Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-10-12
PRE- s s. FRIDAY
The Irar Without a summer.

The most curious weather OF which We
have any lecOrd, was that Of the year 1916.
There are but few persons now living who
recollect it, but European and American
data represent it as having been phenomenal
in almost every particular. In New Eng
land, that year went by the name OF
eighteen hundred and starye to death.
The Winter was very cold in Europe, and
comparatively mild in this country. but the
following Summer was the coolest ever
known in the United States.
January was mild, so much 30 As to
render fires almost needless in parlors.
December previous was ye:y cold.
February was not very cold; with the
exception of a lew days it was mild like ITS
predecessor.
March was cold and boisterous during the
first part of it; the remainder was mild. A
great freshet on the Ohio and Kentucky
rivers caused great loss of property.
April began warm, but grew colder As 1t
advanced, and ended in snow and ice, with
temperature 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 coolest ever known in this
latitude. Frost, ice and snow were com-
mon. Almost every green thing was killed
| Fruit was nearly all destroyed. Snow fell
to the depth of ten inches in Vermont seven
in Maine, and three in Central New York
| and Massachusetts. Considerable damage
was done at New Orleans in consequence OF
the rapid rise OF 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 5th, ice was formed to the thickness
of common window glass throughout New
England, New York and some parts OF
Pennsylvania Indian corn was nearly oil
DESTROYED some iavorably situated fields
escaped. This was true OF some OF the bill
farms OF Massachusetts.
August was more cherries il possible
than the summer months already passed
Ice was formed hall an inch thick. Indian
corn was 80 frozen that the greater part was
cut down and dried for fodder. Almost
every green thing was destroyed, both in
this country and in Europe. Papers re-
| ceiyed 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 ripened
| in New England and the Middle States.
Farmers supplied themselves from the corn
produced in 1915 for the seed OF the Spring Of
lSl1 1t sold at from 81 to S. per bushel
September furnished about two weeks oil
mildcst weather of the season Soon after
the middle it became very cold and frosty
and ice formed quarter of an inch thick
October produced more than its share Of
cold weather, frost and ice particularly.
November WAS very cold and clustering
Enough snow fell to make good sleighing
December was quite mild and comfort
able.
The above is a brief summary of the ''cold
summer of 1876 rs 1t was called to dlstin.
guish it from the cold season. The winter
was mild. Frost and ice were common in
every month in the year. Very little vege
tation matured in the Eastern and Middle
States The suns rays seemed to be desti-
tutc OF heat through the summer; all ma
cure seemed to be clad in sable hue, anC
man exhibited no little anxiety concerning
the future Of his life.
| The average wholesale price Of flour dor
ing that year was Sl3 per barrel. Tbt
average price OF wheat in England was 81
shillings per quarter.