Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-23
FRISCO EXCITED.
The Fourth Snow Fall Ever Known-The
City Given Over to Fun-Everybody In
dulges in Snowballing,

The Fourth Snow Fall Ever Known-The
City Given Over to Fun-Everybody In
dulges in Snowba1ling,
On Sunday, two weeks ago Sunday, San
Francisco was excited by great snow
storm. The only snow storms recorded in
the history of Frisco occurred in 1887,
1854, and in 1867, and they were quite
moderate in comparison with the last one
The Alta Californian gives the following
racyaccount of the event.
A great snow storm in ibis city was, Of
course, the cause of innumerable incidents
OF a ludicrous nature. It is estimated that
100000 persons threw snow during the day.
Allowing ten balls as the average, mill
ion pellets were thrown in five hours. In
some of the livelier quarters of town house
holders packed snow inside, and from the
windows resisted the assaults of besiegers
in the streets. The snow was hailed with
daylight by everybody, especially by the
small boys, and with terror by the Chinese.
Johns appearance anywhere invited fu-
silade of snow5alls. He generally Tired
back, but with ridiculous results, not hav-
ing the skill of the American in nolding
the merry missile. or in projecting it.
But John was not alone in being the
target for snowballers. Everybody was
considered legitimate game, and almost
everybody engaged in the sport. Absolute
strangers meeting would fire" at each
other. and have it out for two or three min
utes with evident relish. The order of the
day was, ''When you see a head, or any
thing, hit it !" Old fogies, older fogies, and
the oldest fogies in town, abandoned all
formalities, and pitched in. The scenes
we're lively and ludicrous. The old gray
headed pioneer, who had not seen snow
storm for years, actually cried with de-
light "a spell came DER him like Child"
he "shyed" snowballs at other pioneers.
The general street scenes reminded old
timers of the demonstration f the pop
ulace on the arrival in this city of the first
overland stage on the southern route, when
PEOPLE WENT MAD,
and threw their hats first in air, and next IN
der the wheels of the stage-coach. The hat
tiers did an enormous business on that occa-
sion, and might have had some extra custom
yesterday, if it had not been Sunday.
Hats were the principal objects of dis
pleasure to the snowballers. Nobody es-
capped. If the hat was missed, the broad
of the back was sure to get it. Umbrellas
proved Intellectual barbados against the
flight of missiles from several quarters at
once. The sport on the street was fire.
uuently ill-mannered, but not generally
ill-natured; the absence of malice in fact
being taken as a set-of to the malice in
law. 1t was not exactly agreeable for a
foot passenger to receive a ''clip" upon
the ear, or in the back of the neck, but the
offense was generally condoned, though
not without the exercise Of
great forbearance in many cases. The as
saults and batteries were numberless. The
police did not escape, and the overcoated
patrolman caught it right and left. 1t is
reported that one policeman south OF Mar
ket street had to move on" three blocks
to escape from the globules of crowd of
several hundred admirers. The street sport
was rough, and in some instances mali
eious, Certain of the baser Sort displaying
their vicious disposition by promiscdous
bombardment of street cars, coupes and
other vehicles. Their drivers were pelted
and the windows broken in some instances.
Of course this class of fellows operated
with impunity, it being impossible through
the binding snowfall to identify the actual
miscreant where, as was mostly the case, he
was surrounded by comrades in battle
TO YOUNG oALIFoRNIANs,
who had never witnessed such sight, yes
terday's snow was an interesting and novel
sensation. Young America in this part of
the state had never seen snow storm, and
when the fakes at first began to fall rather
thinly, he gazed upon them and in wonder
ment inquired what they we're. When in
formed that it was snow, he ran shouting
into the street, hurrahing and yelling like
mad. There arose in his vivid magma
ton the dashing sleighs. the jingling bells
and the flying steed. Now, indeed, was he
on footing with the youth in the East,
and almost as soon as the ground was bare
ly covered he could be seen on his knees
sndeavoring to scrape enough together to
make the coveted snowballs. The amusing
incidents which occurred during and after
the storm would fill a volume. Where the
streets were frequented by people snow
balls we're flying thick and fast, and pedes-
TRANS were wishing that they had eyes in
tie backs of their heads, that they mig mt
be enabled to dodge the missiles thrown by
frolicsome persons. None were spared;
the young and old, the rich and poor, the
hnmble and proud, alike were treated to
dose of ''cold bullets" The majority
seemed to take the matter good humoref
ly, for remonstrance or Indignation was
likely to bring on perfect shower, and the
unlucky Individual who endeaVored to lee
ture his assailant had to beat hasty re-
treat. Persons engaged in driving
vehicles or cars suffered severely, being
prominent targets for persons on the side
walk. Those afoot had the advantage of
those who handled the reins. The white,
in some cases discolored, globules poured
necessarily upon milkmen and bakery
men.
KAR-DRIvERs AND CONDUCTORS
seemed to be special objects of attack, as
they could in no manner retaliate, except
by sword of mouth" which flow of elo-
quence was often interrupted by well-di-
fected "chunk" of compressed snow. About
noon, as one of the dummies of the Gearey
street road, attached to car, was dashing
toward the suburbs. gentleman noticed
that the driver was absent and hurried on
board to inform the conductor. Both ran
through the car to the dummy, and were
surprised to see the driver crouched down
L IL 20 tho pnrtinnOns