The New York herald., 1873-12-18
THE BLACK FOG.
a Day Of Collisions and Collapses-The City
Under a Cloud and the Stages and Cars in
Tangle-Gropings and Hard Knocks OF
Ferryboats and Other Cra.t-fhe
Scenes in the Streets
and on the Rivers.

Everybody was In q fog yesterday. Just ex
actly what particular place the log everybody was
In started from, or how 1t began, or why 10 began
at oil was mystery OF which even "0ld Probsn
himself had not dared 10 prophecy solution.
some had 1t that 1t was nothing more nor less
than sample piece OF the pea soupu mantle
which enveloped London last week in its ample
folds, sent over here by means OF some rapid
transit only known to enterprisng Yankees who
dont't want to see the "blarsted Britisners'' get
ahead OF us in anything At all events, whether 1t
was native and to the manner born, or a mere
shred OF the London article, 1t must be given the
credit OF being a downright earnest persevering
fog. When once it had made up Its mind to put
THE ENTIRE CITY UNDER CLOUD,
II went about the business in truly business way
It did not particularly care VINO liked IL or VINO
disked it, and was consequently impartial In pay
Ing its respects to all parts OF town. though In the
neighborhood OF the two rivers 1t threw darker
shadow than anywhere else. The streets alone
were not its only field OF operations. Into back
yards and from back yards through windows left
open for ventilation's sake into the houses, up
stairs and down stairs, in paror and Kitchen. in
hallway and closet, it crept and noated about in
neecy clouds that chased one another from room
to room at every draught OF air. But twas out OF
doors after ALL that it revelled it It's greatest gee
Il was thin and light as veil OF finest lace at mid
night; but the shadows which at first lazily
aOated in patches here and there and
that seemed to run away from you as
you approached them, and then to come
together again as you lett them behind, grew more
and more dense the hours wore on. The stars
ut one O'Clock were light, and could be seen
twinkling as il from behind screen OF gauze; but
two hours afterwards they had disappeared, and
tlSn fntIc at,Nrf q I.a
sleeping city. Now, it has never happened before
that Gotham should be compelled to grope its way
in the daylight, like a man feeling his way IN the
dark: but Lne fog had determined that 1t should do
30 yesterday and so, Tor once, the laugh against
our Cockney friends about their ioggy London was
on the wrong side OF our mouth. Take our friend
jones' experience, for example. He got up. as
usual, at FIVE. He knew 1t hve, because he had
heard the clock strike one five times; but
for the life OF him he could not see
the clock on the mante There was
. nlm before his eyes, and that boy round the
corner who makes his nightly Tom and Jerry was
in his heart Of hearts heartily cursed for over
doing the strong part Of the mixture. But what
was jones' surprise on looking out of the window
OF his back room to see-well, to see nothing. He
rubbed his eyes and looked again. but the film that
had dimmed his vision in looking for the timepece
had not vanished and Jones became alarmed, prob
ably because he had never known what 1t was to
see noJhng before. Up goes the window and as the
fog clouds tumble in Jones draws breath OF relief
and makes up his mind that the boy round the
corner is not such bad fellow after all. But
Jones' experience out OF doors was everybody's
experience and everybody's experience was misery
and dread. And yet, though
THE CROPPING IN THE DARK
was the cause OF many an accident there was a
fha
and as late as seven the fog was impenetrable
beyond distance OF five or six feet. The result
was disastrous to nerves that were easily shaken.
1t fell to the lot OF the horrd mlkmen to begin
days horrors. They got up as carly as ever did
eyes than ordinary mortals they ali managed to
nnd their way to their customers DOORS But It
'G veed ou er c5nr
usual, on arriving at the gate-ways, and it was
Just by reason OF sudden arrival OF one OF these
milknen at Jones' door when he was going out
weak in the knees for the rest OF the day. Down
beyond that all was 'neeting show'' OF shadows.
the poor man walked down bravely. but as he
at his very ear as OF one in dire distress smote him
TO the heart and iroze every drop of blood in his
nody; !. was IN VAN tnar ne .azed @ @ ABOUT nm;
wall OF cloud that shifted and fitted as If in glee
at his horror. Again did the cry strike shriliy on
hts ear, and boldly striding near the curb whence
1t seemed to proceed he ran plump up against
wagon, and was cruelty greeted with 'Dont you
half so lost as was denizen OF the
wilds of Yorkvie, who, in an attempt to
avenne A. to the Third Avenue Railroad DEPOT.
about seven O'Clock in the morning. lost his way
IN Seventy.iourth street and Second avenue, and
who, on asking the policeman 'Where am Z" re-
Ceived the reply, 'In New York somewhere
blamed if know where" But it was at the hour
that the effects Of the Jog became deplorable as
well as laughabe. The lamps at the street corners
distance OF a few feet, looked like a dim gllmmer
OF candle light blocks away Near the river sides
the lamps. it is said, could not be seen at ALL Near
First avenue and Forty-frst street the amplighter
had to grope about with a lantern IN his hand to
FIND OUT WHERE THE LAMPS WERE.
run frequently alter six O'Clock, the scene was a
bcwilderlng one. The log was thick, and the sight
through it was lauchabie n the extreme 1t was
the way they walked, shuliiing their feet under
Shem as though they feared II they took long step
they would pitch over precipice. And yet 1t was
the most cautious who suffered the most. Coils
your pardon, SIR" was the greeting one got at
every lew steps, and men who "met by
or other iondly embraced one another every time,
the result OF q collision was signa2ed by clash
been turned into vast Turkish bathroom, minus
the heat. One walked at times as 1t were alone,
and yet there was about one's ears constant din
made by
INVISIBLE WAGON WHEELS AND HORSES
and the tramping of pedestrians Ghost-like
1orms in the distance fitted TO and fro. From
out the fog, here, there and everywhere too the
sound OF approaching footsteps was followed by the
appearance OF dark, ,undistingushable form slowly
emerging from the clouds OF mist which gradually
assumed human shape and form as the clouds
seeAsed TO part to make way for 1t, and which in
another moment gided by in the dim light, and il
you Look the risk OF looking back, 1t could be seen
melting away IN the distance-the folds OF the fog
C0stngln upon 1t ike curtain, and finally shut
ting IL out from view altogether. IL was like
A DAY SELECTED BY GHOSTS
for an earthly airing, and the strangeness of the
scene was rendered all the more bewldering by the
cries OF the stage drivers which greeted one's
from Eu sides, and the suddenness with which the
forms Of the wayiarers appeared and disappeared
Occasionally the log lted--not wholly, but in spots
here and there-and then the buildings on The op-
posite vide OF the way oorned UP gloomy, looking
wierd and ghosty through the misty atmosphere,
which, while not completely hiding them, made
them look lar taller ana grander than they were In
realty. The stage drivers, as they yelled and
9creechcd TO warn or irighten their fellows swarm
ing up and down the street their boxes looked