The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-10
wIeeINs' STORM.
The Prophet Says 1t is Not Due TIL
Tonight or Tomorrow.
Widespread Terror at His Pre-
dictions.
A Heavy dale Reported in Minnesota.

1roi. Virgins was asked by telegraph from
Halifax last night:
Can you perceive signs of your snow storm
being close at hand? If 50, when will its ap-
pearance be perceptble in Halifax"
Early this morning he sent the following
answer from Ottawa
The coming of the storm is a scientific de-
ouction and can give no signs, not even that
OF prophetic Jonah. At this writing it is clear
and and cold. The falling of heavy meteors the
last two days shows that unusual pressure may
oe expected on the earth. The storm will be
on you tomorrow afternoon or Sunday. A
great tidal wave is now flowing up the bay of
Bengal. e. STONE WIccyNs.'u
OTTAWA, March Great interest is being
TAKEN here in the Virgins storm. Today the
weather has been springlike and the question
was asked, where is the storm?" In an in
terview today Virgins said there seemed to be
general misunderstanding as to the time the
great storm would begin. This" he added.
is no fault of mine for in my almanac this
say under oMarch;h that il will be first felt in
the northern Paclhc on the IUtn ana will
strike this continent from the Southwest on
the afternoon of Saturday, the 10th. 1t will
cross the continent from east to west, south of
parallel 45 tomorrow afternoon and being re-
ftected by the Rocky Mountains will pass
down the great Canadian lakes towards the
the east Sunday morning. A great tidal wave
must already have occurred in the Bay of
Bengal and tremendous storm must now be
raging over India. If the theory of an oppo-
site tide be true, though have always dis
puted It., then tidal wave must occur in the
Gulf OF Mexico today. am glad to know
that the Gloucester fishermen were wise
enough to keep on shore as they must all have
perished had they been on the banks of New
foundland yesterday morning. suppose there
is not storm signal displayed on all the
North American coasts at this moment,
though there will be upon us in few hoa RS
one of the greatest storms that has occurred in
the memory of any one now living. During
the last six months have done everything in
my power to prevent loas at sea by keeping
shipping in safe harbors from the 5th until
the 11th of March. Whether will get credit
or not felt that had at all events done my
duty to myself and the public. The weather
today must be mild over the western hems-
phere for the pressure is all upon the opposite
side of the earth but will be transferred to us
tomorrow. Remember the storm is not to be-
gin unit, the 11th in this meridian and it will
be some hours before it's full force will be ex-
perienced, and it win probably last several
days. This is what said in my letter
first published on the subject and
adhere to it in every particular. No re-
spectacle astronomer has risked his reputation
by saying that the storm will not come and
scientific men generally throughout the world
(if we except meteoroligists who are interested
parties) have either endorsed the storm or re-
mained silent. see that the meteorological
bureau at Toronto indicates mild weather in
maritime provinces tomorrow. 'We shall
see.'
ST. JOHN, NJ B.. March 9.-The gale of yes
terday has subsided, there is no appearance of
any violent convulsion of the elemenss. Fish
ing schooners went out this morning. Clear
and cold tonight.
NEW ORLEANS, La, March 9.-It is clear
and cold and all points report cool, clear or
clearing weather.
SYRACUSE, N. Y, March 9-In anticipation
OF Virgins storm, the Indians in Onandaga
Reservation, have tied their houses to trees
and fences with large ropes. The weather is
splendid.
Sioux CITY, Ia, March 9..-The weather has
been clustering here today from the north
west, but has been mild however, and thawing
all day. The wind is now $3.50 a. m) mod
erately higher, but indications point to storm.
HALIFAX. N. S., March 9.-The weather to-
day was calmer and milder than yesterday.
There is a general feeling of fear among a
great many outside the city. Not a single fish
erman will leave his home for the fishing
bat # al eod ssf Is hss
This dread of the storm has been not a little
added to by the loss by fishermen of friends
and their property in last Tuesday nights
storm one lvessel going down with all hands,
and another being wrecked, but without loss of
life. News of the former disaster which has
just been received in the city, gives an idea of
the danger through which some ten or d dozen
small fishing schooners passed. During the
gale when the fiercest blast of the storm came
Agnes and another. The latte; was wrecked
at midnight, but all hands saved. The Agnes
has not since been heard from.
ST. PAUL, March 9.-The worst snow and
wind storm of the season is reported along the
line of the Northern Pacific railroad. Freight
business west of Fargo is entirely suspended
and all passenger trains are getting through
with great difficulty. Grafton, Dakota, has
suffered most, business being entirely suspen-
ded during the day.
MINNEAPOLIS, March "a special from
Mandon, OAK, reports gale fifty miles per
hour blowing down the Yellowstone and Mis-
souri, river valleys from Montana to Bismarck.
New YORK, March 9.-The masters of sail
ing vessels now at this port appear to be badly
scared by Virgins prediction. member of
an extensive shipping firm said to-day, "TheS
clear they bid good bye 10 their agents and
sail off but they anchor in the lower bay and
will wait until the threatened time has gone
by" Out of all the numerous schooners and
sailing vessels which were cleared yesterday
and to-day whose agents were visited and
which had departed according to the belief of
the latter not one was signalled as having
passed Sandy Hook bar. The prediction has
caused great fear among travellers and out
going steamers yesterday and to-day carry very
few passengers. Steamer Helvetia of the
National Line sailed without single passen-
ger and the Spain which sails to morrow will
not take half dozen. A prominent shipping
merchant here estimates the damage to the
COHmoIC6 Oh new 1Ofk CAUSED Uy Wlggl0S
prophecies at round million of dollaIs,
LONDON, March 9.-Owing to heavy gale
the tide in the Clyde is remarkable low. The
steamers Devonia, Circassia, Manitoba, and
several others, were at one time aground. The
Hull fishing fleet has suffered seriously bv the
gale. Eighty vessels of the fleet have arrived
in damaged condition. Twelve of them lost
members of their crews. Three vessels found
dered, one of them with all hands Similar
accounts have been received from the Var
mouth fishing feet
MONTREAL, March 9.-The weather to-day
was delightfully."- fine and as balmy as in the
month Of May.
LATER.
HALIFAX, March 9.-The wind has suddenly
changed to southwest and has begun to blow
quite a breeze. The sky is over cast and
murky looking A very light snow is falling.
No storm signals however are hoisted at the
Citadel station. An ocean steamer has just
been sighted off South Sambro at the entrance
to The harbUr making for this Tt is prob
ably the City of Chester.