Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-01-20

The Weather Here and Elsewhere.
A Few ssf isents.

A cold wave or miniature blizzard,
struck this region last Tuesday evening
about sundown. The weather that day
Was mixed. showing some in the morn
ing, the sun shining in the afternoon, it
being sloppy undsrfoot and a damp
chilliness pervading the atmosphere.
1t was, on the whole, q disagreeable day,
and such day as gives no promise or
indication Of the weather likely to fol-
low it. About sundoxn the wind set
tied down from the north, and began to
blow freshly, increasing in strength all
night. The temperature went down
several degrees an hour, and citizens
shivered and shook and cravled in
alongside Of hot stoves az they hadn't
done for many long day before.
The wind Of Tuesday night howled
fearfully, and at other points did much
damage, destroying small craft, diving
large ships ashore, de-, bat here was
practically unroticed, owing TO the
sheltered position of the town. At sx-
rossd points and on the open Sound, 1t
was one of hardest blows and coolest
storms yet seen.
The Thermometer on Tuesday morn
ing stood here at ~ degrees. On Wed
nesday the mercury had fallen to 20; on
thursday 10 Is, and on Friday to 8.
With one exception, in 1876, when the
mercury was down 10 above zero, the
temperature of Friday morning was
lower than at any time in the "a D TWEEN
ty-one years.
The cold wave swept over long
stretch Of country, including the Pacific
Coast from some unknown point in
British Columbia or Alaska. to some
other unknown point in Oregon or Cali
bornia. Ii took IN Csriboo, Frazer river
valley, Vancouver Island, the Sound,
Portland, up the Columbia and up the
Willamette.
On the 18th il was 10 degrees above
zero at Sanaimo, or about the same a.
here. At Victoria it was Ii early yester.
day morning. At Hope it was 4 degrees
below zero. at Spencs's Bridge. 7 below
at Lytton, 8; at Clinton, 20; at Quesnelle
20; at Baskerville, IS, and at Soda Creel
IS below zero. At Portland il was 20 OF
the 18th, and II on the 18th, and below
zero up the Columbia. The degree a,
other points on tho Sound We have beer
unable to obtain, bat il was low down
We know.
A sheet Of ice half inch thick GOV
cred the still water OF the bay yesterday
morning from the shore hslf-mile Out
and steamers had some trouble break
ing through il. The Skagit river il
closed by ice and the same may be saiG
Of other iniets, bays and streams from
Olympia north.
The cold here took people BY surprise
and tho surprise has bsen far from q
pleasant one. Almost everybody val
| more or less caught; being short Of fuel
water supply out Oh, fruits, vegetable
and plants frozen, or ia some other way
disaRreeably affected. The gas has
played odd tricks on Consumers; in some
places burning ~ brightly rs ever, anc
In other places turning like candles OF
not burning nj ali. The streets were a
once placed in fine condition, bsins
hard and smooth as asphalt, suRgsstins
to us their probable appearance a few
years hence, whom contemplated i'm.
pr0vements are completed.
The freezing mp Of springs and pipes
is one Of the worst features Of the cen
tinued cold snap. Not only are kitoh.
ems out of, bat business houses, hotels,
and factories. Several mills have been
compelled to shut down for want Of
water with which to make steam. A
thousand discomforts result from the
lack of water; but AZ long as fire is kept
from starting, spreading, and perhaps
wiping out the town, owing 10 lack of
the extinguishing element, We can en-
dure the inconvenisnces to which we
are now temporarily subject.
The temperature slightly moderated
last evening and q little snow foil.
Present indications favor . further
moderation and more snow.