The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-25
ZERO PREDOMINANT.

The Unhappy Cold of Yey4crday-Ob-
struction to Traffic In the City and ON
tho Rivers-GOOd Skating hut Little
PatrOnage-Range of the ThcrmO m-
ctcr.
The cold Of yesterday wan simply incense at va
rious hours of the morning., afternoon and night,
and exceeded in extreme bitterness that OF any
day during the present or past year. Comparing it
with the temperature OF tho same date last year,
as given in the appended table Of the thermomet-
rical range for both days. striking and obvious
difference Is Immediately perceptiblc- At six
O'Clock A. NJ yesterday the mercury M the Their
mOmeter'was at zero, at nine O'Clock 1t was only
three degrees above Zero, and in its variations
during the remaining portions of the day did not
at any time exceed fourteen degrees. The
forenoon was especially cold. north
northwesterly wind, chilling and piercing
in Its effects, dried up the hitherto damp atmos-
phere; crusted the moistened earth, clay and
garbage OF our streets; moulded into mpene trable
hillocks the mounds OF snow still obstruCting way
farers and traffic in almost every lane, alley and
avenue throughout the entire city, and continued
up to noon to maintain the same degree OF severity
At twelve O'Clock faint Glmmering of sunshine
tempered somewhat the back frosty bitterness OF
the air, and at hali-past three the mercury with
final struggle, as II the inherent qualities and
power of its essence were well nigh exhausted
rose to fourteen degrees, and then sank again into
its original declining tendency.
The slippery condition OF the streets made traffic
almost an impOssibility, and proved To the poor,
gOOd-natured domestic brutes u trouble as serious
and tOrmenting, If not more trying and fatal, than
the epizoOty. There was scarcely corner turned
crossing crossed that had not its PROSTATE VIC
tim or victims. Horses could be seen dead in many
OF the narrow streets. where the water and slush
OF the past week were allowed to gather and accu-
mulate. 1t was not anything strange to see some
OF the stage and draugbt horses on Broadway falling
at intervals, while others painted and struggled in
vain TO drag their freight over the slippery, uneven
thoroughfares. The drivers were no less exasper-
ated with cold and exertion than the poor beasts
they were in charge Of Although covered and
mufiled with clothing OF every quality, shape and
pattern, they looked pltiable in the extreme, and
and exhaustion TO control the movements OF their
horses.
The North and East rivers were OF course to q
great and entirely disagreeable extent ice-bound,
and 1t only by considerable prudence and
much labor and perseverance the ferryboats could
be brought to and steamed from their moorlngs.
TOwbOats were necessary IN many instances TO
rescue them even In the centre OF the rivers from
the vast and massive plates OF Ice which hemmed
especially the weaker sex, when happening to be
caught in this disagreeable strait. Steam and
water had to be used most extravaganty in order
to break and dissolve the ice ut the landings before
q moOring could be effected.
The skating was excellent, but the excessive
cold prevented generous patronage OF this beauti
ful and recOmmendable outdoor amusement, and
abandoned. yet the number OF skaters was eX-
ceedingly small.
The following Is the range OF temperature Us in
dicated yesterday by the thermometer at Hudnut's
Pharmacy in the HERALD building, and also the
table OF the same date last year,