The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-04-24
0I1eGatelliqtnetr:
;. vnnr Wi,hout a Summer.

Almost every one hAs heard tell oil the
terrible dark year in the earlier part Of
prcsent century, which old New England
farmers refer to as eighteen hundred and
starved TO death" a contributor gives
the following information:
While every one speaking OF the pres
ept season as being remarkable in It's
characteristics, l have gathered tor your
readers some reliable facts OF tho year
1915, known as the "year without sum
mer." Few persons now living can fecol'
Iect II; but it was the coolest ever known
throughout Europe and America. The
following is q brief abstract Of tho weather
during the year.
January was mild; so much 60 as to
render fires almost needless in parlOrs,-
December previous was very cold
February was not very cold; with the
exception Of q few days 1t was mild like
its predecessor.
March was cold and boisterous during
the first part Of It; the remainder was
mild. A great lreshet on the Ohio and
Kentucky rivers caused great loss oil
property.
April began warm but grew colder as
tho month advanced, and ended in snow
and ice, with q temperature more like
winter than spring.
Nav was more remarkable for troWns
than smiles. Buds and flowers were
frozen, ice formed hall an inch thick;
corn was killed and the fields wCro again
and again planted until deemed too late.
June was the Coldest ever known in
this latitude. Frost, ice and snow were
common. Almost every green thing was
killed. Fruit was nearly all destroyed.
Snow fell to the depth OF ten inches in
Vermont several IN Maine and three in
central New York, and also In iassachu'
sets. Considerable damage was done at
New Orleans in consequence OF the rapid
riso In the river; the suburbs were covered
with water, and tho roads we're only pass
able In boats.
July was accompanied by frost and ice.
On the nth ice was formed, OF the
thickness Of common window glass,
throughout New England, New York and
some parts Of Pennsylvania. Indian corn
was nearly all destroyed; some favorably
situated fields escaped. This was true OF
some OfthO hill iarms Of Massachusetts,.
August was more cherries II possible
than The summer months already passed.
ice was formed hall an inch thick.
Indian corn was go frozen that the
greater part was cut down and dried for
fodder. Almost every green thing was
destroyed both in this country and in
EuropC. Papers received from England
stated that It would be remembered by
the present generation that the year 1915
was year In which there was no sum
mer. Very little corn rlpcncd in New
England and the Middle States. Farmers
supplied themselves from tho corn pro-
duced In 1916 for the seed Of the spring OF
1917. 1t sold at from four to five dollars
per bushel.
September furnished about two weeks
o. the mildest weather Of tho season.
Soon after the middle 1t became very
cold and frosty and ice formed quarter
Of An inch thick.
October produced more than its share
of cold weather; frost and Ice particularly,
November was cold and clustering.
Enough snow fell to make good sleighing.
DeCCInUeE was NulGC luAA nnu SOLAAVAs'
able. ~,
Tho above is brlet summary Of "lhe
cold summer of 1916" as 1t was called in
order to distinguish il from tho cold sea-
son. The winter was mild. Frost and
Ice were common in every month OF the
year. Very little vegetation mGtured In
the eastern and middle States. The suns
rays seemed to be destitute OF heat
through tho summer; all nature seemed
to be clad in q sable hue, and men exhib-
lied no little anxiety concerning the fu-
ture OF this life.
Tho average wholesale price Of flour
during that year, in the Philadelphia
market was thirteen dollars per barrel.
Tho average price OF wheat in England
was ninety.seveu shillings per quarter
Farmers Cabinet, Amherst, ". Il.