, 1881-02-19

Spccu, anu large MdSeeh u lC6 were tuIOWn
up on the Speakers steps. Several OF b
members went on the balcony in the
height of the storm to witness the unusual
spectacle. at high water the ice-foes
were within one foot of the top of the ter
race balcony, the force of the current pill
ing them UP in layers along the northern
side of the river. The snow in portions Of
Palace-yard yesterday had drifted to the
depth of three feet.
From all parts of the country we receive
reports of the damage done by the gale of
yesterday of the obstruction to traffic by
road and rail caused by the heavy snow
storm and snowdrifts and the continued
severity of the frost. The most violent
storm which has been experienced for
many years prevailed throughout the whole
of yesterday, and has been attended with
great destruction of property and loss of
life. The recent low readings of The Their
mometer, not only throughout the United
Kingdom, but also in various parts of
Europe, the lowest, indeed, recorded for
upwards of 20 years, had prepared the
public for a long period Of intense frost,
such as has been experienced during the
last eight days but although indications
have not been wanting in the shape of
warnings from America, and a brisk fall
OF the barometer in some parts of France
and on our southwest coasts, few were
prepared for such III extraordinary change
as that which occurred yesterday, when,
with a violent wind, snow and sleet des-
cende SO heavily that the metropolis was
practically blocked up, traffic in all the
main thoroughfares was almost perforce
suspended, and many branches of business
were at a stand-still. The change may be
said tn hoJn oJNnoI c00,, oc+o, O
OclOck on Monday night, when the rise Of
the mercury OF the thermometer was mark
ed by an equally rapid fall in the barome-
ter. An hour afterwards a gentle breeze
from the southeast produced a Just per-
ceptible thaW, and up till 2 in the morning
the force OF the wind had not much in
creased. Soon afterwards, however, with
ominous snow-charged clouds, its strength
was developed, and by s in the morning q
full gale was blowing, accompanied by
Sleet, the wind appearing at different times
to blow from different quarters. Snow
descended so heavily that by IL the roads
and paths were impossible, and the scene
generally was of tire widest possible des-
crlptl0n. The comparatively few persons
III the streets had the greatest difficulty in
making progress through the binding
snow, now ankle-deep; horses with heavi-
ly-laden vehicles could not move, the
tramcars in all parts of the metropolis had
to temporarily cease running, and even on
some OF the railways the snow drift occa-
stoned by the gale lay so deep--in parts
oft. and even 3ft.-that trains were
brought to a ~standstill. Added to all this,
the force of the "circular wind'-in many
respects resembling the descriptions of
that which a few years since capsized the
Eurydice almost within sight of port
brought additional dangers in the shape of
tiles, chimney pots, &c, from the house
tops, and it is computed that at least go
persons were admitted to the London hos
pitfalls, which since the present severe
weather has set III have had more cases
of broken limbs, d%islocations, and wounds
of various kind attended within their walls
than has been known for some time. In
the City especially, now crossed and re.
crossed over the house tops by telegraphic
wires in every direction, which swayed
violently with each rapidly-succeeding
gust of wind, the danger to pedestrians
was greatly increased. The nov con-
tinued during the whole of the day though
the wind gradually diminished in force,
and now lies nearly a foot deep in all the
th~oroughfares, and in some parts in the
Attempts were made in many parts of
London to remove it, but they were all
flu lie, and last night witnessed the re
markable spectacle of a metropolis compa-
ratively deserted theatres and other places
of amusement being half empty-to judg
from the fact that at the entrances, where