Daily Republican., 1881-01-01
WEATHER 70 YEARS AGO.
Mr., weeds KecOlIectf0ns Of ths
winters OF 1908, 1879, and 1919.

"Y0u have taken me at Q little dis
advantage" said the Hon. Thurlo'
Weed, Of New York, when asked BY
reporter yesterday to relate some Of hi
recollections Of cold and severe Winters
He was seated in his easy chair, II
front Of o CRATE fire, whose glowiDi
GOALS lighted up his oozy little parlo
overlooking Twelfth street. A larg'
| poll parrot rustled his feathers at tA'
entrance OF the visitor, but after few
uninteligibls mutterings relapsed int
silence, and gravely turned his atten
tion again TO the dickering fsmes II
the replace.
"If you were TO give me little time
added Mr.. Weed, ~ think could re
call a few facts which possibly might be
interesting. The weather you know il
a subject In which one takes only Q
passing interest, and / don't believe
there ia anything that has come under
my observation which l can say 80 lit
tie Of ct short notice" Mr.. Weed
leaned forward and looked long and in.
tsntly into the red Goals, running hia
fingers slowly through his hair as his
thouehts travelled back over the de-
cades and quarters Of the century.
"Iat me sea," said he-"the Winter Of
1872, | remember was unusally severe
and was remarkable for the depth Of
spow which fell. was then ID years
old. The alarm Was raised that the
British were marching over the ice
from Kingston to sacke.t's Harbor, and
volunteers were called tor. A lot OF rfs
responded, and We started in sleighs to
20 from Utica to Ssckett's Hsrbor. The
snow was go deep large part OF the
distance that as we sat IN the sleighs
iss surface was from three to five feet
aboy. our heads. The farmers had
dug ont road in it Just wide enough
for sipgls sleigh, and through this
narrow camel We rode. The only
places one sleigh could pass another
on this read were turnouts, widened for
this purpose. II was bitter cold, and
Ontario was covered with ice. We
reached Sackett's Harbor only TO find
that the alarm was groundless. Ii
se emed that two soldiers, who were al
first supposed to be British dsssrters,
but who we're really two men belong
ing to our forces, escaped from impris
onmsnt in Kingston, and, making their
way across the Ice to Sackett's Harbor,
brought the report that the British
were preparing to invade the States al
that point.
"The Winter Of 1919 Was, l remem-
Der, very cold and stormy, and was
long remem bered by the people OF Chen
ango County, where was living at the
time. The Winter of 1872 was also
intensely cold, with dry, clear, brac
ing atmosphere prevailing throughou,
almost the entire period. Another cold
spell which recall occurred before the
Winter of 1913 set in--some time IL
the Autumn. We were living then in
tents pitched on the bank Of the Black
River, and had been suffering intense
" from the unusual cold. A terrible
suddenly came on, and pu,
IN erd to our miseries, for 1t piled ny
around our tents and banked us IN
completely. Our beds Of hemlock
coughs were warm enough after thai,
and our blankets were o sufficient
covering, for the wind could not posi-
bly, pierce our tents through this heavy
white mantsl. However, We did no
b ave TO endure this lie very long, for
IN about week we went into barracks
At SSoketl's Harbor.
"The Winter OF 1903 is Impressed
1pon my memory from the fact tina
Nv parents moved through the snoa
md cold ont OF Cstakill into Cortland
County, That was a long journey tr
AXE II those dAysj and we we're sbou
sight days on the roa., !ta hardship"
we're many, owing to the season Of th'
7ear, in which it was undertaken
There was my father, my mother, and
ny three brothers, and would you be.
ieve it, the whole Of us and our house
loli goods besides, accomplished the
rip in one sleigh The depth Of snow
vas unusual evenlfor those Old fashion
d Winters, and when wo reached ouI
estimation We found ourselves In
rowling wilderness. Why, it was liks
moving ont Of the world altogether.
,nt our Seasons hsve undergone
reat change since then. The weather
& suoh a day as to-day more closely
the weather prevailing
throughout the month Of December IL
he Winter Of so years ago. Then we
lmost invariably had hard, sharp,
old weather for three or four months
light along, with an occasional
haW."
From the weather, Mr.. Weed turned
he subject of conversation to the re-
changes which have taken
,lace since it was q customary thing
or farmer to be obliged to dig his way
through drifts as high almost as the
Isves Of his house. He told of Mara.
hon, when the few settlers Of that
low thriving town used a Eastwood
lug. out in crossing the river, and oil
colchester when her inhabitants mum
'ered between 500 and 900 persons. on
syracuse he said: "Why, Syracuse lie
uilt on spot which remember as
he home Of frogs and snakes. The
wsmp was almost i'm penetrsble. Fin
lily, however, by hacking and hewing
nd digging corduroy road was run
hrough it. Even this brought little
ght into the place, which was SO dark
/ broad daylight that have heard
10 owls hcot Es passed along at noon
'y."