Downpours Strand Students As New York's Exits Close

NEW YORK, Oct. 16- This metropolitan area found itself virtually sealed off from New England today, with all major roads closed down and all New Haven railroad operations suspended indefinitely. As a minor result of this weekend's great deluge, hundreds of students from New England schools found themselves stranded here.

The Merritt Parkway, the main artery of southeastern Connecticut, was closed to traffic from early morning on. In addition, U.S. 1 was flooded in most localities-especially the city of Bridgeport.

Some tried to make it anyway, using side-streets where the highway was closed. Reports from Cambridge seem to show that this was possible, but the trip took upwards of 12 hours. Others headed to Albany, and then planned to cut across the state of Massachusetts. But reports from the western part of the state seem to indicate that this was a dangerous route, with snow falling rapidly.

This latter route was used, however, by two of the four buses carrying the band from New York. Unable to travel via the usual roads, these two buses set out this morning for the Albany-Pittsfield-Boston route. Although it was snowing very hard, they both made it back to Boston late tonight. The other two left right after the game and had little trouble.

Glee Club Struggle

The Glee Club, in New York for a concert at Columbia, left in straggling groups from Saturday night on. Some tried to drive, but were stopped in Green-wich, Conn., and had to turn back. Most tried to get on special fights out of La Guardia Airport.

Reports from Princeton and Yale report that hundreds of girls are having to stay at least an extra night. Authorities at Smith College have given their students full permission to stay over wherever they might be.

At Princeton, about 800 girls were put up Saturday night, and of these, at least 200. probably did not return to their schools. A large proportion of the marooned students are from Wellesley, it is reported.

Yale has opened up some of its suites for the women, predomininately from Smith and Wellesley, with roads closed from New Haven, one of the worst hit areas. Yale President Griswold today announced that the 7,000 Yale students would offer emergency services to the state of Connecticut.