The Van Buren press., 1873-05-13
A Year Without a Summer.


Almos. everyone has heard tell of the
terrible dark year in the early part Of
pr,s.n, century, which old New Eng land
farmers refer to as eighteen hundred
and starved to death a contributor
gives the following Information;
While everyone is speaking Of the
present season rs being remarkable in
its characteristics, have gathered for
your readers some reliable facts of the
year 1916, known as the year without
summer Few persons now living can
recoiect it, but it was the coolest ever
known throughout Europe and America.
The following IS a brief abstract Of the
westher during the year:
January was mild--so much so as to
render fires almost needless IN parlors.
December previous was very cold
February was not very cold; with the
exception Of few days ii was mild, like
its predecessor.
March was Geld and boisterous during
the first part Of il, the remainder was
mild. 4 great freshet on the Ohio and
Kentucky rivers caused great loss of
property.
April began warm, but grew colder az
the month advanced, and ended in snow
and ice. with temperature more like win
ter than spring.
Nay was more remarkable for Growns
than smiles. Buds and flowers were
fozen, ice formed half an inSh thick,
corn was killed and the fields were again
aud again planted until doomed too late.
June was the coolest ever known in
this latitude Frost, ice and snew were
common Almost every green thing was
killed Fruit was nearly all destroyed.
Snow fell to the depth Of ten inches in
Vermont, sevsral in Maine and three in
Central New York, and also in Massa-
chusctts Considerable damage was done
at New Orleans in consequence of the
rapid rise in the river; the suburbs were
covered with water, and the roads were
only passable in boats
July was accompanied by frost and
ice On the fifth 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 fav
orably situated fields escaped. This was
true OF some Of the hill farms Of Massa-
chusetts.
August was more chcerless if possible
than the summer months already
passed Ice was formed half an inch
thick. Indian corn WAS SO frozen that
the greater part was cut down and driod
for fodder. Almost every green thing
was destroyed both in this country and
Europe Papers received frem England
stated tha. it would be remembered by
the present generation that the year 1916
was year in which there was no sum
mcr Very little corn ripcncd in New
England and middle States. Farmers
supplied themselves from tho corn pro
duced in 1915 for tho spring OF 1917 1t
sold at from four to five dollars per
bushe
September furnished about two weeks
OF the mlldest weather Of the season
Soon after the middle it became very
cold and frosty, and ice formed quar-
ter Of an inch thick
bClhbCI pIouutHl ilplt Nu1h w sb"' "
Of cold weather frost and ice particu
lRrly
November was cold and clustering
Enuo.h snow fell TO make good sleigh
iag.
December was quite mild and comfort
able
The above is a brief summary Of the
cold summer Of 1916, as it was called
in order to distinguish it from the cold
season The winter was mild Frost
and ice were common in every month Of
tho year Very little vegetation natur-
cd in the eastern and middle States, The
suns rays seemed to be destitute Of heat
through the summer; all nature seemed
to be clad in a sable hue, and men cxhib-
tied no little anxiety concerning the fu-
ture of this life. The average wholesale
price Of -four during that year in the
Philadelphia market was thirteen dollars
per barrel The average price Of wheat
in England WAS ninety seven shillings
per quarter.