The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-26

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A Memorable New-Year's Night-A
slippery spel,-Out-of-Door Perils-
Street Scenes.
TFrom Paris correspondent New York Times.J
PARIS. MONDAY, January 4, 1ST5.-The
night of the 1st day of January, 1876, was
the most remarkable within the memory of
living man. Within the period of my own
existence | have seen nothing approaching
he singular spectacle then witnessed. Rain
had fallen during the day, enough TO carry
off nearly all the snow that had gathered du-
ring the week, but just as the last was be-
ginning to run toward the sewers, the tenn
perature suddenly fell, and at dusk the half
melted snow began TO freeze. 1t was still
freezing when the Parsians left their homes
either for the theatre or for the houses of re-
latires and friends.
Up to II O'Clock there was nothing but
gaycty and happiness in all parts of the city,
and mean while the streets and sidewalks
was first perceived when the gay jewellers
began TO leave for their homes. The first Of
those who left tie theatres went down the
steps. and one after another, like q row of
bricks, they tumbled, slid, or fell upon the
ice. Before the Vaudeville more than score
of men, women, and children went down
pell-mell, and slid together into the cutters.
The efforts to rise were like those of an in
experienced skater. Finding it impossible
to walk, or even to stand erect, many sat
down upon the ice, and either wrapped band
kerchiefs and foulards about their shoes, or
took of their stockings to put them on the
outside.
The police did all in their powerto aid the
people, but they were slipping about like the
ress, and frequently went down heavily be-
side those they were helping to rise. These
brave fellows tinally took of their boots, and,
with bare feet, walked about for more than
an hour, until all leaving the theatre were
safely deposited in the middle of the street.
AS for the sidewalks, they were utterly i'm
practicable, but when the ice bad been bro
ken up by passing carriages, it was just pos
sble TO stand upright and make little head
way. Before several of the theatres there
were serious accidents and many broken
limbs.
oUT-OFDooR INCIDENTS.
But the worst sutieripgs were endured by
pass the evening in the outer portion of the
city. Long before 10 O'Clock the omnibuses
had ceased running, and had to be left in the
streets. the horses being led to the nearest
place of shelter, and the entire avenue of the
Champs ElySees was streWn with wrecks
of all sorts. Cabs with broken shafts were
seen every few yards of the way, and there
were ten horses with broken legs between
the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la
Concorde. Some of the coachmen tore up
their blankets and wrapped them about their
horses feet in order to get them safely home.
One gentleman who had sprained his
knee short time before paid fifty francs to
| be taken home, and was over an hour in
going the distance of about mile. All who
could do so remained where they were, and
| camped upon their hosts floor until morn
ing. Others remained in the carriages by
the wayside all night, and several wealthy
| ladies who had seen their carriages broken
down went to the police stations and re-
manned until morning wrapped up in the
ovcrcoats of the aendarmes. The eXpe-
ricnce OF one gentleman recently arrived
will serve as an example of hundreds
of Others. He and his wife had spent
the evening at the house of Mr.. Wash
burne. On leaving they We're lucky
enough to find cab, paying ten francs,
but in less than a minute the horse was
down and both shafts were broken. An.
other chanced to be walking by and for ten
| francs more the coachman offered to try his
best to get them home. In five minutes this
cab was also wreck by the wayside. After
| waiting for two hours in the cold third
cab was found, and it managed to make the
trip, the gentleman and his wife having been
out three hours and paid thirty francs. My
own experience was bad enough, but after
| paving for my cab and leaving it wreck
soon after l put my stockings on over r.;
boots and tnmped home in less than an
hour.
| AFTER SCENES.
The next morning at $50 / went out to
see what damage had been done, and found
| three persons having their legs or arms set
in the pharmacy on the first corner. No
horses were then out, but the streets were
lined with cabs and omnibuseS left out the
night before. 1t was not until near 10
O'Clock in the morning that the ice was
| thaved sufficiently to permit the usual cir
culation. Three hundred and fifty horses
are reported as having been killed after hav-
ing their legs broken, and more than fifteen
hundred accidents to persons are reported.
One hospital had two hundred and seventeen
cases of broken limbs during the night and
day. ...
The bare enumeration Of the accidents
which occurred on this night fills two CO.
lumns of the morning journals. 1t was
painful to see the poor horses laborlng to
keep upon their feet. AS have before re-
marked, they are never sharpshod in France.
True, there is rarely any necessity for it. but
the rich would not neglect so cheap pre-
caution even for single day. The rea'
son for it is, am told, that the sharp
shoes cut up the asphaltum, and are hence
forbidden by the municipality. AS a
general thing the people were lost ana
completely bewildcred and helpless; but q
few persons showed that they bad "leyel
heads" One shop.keeper stationed himself
near theatre with supply OF woollen
stockings, and sold out all at any price he
,heased TO ask. Another man, blacksmith,
stationed himself at corner of the street,
and drove few nails through the horses
shoes, enough tc give them Slight hold
upon the ice; and the coachmen VINO Sacri-
feed their blankets to make stockings for
their horses gained enough to buy several
new blaskets, and saved their horses and
cabs from accident. This day will long be
remembered in Partisan annals.
What is the chorus, friend?" Why,
this 1t is" said the primo basso, as the bar
arrived and he joined in with Il jar that made
the iIquirer's teeth chatter, "Jounce on a
golden a.altar." "Can't be possible"
thought the inquirer; SO turning to shrill
treble on the other hand he said, " What is
that last line that you all sing ?" Last
ine2 Oh this Is il: now, sir. jine in.