New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-28
FOG, RAIN AND SLUSH.
GOOD NATURE PUT TO A SEVERE TEST.

A DIsCoNFoRTING DAY AFLoAT AND ASHORE
FLOODED sTIEETs-A COLLISION.
The proverbial g0Od-nature OF NeW-f0rk
people put TO severe test yesterday ana all on ac
count the weather The rise In the temperature acce
Grated process of thaving and the atmosphere was
"muggy" The thick coating OF ice rapidly disappeared
spous and CUTTERS much To the relief OF thirty
househoders with apprehensOns concerning the plumber
IL the pedestrians and teamsters whose tepes and
patcnce were soely tried The pepper cOlorcd mounds
and ridges that here and there lined the car
tracks aud the curbs under the influence of the rising
tepperature slowly dissolved into streams OF liquid slush
that owing 10 the distinctions in the cutters, rose In
many places level with the sidewalks It OF delu
sye character In color it resembled the surrounding
cmustions OF snow and dirt. But the pedestrian who
stepped hecdcssy upon soon discovered It's real COM
position.
About O'Clock il began 10 drzze and by O'clock the
rze had developed into steady rain
Then 10 cross a drshOd without the aid % rub
bers and in not few places high topboots, became
physical mpossiblity. But there no abatement In
the city traffic. People foot simply bumped their
shoulders and, with apparen: uncOnce, pursued their
divers ways through RAIN slush and snow The rain was
accompanied by heavy fog that still further heightened
the dsaTo.abe aspect Of the situation Gas lamps wcre
lit early wayered pale and sickly In their efforts 20
penetrate the fog Nothing than electric light
sufficient 10 cope with it, Here and there on the side
walk small cakes OF lee afforded treacherous foot
hold a banana peel many lucklcss pedestrian
found out 10 his Front and Weststs were lakes OK
sush Near the markets the sush deeper and more
offensive in It's ingredients than elsewhere and the unor
tunate women who had to pick their way through it
showed much less serenity OF character than did the
similarly situated.
Street Commissioners Coleman said that he had about
thousand men, and between five and six hundred horses
and carts work the streets. OF the latter four
hundred were engaged in removing ashes and garbage,
and the remainder In carting away snow He thought
that be had succeeded in getting Broadway and the
streets leading the ferries in fairly good condition.
What little done in the way Of streetcleaning, how
ever was mostly done by the elements
The fog which settled on the rivers aud bay was
trng obstacle navigation and to the tide %
travel by the erry-ways and many aud vexatOus
the dscomOrts experienced This especially the case
nighta when the thousands Of workngR sought
their homes In Brooklyn and NewJersey There was the
steady Ulug OF fog bells the continuous shilekng OF
steam whistles and the deep, hOaTse sound O the log
horns to guide the anxious pilots their trips tho
river with their boats sunk down nearly 10 their guards
with freight All OF the ferries reduced the number
of boats and the Roosevelt and James Sip ferries discon
tinued their trims The Navy Yard tugboat Catalpa,
which was going up East River at y. III. ran into
the police boat Patrol noorcd at the Houston-st pier
The bow VI the Catapa cut into the projecting
deck Of the Patrol at the forward gangway The iron
hull OF the Patrol was not injured and was thought that
the damage To the deck would not exceed 500. The
Cutalpa not Injured and she steamed away imned'
acly
great advantage over the ferries There was constant
OF pedestrians all day long aud continual pass
ing and fro of teams. The condition Of the roadways
was excellent There was no snow upon them save az iho
cNtrrutes, and there the snow came from the Bridge
railway and tie roofs OF the dePOts The snow upon tho
roof OF the Brooklyn depot gave gentle mint tnat was
melting by coming down In great masses and bringing
piece, but IA number OF little bits, which wero
eagerly picked up and examined by the curious Tho
finals at the corners resisted the pressure Men were
sent up about noon to assist the haw ana clear the rOo
thoroughly. No attempt made to heat the cars.