The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-03 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 3, 1867

SEVERE SNOWSTORM.

Yesterday there was a severe fall of snow in the
metropolis, unlike any storm of the kind for years
past in the suddenness with which it came on and
the depth to which it fell in a few hours. The pre-
vious day had been extremely cold, and the change
in that respect was the more felt from the weather

n London during the Christmas week having been

unusually mild. The intense cold of Tuesday con-

tinued throughout the following night, accompanied
by drifting showers occasionally of thin snow, which
scarcely coloured the ground, and it was not until
about 5 o'clock yesterday morning that the snow
began to fall heavily. It continued to do so for

some six hours in succession, accompanied by a
piercing north wind, which caused it to drift, and

by noon it lay on the ground all over London and
the suburbs at an average depth of from six to eight
inches. The ordinary traffic of all kinds was seri-

ously interrupted in consequence, and the trains
upon the various metropolitan railways were more
or less delayed throughout the dly. It was rare to
see an ordinary cab, and such as were visible were

mostly drawn by two horses abreast or in tandem

style, with a postilion improvised for the emergency.
The omnibus traffic was also to a great extent sus-

Fended, and the river steamers were laid by. Busi-

ness of all kinds to a considerable extent was in-
terrupted, especially in the City ; nobody appeared
to come into town who could possibly help it, and
many of those who attempted were delayed for
hours beyond the ordinary time. The trains from
the Victoria station to London-bridge, via Syden-

ham, in particular, were out of time throughout the
day. In some cases as many as five hours were
occupied in the journey. Altogether it was a re-
markable day, and will not soon be forgotten. The
cold was not so great as on the previous day, the
fall of snow having tempered the air.
The fall of snow has beenvery heavy in Berks and
Bucks. At daybreak the streets of Windsor and Eton

were covered deeply with snow, while the roofs of
the Castle towers and town buildings were loaded,
About 8 o'clock an easterly wind drove the yet fall-
ing snow into ridges, which, in some of the tho•
roughfares, were from 18 inches to 2ft. in depth
Few passengers ventured into the streets, locomo
tion being impeded by the masses of snow on the
pavement and roads, while the transit of carriages
was stopped. For several hours business seemed
suspended, while railway travellers experienced
great inconvenience. The Great Western Railway,
between Windsor and Slough, and the South West-
ern line were covered deeply, the trains having
much difficulty in making their way along the
rails, which with the wheels of the carriages be-
came clogged with snow. The engine-drivers and
guards of the various trains suffered greatly from
the cold and exposure to the blinding snowstorm.
The down goods train, which leaves Nine Elms
about 5 o'clock in the morning, did not reach Wind-
sor till about 10 o'clock, while the 8 o'clock passen-
ger train from Waterloo did not arrive at Windsor
till 25 minutes past 10 o'clock, having been nearly
two hours and a half iu accomplishing the distance.
The up train, which left Windsor at 8 55, was about
10 o'clock reported to have been stopped near
Wraysbury, about four miles from the Windsor ter-
minus. Between 9 and 10 o'clock the down Read-
ing goods train was stopped by the snow in the
Egham district, but after a time was extricated.
On the Great Western things appeared to be a little
better, though here again the snowstorm caused
some delay.
In West Surrey the change of weather has been
no less sudden. Sunday was mild and genial. This
was the termination of a seasoa so remarkable for
its mildness that under its influence vegetation had
assumed a most unnatural growth. On Monday
night the temperature became colder, and a slight
quantity of snow fell. During the whole of Tuesday
the mercury in the barometer stood at a very low
figure, and frost set in sharply. About two o'clock
yesterday morning the wind shifted to the east, and
a violent snowstorm succeeded. This continued
without intermisssion until two o'clock in the after-
noon, while the severity of the frost remained un-
abated. So keen was the frost that on the roofs
where the snow was melted by the heat of fires un-
derneath, the water was congealed in its progress,
and hung i❑ icicles from the water spouts. Many
of the country roads are quite impassable owing to
the snow, which, in some places, has drifted to a
depth of from Bft. to 10ft., and in several of the
back streets of the town is over 2ft. deep. All the
railway trains have been greatly delayed. The 7
a.m. train from London per South-Western was
two hours behind time, and this was the case with
nearly all the down trains throughout the day. The
delivery of letters per midday post was thrown back
from 12 o'clock till 2, and the same delay occurred
with the evening post. The South-Eastern trains
from London were all from three to four hours in
arrear, while from Reading they were even more
behind. The 7.40 up from Portsmouth, which
ought to reach Guildford at 9 18, was blocked for
more than hour, and did not arrive until nearly 11.
Similar delay was experienced on the 'Winchester
line, a formidable barrier of snow being presented
in some of the deep cuttings.
At Salisbury the fall of snow has been unusually
heavy. On Monday and the day following there
was rather a severe frost, but towards midnight on
Tuesday it was succeeded by snow, which has con-
tinued to fall in large flakes without intermission up
to yesterday at noon. Locomotion was to a great
extent stopped, the snow being several feet deep.
In places where it has been drifted by the strong
wind which is blowing from the north it is very deep
indeed, and the roads quite impassable.
or-

meeting buyers at easier rates, to prevent any accu-

ululation of stocks.
BELFAST, Ist.—The supplies in the various mar-
kets of the province during the past week were not
large. This result is attributable to the Christmas

holidays and to the severity of the weather ; very

little change took place in prices.

Yarns.—Busi-

ness was active. Amount of transactions not so

Large as on preceding week. A steady local trade

was accomplished. Continental orders numerous.

A fair amount of business was transacted with Eng-
land and Scotland. Stocks are reduced ; fine num-

bers of linens scarce. Prices firm. Some descrip-

tions advanced at least 11d. per bundle. Linens
brown.—Handloom.—Demand generally not active,
although fine sets of light 4.4 wides, handkerchiefs,
printing lawns, and drills have changed hands with
considerable freedom. Power-loom.—Light linens,
fine sets, have been in good request. A fair demand
appeared for printing lawns. Country Markets.—
Supplies in Armagh and Ballymena not large. In

both markets an advance on certain descriptions was

realised.

LEEDS, 2d.—The following is the trade reportof
the Leeds Chamber of Commerce for the month of
December :—" At the close of November the
woollen trade was labouring under a considerable

depression. In this month there has been a slight
reaction, and though the trade still continues to be

dull, even for this season, yet December has been a

decided improvement upon the previous month. A
good many parcels have been sold in the warehouses,
and a rather better feeling generally prevails. There
has been a moderate amount taken for shipment.

The manufacturers continue generally to be well
employed, and have received a fair quantity of
orders for spring goods. The woollen captrade has
been very quiet. Since the conclusion of the Lon-
don sales the home demand for wool has continued
steady, though not brisk. There is no alteration to
note in prices. Little business has been done in
flaxes during this month. Good flaxes of all kinds
with colour and quality have maintained their value;
inferior sorts have been a turn in favour of the
buyers. The same remarks applyto tows. Hemps
are dull of sale, and rather cheaper. There has been
rather more demand for yarns, but the trade is by
no means brisk and prices, though rather firmer, are
not higher. Stocks are not heavy, Threads are
without material change, and the demand is steady.
The iron trade generally has been dull, and orders
are scarce. This is always more or less the case at
this season, but it is much more so than usual this
year. There is no improvement to report iu the
machine trade, and most of the makers are short
of work. The engineers' tool makers are generally
keeping the hands pretty well employed, but it is to
some extent to stock. Locomotive makers continue
as before. The demand for cut nails is dull. We
have to report a firm market for both rapeseed and
linseed during the month, and the stock of linseed
is smaller than it was at the same time last year.
Rape oil is in fair demand, and prices are well main-
tained, with a good prospect for the new year. Lin-
seed oil has been more inquired for this month, and
prices are higher. Cakes for feeding are in good
demand, at high rates. Olive oils are much the
same as last month. There is little change to report
in the leather market. The demand generally has
been very languid as usual before Christmas. The
tanners are not so busy as before. The wholesale
shoe trade partakes of the general dulness, and but
little has been done in it this month. The sanitary
tubes and fire bricks trade continues in a satisfactory
state, though the demand is not so very great as it
has been for the past few months. There has not
been so much done in paper, but as much as is usually
the case towards the close of the year. The tobacco
trade is without change. There has been a very full
supply of cattle, and prices have been lower. The
corn market has been pretty well supplied, but wheat
generally has not been in good condition, and prices
have been rather lower. Barley and oats are without
much change.
NOTTINGHAM, 2d.—Protracted holidays, a con-
sequent indisposition for business, and the interfer-
ence of stock-taking combine to make trade dull.
The lime department in hosiery is therefore quiet,
but there is greater activity in foreign orders. Yarns
are firm in price, with a tendency to advance ; but
as there have been holidays for two days of this week
at the principal seats of the cotton trade, scarcely
any business has been done. In the lace trade an
improvement has taken place during the past week.
The home trade has revived, and orders from India
and Canada have increased.
5

dressed and orderly persons had assembled in Daw-
son-street, and along the line of route a number of
the householders had made arrangements for the con-
venience of spectators. There were large detach-
ments of the Metropolitan Police under the command
of Chief Superintendent Campbell, stationed uear
the Mansion-house, but their services were never
called into requisition. Shortly before the time ap-
pointed for the cortege to proceed to the City-hall,
the splendid bands of the Scots Greys and 9th Lan-
cers were drawn up in line in Dawson-street. The
respective members of the Corporation arrived be-
tween 11 and 12 o'clock in their carriages,which were
afterwards formed into a line on the north side of
Stephen's-green. The Lord Mayor elect and his
secretary, Mr. Angelo Hayes, received the aldermen
and town councillors, not as heretofore in the ante-
chamber, but in the Sheriff's room, and the usual
conventionalities of the season were performed.
In the evening the Lord Mayor entertained the
numerous company at a banquet in the Oak-room
of the Mansion-house. Some excellent speeches
were delivered during the evening. A telegram
was received by the Lord Mayor from the Mayor
and Corporation of Kilkenny, who were similarly
occupied at the same time, and responded to at
once. These telegrams were read from the chair.

WEDNESDAY EVENING.

Intelligence has reached town to-day of the
death of Captain Belly, who was stabbed by a
Lancer at Dungarvan.

Inspector Devin, in command of a body of
police, arrested six men, all arrivals from America,
at the North Wall, immediately after the coming
in of the steamer Iron Duke, from Liverpool. None
of them had arms or any articles or property save
the garments they wore. They were all conveyed
to Sackville-lane station-house, where they remain
pending inquiry.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

-f -

The following Admiralty order has been issued in
Deptford dockyard by the Captain Superintendent
on the subject of workmen's pensions and iallow-

ances :

"The Lords of the Admiralty having had under
their consideration the question as to the date on
which pensions awarded to persons employed in the
Deptford Dock and Victualling Yards shall com-
mence, and also the subject of awarding gratuities
to widows of such men who die before they have
been granted pensions, the following regulations are
to be observed :—ln all cases of pensions awarded
to persons who have been on the sick-list without
pay such pensions are to commence from the date
of their ceasing to be paid, but in the case of men
placed on the Hurt List, with half wages only from
the date of the receipt of the pension order as at
present. The widows of men on the Sick List who
die before they are awarded the pension or gratuity
to which they would have been entitled are to be
allowed the gratuity equal to the full wages of their
late husbands, between the time of their pay ceasing
and the date of death. Widows of men on the Hurt
List who have been in receipt of half wages, and
who die before they are pensioned, are to be allowed
gratuities equal to the difference between their late

husbands' halfpay and full wages for the periods be-
tween their being placed on the Hurt List and the
date of death."

Lieut. Orange, of the 16th Regiment, has been
appointed by the Commander-in-Chief assistant-
instructor of musketry to the 4th Depot Battalion
at Colchester, vice Lieut. Raper, 98th Regiment,
whose term of appointment had expired. Lieut.
Orange is under orders to proceed to Landguard
Fort, Harwich, to assume the duties of his appoint-
ment. Staff Assist.-burg. Jay has assumed the
medical charge of the 4th Depot Battalion at Col-
chester, vice Staff-Surg. Morphew, who has pro-
ceeded on leave of absence.