THE SNOWSTORM.
TRAINS DELAYED, IMPASSABLE ROADS.
TRAFFIC INTERRUPTED.

Stern winter, with all its rigours and cold, arrived suddenly on Sunday, but the full effect of "winter's snows and storms" was not felt until yesterday.

Snow fell steadily on Sunday and covered the landscape with white downy flakes, and the covering remained on Monday, when four degrees of frost were recorded. During Monday night snow again fell, and on Tuesday Morning the streets had a heavy covering.

The keen, south-easterly wind blew the light flakes into deep drifts, and passengers along the street sank to their' knees in some places, while at others the asphalt was bare. All day yesterday the streets had a deserted appearance, though Council workmen were early engaged clearing the principal streets. People preferred to remain indoors, and only traversed the streets under stress of necessity. The fine snow was driven by the wind through the crevices Of windows and under roofs into the houses of residents, all over the
town.
In the surrounding country the snow drifted to greater depths and many of the roads on the Moss were, impassable. The wind carried the snow out of the fields into the lanes, leaving it level with the copses and hedges, and among those which were impassable were Squire's Gate lane, Division lane, and Lytham road from the Half-Way House House to Cartmell's Farm. Drifted, snow between Lytham and Wrea Green, near the bridges in particular, greatly interfered with the railway traffic between Blackpool and Manchester, and trains were several hours' late. The mails, which usually arrive at 6-0 a.m., were not forthcoming till nearly half-past nine, and the first postal delivery did not reach some houses till noon.

Drifted snow also prevented the dispatch of the trains from Blackpool, and the first train inland- 5-50 a.m., to Liverpool—was unable to leave until 7-20. Manchester business men had the unhappy experience of waiting an hour and a half at Blackpool, South Shore, St, Annes, Ansdell and Lytham stations, as the first club train did not leave till after nine o'clock, and the 7-35 did not leave till 9-25. Other trains were equally late, and in consequence many business men had recourse to the telephone. In fact the Post Office took possession of the St. Annes to Blackpool lines for trunk calls, and communication between the two places was practically cut off all the morning.