The most severe winter storm ever to hit the New York City region reaches blizzard proportions, costing hundreds of lives and millions of dollars in property damage. Although the storm also struck New England, New York was the hardest hit, with the 36-hour blizzard dumping some 40 inches of snow on the city. For several weeks, the city was virtually isolated from the rest of the country by the massive snowdrifts. Messages north to Boston had to be relayed via England. Even "Leather Man," a fixture of New York and Connecticut history who had walked a circuit of 365 miles every 34 days for three decades, was reportedly delayed four days by the Blizzard of 1888. Leather Man, who walked during the day and slept in caves at night, was known as such because his clothes were made out of large patches of thick leather.
Also on This Day
- Lead Story
- FDR gives first fireside chat, 1933
- American Revolution
- Public Notice urges recognition of "humane ladies", 1776
- Automotive
- Italian auto titan Gianni Agnelli born, 1921
- Civil War
- Union's Red River Campaign begins in Louisiana, 1864
- Cold War
- Truman Doctrine is announced, 1947
- Crime
- London police conduct drug raid at home of George Harrison, 1969
- Police recover Elizabeth Smart and arrest her abductors, 2003
- Disaster
- Hail causes stampede at soccer match in Nepal, 1988
- General Interest
- The Blizzard of 1888, 1888
- Gandhi leads civil disobedience, 1930
- Germany annexes Austria, 1938
- Reno sworn in as attorney general, 1993
- Hollywood
- Richard Pryor releases Live on the Sunset Strip, 1982
- Literary
- Jack Kerouac is born, 1922
- Music
- The Dixie Chicks backlash begins, 2003
- Old West
- Chinese laborers excluded from U.S., 1888
- Presidential
- FDR broadcasts first fireside chat, 1933
- Sports
- New York Highlanders join American League, 1903
- Vietnam War
- McCarthy does well in the Democratic primary, 1968
- Australians withdraw from South Vietnam, 1972
- World War I
- Russian army lends support to rebels in February Revolution, 1917
- World War II
- Hitler announces an Anschluss with Austria, 1938
Mar 12, 1888:
The Blizzard of 1888
Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!
This Week in History, Mar 12 - Mar 18
- Mar 12, 1888
- The Blizzard of 1888
- Mar 12, 1930
- Gandhi leads civil disobedience
- Mar 12, 1938
- Germany annexes Austria
- Mar 12, 1993
- Reno sworn in as attorney general
- Mar 13, 1781
- William Hershel discovers Uranus
- Mar 13, 1868
- Impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson begins
- Mar 13, 1881
- Czar Alexander II assassinated
- Mar 13, 1996
- Tragedy at Dunblane
- Mar 14, 1964
- Jack Ruby sentenced to death
- Mar 14, 1991
- Birmingham Six released
- Mar 15, 44 B.C.
- The Ides of March
- Mar 15, 1820
- Maine enters the Union
- Mar 15, 1917
- Czar Nicholas II abdicates
- Mar 16, 1926
- First liquid-fueled rocket
- Mar 16, 1968
- My Lai massacre takes place in Vietnam
- Mar 16, 1985
- Terry Anderson kidnapped
- Mar 17, 1762
- First St. Patrick's Day parade
- Mar 17, 1776
- The British evacuate Boston
- Mar 17, 1901
- Van Gogh paintings shown
- Mar 18, 1834
- Tolpuddle Martyrs banished to Australia
- Mar 18, 1925
- The Tri-State Tornado
- Mar 18, 1962
- French-Algerian truce
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