The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-04
FOUR Mellow ZERO.
Jack Frost's Coide.t Mp In the Metropoii. In
Nine Years.

Unusually thick, even for winter weather,
was the coating Of frost on tho window panes
yesterday morning peep through corner
OF the glass where. for unknown reasons. the
frostwork had not extended. revealed one OF the
brightest OF days. The sun was shining with
unusual clearness and tho dark shadows rest
ing on tho snow had something OF that faint
blush tinRe that they ofton have on clear winter
days On opening an outer door. the nrst
sound that foil on tho ear was squeak
that peculiar cold-weather squeak that
comes from beneath the tires OF wagons. the
shoes OF sleghs. tho wheels OF horse cars and
even the soles OF boots. That sound is an In
falliblo sign OF cold weather but. unfortunately
for its utility as q sign. 1t never comes until
the weather is 80 cold that no such evil
denco OF coldness is needed Early pedes-
trims crept along the icy sidewalks now
whipping their sides with their tingling
fingers. now rubbing their leathery ears.
and all the time bracinR their bodies
10 withstand the force OF tho wind that had
swept the streets and sidewalks till their smooth
surface glistened The problem OF how to keep
two ears warm with two bare hands, and at the
same time TO not let tho hands get cold. was ono
that received the undivided attention Of many
earnest persons. Little white pufIs came out
OF the nostris OF the oarly pedestrians.
horses and butchers steeds and great
white puffs from the valves over the boilers OF
tugs and ferryboats. The boards and earlocks
OF men turned white in less than single hour;
and SO did the wells OF women. lcices depended
from the jaws OF horses. and where the breath
OF the animals touched their coats It left cloud
ing OF white. In tho downtown streets where
under the wheels filed tho air. The usual salu-
iaton q III the day Tns so frequently heard that
The brilliant. sunny day-which would have
appeared SO warm II ii could have been viewed
from distance through atelescops-was really
the coldest day New York has experienced In
nine years. The records OF the Signal Service
Thermometer has marked lower temperature
than Yesterday. but the mean temperature OF
the day was ~ higher. In the early morning
OF the tenth day Of January. 1875, the tempora-
ture g below zero at o'clock It was zero Mt
noon l. above at o'clock g. above. at O'Clock
81 above. and the mean temperature OF the day
was 5h' above zero. Yesterday morning the
mercury indicated 81 below. at noon it showed
4 above. and for the day the mean temperature
was lusi wha; the thermometer marked at mid
day. IN 1878 the lowest temperature was o above
IA i % abd SG be aS, a Hbcr ls i
when 1t went below zero were 1875 and 1871. In
the latter year the mercury stood at / below
made at :i9 yesterday morning showed n fall
OF 81 IN temperature during the preceding
The weather yesterday was rendered unusu.
ally severe In iis effects by the piercing wind
tha. blew a gale from midgiGht 70 mid
was blowing at the rate ot 25 miles an hour,
aHS moaeTaea to o'0Ga about o a. Snn But ihs WSs @
enough TO make the surface OF the upper
the Signal Service quarters. and to strike pedes-
trians on the streets with benumbing effect.
Thursday evening at lOh o'clock the storm
signal was raised and yesterday morning at
Ga II was hauled down and in It's place two
fiags were run up-a white nag with black
centre and below 1t q red nag with black centre.
This Is the signal indicating a dangerous
ofi-shore wind. The gale yesterday blew from
the northwest There was, no colder place in
the city than the Battery. There the wind swept
over the stretch OF water TO tho northwest and
struck with unbroken force. Tho arrow on the
top Of the hagpole stood toward the northwest
and scarcely quivered 50 steady was the sweep
Of the blast. OCCASIONALLY some one started from
the neighborhood OF the Staten Island ferry
houses 10 walk out along the sea wall. He faced
the gale for a while then he turned about
and forced himself backyard against T. and
hasy retreat To tho shelter OF the buildings. In
the city the wind blew In all directions; 1t
| trlans with a sitting OF snow and ashes from
the sidewalks. II Ioared along the broad ave.
and cinders. Il sucked through the narrow
| cross streets and howled around the corners
tpriously. Persons who were going along;
by gusts Coming around & S.5ees corners i,,Ia ana
walks. and many were the struggles
they were compelled to make in order TO
Pe Of the On wa %era se
| verely felt. The usual roHs ~ passengers along
| the forward rails were missing. as were the
| throngs that usually stand close 10 the gates or
| chains. The spaces between the wheel houses
| and inner sides OF the saloons were occupied
tRe r'Sas Steam pPSs % HOSES Standing
| tho front decks turned their heads away
from the blast and tried 20 shield shield
| OF other horses that stood alongside OF them;
| The water IN the rivers was unusually low, and
| steep angles: and the impatient horses that
| had stood on tho decks during delays In getting
| across. dashed up these steep inclineS in way
that made thetnibers OF the ferry houses creak.
| The view from the roof OF the Equitable Build
Ing. where the signal Service station Is located
| OF into that portion of space which lies II hun
dred feet aboyo the tops OF ncighboring build
corner OF tho bridge tower was not en-
| tlcng enough to cause tho observer TO wish
| that he might be waited from his footing. From
eye could see. u field Of ice extended; Near the
point i was narrow but at the Cortlandt street
| ferry II widened until II extended well out
ipiI st. am and G' OIL castie Point therc seemed
wind on Thursday lnight had foated to the
New i9Tk SGe coc l1 pd SyoT 1' Thnso had
frozen together until i was difficult forRny
boat TO force passage through me mass. Iht
way between shores but while watching them
1t was apparent that they were moving
slowly. Clouds Of white steam were blown
from their boilers. and their wheels were
moved S; on. the ice closed in behind
them. until they reached open water near thG
other side. In the upper slip OF the CoTtland'
street ferry, on the New York sido. the Newark
lay. unable 10 move only a few feet In any di
rection Three tugs had lines fastened &c
her. but they tugged in vain, Hel
wheels were kept moving, and she
slowly navigated the small unfrozen space
about her, test she should become lmmovahlN
bound. Fields Of lee that hnd iloated on tht
tide down the North River and past the Battery
were now returning anu were 10 drifted hy tho
wind that they went up the East River. These
were continually shifting in form. be
ing cut In two by the boats that ,encoun
tered them. In tho ferry slips, OF
the Brooklyn side. quantities OF loose
Ice could be- seem. On the upper bay, small tug'
dashed through the white foam on the water
and sometimes disappeared In tho clouds
formed by their own cqndensing steam. Ther,
was almost mn entire absence OF sailing crait OF
the bay aud tho rivers. The masts and spari
OF tho ships that lay at anchor were
signs OF life were visible from this distant out
look. mile OF mist Of almost milky whltenes'
hung over tho waters Of the lower bay. causel
by the frosty atmosphere coming In contac
with the warmer body OF tho water Further
down where the off-shOrs wind swept the wa
| terra with unbroken force. tho saa was laSheI