Portland, OR Sleet Storm, Jan 1912

GREAT HAVOC IS CREATED BY SILVER THAW

Traction Company and Phone Lines Felled By Sleet Storm

IMMENSE DAMAGED DONE

Ice-Laden Wires Fall and More Than 200 Poles Crash to Street.

TREES TOPPLE EVERYWHERE

Light and Power Strands Break, Sputter on Ground.

LITTLE RELIEF PROMISED

Hardly One Thoroughfare of Portland Escapes---Suburban Districts Also Suffer---Several Injured in Day's General Havoc.

Drizzling rain and sleet, which turned to ice as it fell, demoralized Portland's streetcar service yesterday, left the residence prostrated the telephone and telegraph services, filled the streets in the residence districts with broken trees, telephone poles and dangling telephone and electric-light wires and caused general ruin to the extent probably of several hundred thousand dollars.

FEATURES OF "SILVER THAW."

Car service demoralized. High-tension lines broken in many places and part of electric supply cut off all night. Trolley wires broken on nearly every line.

Telephone services prostrate. All toll lines down in every direction. Thousands of residences without service.

Thousands of trees ruined by breaking under weight of sleet.

Streets littered with poles, trees and wires.

Automobiles belonging to Dr. C. G. Sabin demolished by falling tree in Seventh street, Dr. Sabin narrowly escaping.

Two horses electrocuted on Steel bridge. Many others dead from injuries on slippery streets.

Two automobiles demolished in collision on slippery uptown streets.

Many slight injuries from falling trees and wires.

Dirt slides caused by torrents did great damage.

Orchards in many parts of Williamette Valley reported badly damaged.

Fire alarm system, excepting one short East, Side line, out.

Morning Oregonian, Portland, OR 7 Jan 1912
__________________

Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!