went up to see [J.J.?] Henderson, who is quite sick with grippe. Wallace Bond? walked to AShton & back home first of his being there since saturday he called here as he returned & left some medicine I ordered by "phone". John Bell (stag? driver) borrowed my saddle intending to take the mail on horseback tomorrow if he can get it through even in that way. Willie telephones that they were well, and he had been shoveling more all day with a "gang" that got as far as half way down "Walnut Hill". After supper Edwrd went in next door to spend the evening playing whist or chess Thermometor 24 this evening at bed time quite a change since morning.

15 [degrees] Cloudy N.E. Wind

Cloudy again this morning & looks like more snow just as they are getting the roads so that sleighs are beginning to pass over them several ahve passed this morning before 9 oclk. It commen ced raining sleeting about noon & con tinued until bedtime. I went up to Hender sons again before lunch time, he seems decidedly better. Some of the "Manor" [Stubler?] boys went to Laurel yester day afternoon and brought the mail. Everything is covered with ice, the trees & horses being sheathed in a coating of ice. I am afraid the Trees will be badly broken if the wind should continue blowing hard. We had a serious time getting the front window shutters closed this even? both up stairs & down. Mifs Mark Fowler came in this afternoon for a call. It would be sad for the young folks if we should have no sleighing after all the snow that has fallen but if ti clears off cold it would still make good sleighing for some time. Wrote to [Fredh Lyon?] after supper.

32 [degrees] Clear & Cloudy Wind

The snow was slightly frozen this morning early, but soon began to melt & continues all day. It stopped raining last night before midnight and partly cleared of before morning. There was consider able sleighing past here all day, and in spite of the thaw the sleighs did not cut through to the ground the ground being frozen under the snow. If it should turn cold afain there would be plenty of sleighing for some time to come I added another sheet to letter to T. Tyson & mailed it. Willie rose over on horseback& spent an hour with us but hurried back fearing the "Howlings" river would rise so rapidly from the melting snow that he could not cross. I went in next door to perscribe for "Phil" who is quite poorly with "grippe". Mr Johnson Williams of Olney died quite suddenly early yesterday morning.

32 [degrees] Cloudy & Rain S.E. & N.E. Wind

The snow & slush was slightly fro zen again early this morning bu soon softened and by noon (or a little later) it was raining again & has contined up to bed time tonight. I went up to Henderson's house & to the mill for flour and corn meal. I also went in next door & telephoned to Walace Boud at Ashton for some coffee which he brought up & left us he went to dinner. Afternoon "Old John" was here for advice & medicine having "taken cold" working in the snow drifts. Quite a num ber of sleighs were out today in spite of the slush. Hender sons four horses wagon took load of flour to Laurel Frank Robinson went with it.

32° Clear & Cloudy S.E. Ther. Sunday Feb. 19th Wind

The snow & slush was frozen early this morning again, but softened before ten o clock. Edward & I went to meeting, there were very few persons there. Mr J. C. Williams was buried today at St Johns chur quite a number of the friends attended the funeral. Afternoon I went up to Henderson's. Willie came on horseback & took supper with us going back to "Fairfeild" about dusk.

32° Clear S.E. Ther. MON. FEB. 20,^th 1899. Wind

Frozen again this morning & quite a number of sleighs passed here today. I walked to Ashton & back: the sleighing is quite good to Ashton except opposite to [Chas Porter's place where the ground is bare. Afternoon I went up to the store & P.O. Mrs Robison came in this afternoon. The walking is [unefected?] & "slushy" except where the ground is bare, & then it is muddy.

33° Cloudy S.E. Ther. TUES. FEB. 21,^st 1899 Wind.

Cloudy, & rather warmer: The "Farmer's Convention" met and held their 27th annual meeting at the Lyceum today, it was not quite as largely attended as last year, in consequence of the deep snow drift, & bad roads but there was a good attendance & an interesting meeting. The ladies gave us an excellent dinner, served in the School house using the desks as tables. Willie Fanny & baby came & spent the day, W going with me to the convention; they returned to "Fairfield" before supper. A Philad^a syndicate offers to build our Electric R.R. from Washington to Sandy Spring, upon such favorable conditions that if they are not complied with, it proves that either those here who would be benefited by it, are either stupid, or do not want a rail road, notwithstanding all their talk, which is cheap.

45. Clear & Cloudy S.E. Ther. WED. FEB. 22,, 1899. Wind.

Cloudy & [dark?] most of the day. Thomas S. Stabler was here to lunch with us. Willie called in afternoon, having come to mill for flour & feed. Old Uncle Henson Hill sent for some more medicine. We let the fire in our room go out last night as it seemed so mild & warm, but this afternoon it was so damp & chilly I made it up again. The roades are exceedingly sloppy & bad everywhere and will soon be impassable on the dirt roads if they do not freeze up again and there is much hauling over them. George E. Brooke had a fainting fit this morning, which alarmed them very much, but he soon rallied & seemed as well as usual.