The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-05-23
q Year Withont a snnmar-

Almost every one has heard tell
of the terrible dark year in the early.
part Of the present century, which
old New England farmers refer to
as Eighteen hundred and starved
to DEATH A contributor gives the
following information:
While every one is speaking Of
the present season as being remark
able in its characteristics, / have
gathered for your readers some re-
liable facts of the year 1916, known
as sthe year without summer"
Few persons now living can recolleet
it. but it was the coldest ever known
throughout Europe and America
The following is a brief abstract Of
the weather during the year:
January was mild-sO much so
as to render fires almost needless in
parlOrs. December previous very
cold.
February was not very cold; with
the exception of few days it was
mild like its predecessor.
March was cold and bOisterous
during the first part of it; the re-
mainder was mild. A great freshet
in the Ohio and Kentucky rivers
caused greatloss Of property 4
April began warm, but grew cold
er as the month advanced, and end
ed in snow and ice, with a tempera-
ture more like winter than SPRING.
May was more remarkable for
frowns than smiles. Buds and
flowers were frozen, ice formed half
an inch thick, corn was killed, and
the fields were again and again
planted until deemed too late.
June was the coldest ever known
in this country. 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 cen
tral New York, and also in Massa-
chussJts, Considerable damage was
done at New Orleans on account Of
the rapid rise in the river; the su-
burbs were covered with water, and
the roads were only passable in
boats.
July was accompanied by frost
aud ice. On the 9th ice was formed
ofthe thickness OfOf common win
dow glass throughoutNeW England,
New York and some parts Of Penn
sylvania. Indian corn was nearly
all destroyed; some faEorably situat
ed fields escaped. This was true Of
some of the hill farms OF Massaehu-
sets.
August was mere cherries, ifpos-
sible, than the summer months al
ready passed. Ice was formed half
an inch thick. Indian corn was so
frozen that the greater part oft Was
cut down and dried for fodder. Al
most every green thing was destroy
ed both in this country and Europe.
Papers received from England stated
that it would be remembered by the
present generation that the year
1916 was year in which there was
no summer. Very little corn ripen-
ed in New England and the Middle
State. Farmers supplied themselves
from the corn produced in 1915 for
the seed Of 1877. 1t sold at from S4
to $5 per bushel.
September furnished about two
weeks Of the mildest weather Of the
season. Soon after the middle 1t
became very cold and frosty and ice
formed a quarter Of an inch thick.
October produced more than its
share Of cold weather; frost and ice
particularly.
November was cold and buster
ing. Enough snow fell to make it
good sleighing.
December was quite mild and
The above is 3 brief summary of
"the cold summer of1s16," as it was
called, in order to distinguish it
from thecold season. The winter
was mild. Frost and ice were com
mon in every month of the year.
Very little Vegetation matnred in
the Eastern and Middle States. The
SUMS rays seemed to be destitute Of
heat through the entire summer; all
nature seemed to be clad in q sable
hue and men exhibited no little
anxiety concerning the future OF
this life.