New-York tribune., 1873-01-06
EFFECTS OF RAIN AND FROST.

There is apparently no sign OF abatement In
the sway OF rain, slush, and seet most powerful In
uenee upon trade and travel well upon newsgath
erng has been developed. Now, emphatically the
weather regulates The elements masters
of the situation and business and pleasure alike
menaced Streets away from Broadway usually
thronged with vehicles, now almost deserted, be-
impossible. Pedestrians hurry sngly from
Offices and TO banks and lunchrooms The condi
ton Of the streets is absolutely worse than on last FRI
day. for while there was less rain and more snow, the
thoroughfaes had become last night extended sloughs
The weather prophets whose tenure OF public credeDce
is particularly ackle are completely nonplussed by the
variations Of weather which the past few days have de-
veoped. 1t must be admitted that the most adven
trous propheses lin fair way toward verifcatoD
The deepest snow the densest fog and the worst cond
on of the known for several years with periods
of alternate thawing and freezing, have all been expert
enced during short holiday The dampest and
chest of afternoons served the precursor OF clear
and pleasant evening; while mild, sunny Saturday was
succeeded by cold and dreary Sunday.
On Friday, midnight, the sky lined with clouds
from which fell cold drizzlng rain but before
the stars shone and the night grew clear and warm.
Saturday opened clear overhead but the sidewalks were
treacherou and sloppy as ever Those who had re-
maned at home Friday because 1t was dsagreeable,
the less hesated that it was clear. The warm
air caused OF the thaw Masses of ice fell
crashing TO the pavements from oyerhangng cornces;
the snow slowly sought the deevel through the
condus instead OF IN miniature avalanches from the
housetops Dissolution, in every form, attacked the
snow and ice, and although Saturday passed without fog
or ran the chief obstacles street travel remained
The great charm OF Broadway Saturday afternoons
was wanting. The gay groups Of ladies who throng
the notion stores and finally direct their steps to the
matinees, wanting. Few carriages were In wait
ing and the fashionable thoroughfare apparently
gwen up exclusively the TRANSPORTATION of merchan
disc. was the sidewalks but the crossings that
discouraged pedestrians. Many ladies who started from
their in the morning discouraged by the
pools and rlvules of filthy water which cut of commu
ncaton with the line OF cars that they abandoned their
usual shopping excursions. great jam OF carts and
carriages at Canal and Broadway was one OF the in
cdents of the day For more than an hour traffic was
utterly suspended. Later in the afternoon similar
of vehicles collected at Broadway and Fultonst
but easily broken up.
Daylight yesterday gave little promise OF fair weather
The sky was filed with great masses OF Clouds and the
did appear. The air was cold and the streets
were Icy. At 10 rain-storm broke upon the city,
and the chilling atmosphere turned the falling drops OF
water into gstening crystals The trees soon received
CLASSY coating. and the smaller branches broken Dy
wind were precpitated to the payements NOT only
did the trees take on this Winter Dress but all buildings
presenting angles or spires which the frosty ncrusta
tons co uld cling sparkled with these chilly briliants
CELLARS FLOODED.
The reports brought in by the police leave no room for
doubt that there has been large loss OF property in
consequence OF the flooding OF cellars along the river
fronts But until this morning, when business men ana
property-owners examine their buildings it VIII pe iIn-
possible to ascertain the extent OF the damage The
police authorities at Precinct NO. nave ony oeen III
formed OF as follows at No. 81 Broadway,
No. 1ls Front-st and No. M Odsip. Very fortunately.
the CUTTERS and cverts IN all the streets In the lover
portions of the city have been well cleared since the
great storm.
The cellars In many private residences In all parts Oh
the city were flooded, and the cases brought especially
to notice were west of Broadway between Fourteenth
and Thrtyfourthsts, where, In numerous instances,
the water lay to the depth of IS inches Down town
many sewers became choked up with snow and ce The
water indng no outlet In this direction, Hooded the
sidewalks and washed through the gratngs into base
nents where IL accumulated to the depht OF several
inches
In Thomas Pearl and adjacent streets this was very
freanen and many families obliged TO bail out the
water in order 70 procure their fuel from the coabins In
the cellar Rats we're dartng hither and thither
across aeyways their accustomed haunts having been
rendered uniuhabitabe.
TRINITY TRANSFORMED.
In beautiful contrast with the waste OF slush and
muddy water that covered the streets and housetops
was the scene round about Trinity Church. Tne ram
frore as IL fell and formed into fantastic Shapes
1
these fair limits the falling water only served to swell
the black streams settled in the streets The ex
terror OF the church was frescoed by the brush OF
master hand and In q style which no human artist
could aspire to initiate.
wall was incased with armor OF Ice, and the
slender spre arose ghoske into the misty air. ts DELI
cate finger pointing toward the heavens The nodding
trees An the cburchyard wer with tho frozen
sheen and every branch and twig was boldly outlined
looking like pure wax fresh from the mold. The weight
ice bowed the lower limbs almost TO the level OF
the ground and the white carpetng upon the earth was
in striking contrast with the dark tombstones which
rose from the ground at every step.
TAa tall iron fence, surrounding the Trinity grounds
did not ESCAPE the dainty touch OF the ARTIST for It's
spiked points were whitened while the base wss coated
with sod ice The telegraph wires which are more
numerous here than at anyuother point were rendered
perfectly white and douby thick by the Ice, beside
being ornamented by cicles. Thousands OF these fancy
wires surrounded the church. crossing and recrossng
many broken aud curled up IN curious snapes
all adding materially TO the picturesque scene
But gradually the rain ceased and under the influence
Of the sofenng atmosphere the coating OF ice ON the
eastern wall slowly faded and became din, while the
spires vail almost impercepbly fell from its dussy
body. Tne tseos sun retained thar bridal costumes