The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-01-12

! iHlS year, ulu Say
Well, isn't that gay?
This here is good one, my dear"
Louisville Courier JourH0l.
KS
| THE WEATHER.
The weather was a tit subject OF discus
g., sion Cd Saturday last. Indeed, 1t was the
grand "ltcm" Of the week, if not the only
one.
We reported 28 below at O'Clock las
Friday night in the morning thermome
tiers varied, as usual, but indicated from %
to 30 degrees below. Probably % or %
would be fair average making l, the
coolest day seen in many years. Out in
the country i. was apparently much colder
Supervisor Hoffman, of Eagle, G. &, reports
30 below, the lowest he had ever seen.
Any way It was cold, dencaa cold, and
don't you forget it,"
"s"
The condition OF things, naturally, has
brought on no end OF "reminiscences Here
are some contributed by DR.. Reed to the
Wenona Hder:
The first recall was on the 9th day Of
January, 1853. The weather through De.
cember, 1853, was remarkably pleasant
farmers were blowing between Christmas
and New Years, and everything was lively
till the night of January Sth, when it com,
mencec to snow moderately, until the
morning of the 9th, when the wind rose
to a tempest and the snow fell to the depth
Of nearly two feet, and by the morning OF
the 10th the mercury fell to 80 below zero
This storm blocked the Illinois Central
railroad for about week. Intense cold
weather followed through January and
February, and part of March The terrible
winter was followed by abundant crops the
summer after, all except peaches and ap-
ples-the former being all killed and part
OF the latter.
! The next very severe storm occurred on
the LIST day of January, 1864. This, too,
came without warning, after some remark
ably pleasant weather. Snow fell TO the
depth of two feet and wind blew q perfect
gale, and the cold was intense. My Their
mOmetcr marked IS below--olher tubes
showed 1t still colder. Much stock, not
we'll projected, persisted. This storm was
followed by short, cold winter, early
spring and generally good crops.
The next noted storm occurred on the
l4th day of February, 1866. This was a
regular bli7zard-big snow, high wind,
and drlfted lanes. The |. G.. r. r. was
blocked for five days. The storm was fol-
lowed by fair crop season.
| This takes US down to the intense cold
| wave of last week. Friday morning, Jan.
4th, thermometers stood at ii degrees be
low zero; Saturday morning. 80 below
| the coolest since Jan. 10Th, 1854. Sunday
morning the thermometer stood 2G below.
| Let US take courage from the experience
OF the past and hope that 1894 VII! have
bountitu crops"
Comparisons arc always od!ous. We, we
canno. resist the temptation.
The S,reatOr Free Press has the worst ::
~ special dispatch from John Barton in
forms Us that this Saturday morning
the people about Devils Lake Dakota, are
plowlng, building summer houses and
eujoying fine fishing and bathing in the
lake
This equals friend Of ours III lows who
says he went out that morning dressed ID
mosquito netting pants. At any rate he
felt rs If he was, which is about the same
thing, practically.
The Peru NelrS-H6ra!l, however, rather
rknocks the socks" OF the above IN the to-
lowing for cold weather story:
Friday last while the mercury was hunt
ing for we'll 10 go down IN, John Ram
sey. foreman Of the stone work on the
slough bridge, had the rim o. his ear
frozen. Discovering he fact upon his ar
rival at his boarding place, he was advised
to apply snow. Another amateur physl-I
clan recommended a mixture OF salt with
the snow, and his advice was followed. \
liberal application Of "alfand alf salt and
snow covered the ear and half an acre OF
head and neck. In about 30 seconds, by
stop watch, the patient announced, It's
a working, boys: l can feel il thaw." Al
couple OF minutes later he concluded 1t was
working" too much, and removed the
frigld poultice. when IL was found that the
entire ear, with quarter sections Of cheek,
head and neck were frozen solid as an ice
berg in Greenland. Mr.. Ramsey is ready ,oI
confess that, IN his opinion the salt was of
no especial benefit and in cases where 1t is
not convenient the salt may be omitted
from "snow poulhce," without serious
detrlment TO Its value.
%s*
Another wonderful @ result OF the freeze
Is observed by John kangley, as reported
by a Streator paper IN this wise: THE CT
b. & Q. railroad between here and Chicago
is continuous rail- and as the ends have
neither pulled out Of Chicago or Strestor.
Jssk Ksngly has computed the amount OF