Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-12-26
Climatic Change.

1he climate OF the Northern IA
cltic coast seems to be undergoing
gradual change, and we cannot long
er safely boast of uniformly mild
Winters. The claim that Snow falls
only occur at intervals of four or
five years, IS matter which belongs
tru'hfu!'v only 10 onr past history.
Although the Wiuters are by no
means 50 severe rs they are on the
Atlantic Seaboard or the belt of
country in the latitude IF the great
lakes, still there is enough col3
weather to make the most warm-
blooded inhabitant shiver ut tunes,
and to dispel that beautiful senti-
ment relating to the picking of bou-
que:s in the coolest of the Winter
months. 1t may be, however, that
we have struck a L" co!dwave" epoch,
connected in some way with tie
planetary disturbances of the past
fow years, and when this is past
things will settle down to their nor
NAL condition, but certain it is that
we have been taught. by very un-
pleasant experience: to distrust the
equabie climate for which Oregon
and Washington had become so not
ed, far and near But it is true the
temperature seldom falls much be-
low the freezing point, and the ex-
cessively cold weather which has
prevailed the past few years in the
northern border States, is here un-
known, still there is manifest ne
cessity for building warmer dwelling
houses, as well as making some pro-
vision for stock, that has not hith-
erto been recognized. Whether,
as perihelion recedes, the weather
will resume its former conditions, is.
OF course, a matter of mere conjec-
ture, and it is not safe TO ccspt tho
theoretical hypothesis, until time has
demonstrated its soundness. so far,
however, we believe, nobody has
frozen to death in our Territory
from ordinary exposure, as has hap
pened every Winter, the past iew
years, east of the Rocky Mountains.
The BROOKLYN TRAGEDY. - The
burning of the Orphan Asylum, in
Brooklyn, n. Y, on The 18th instant,
has added another chapter to the
horrors of the closing year. There
were 124 inmates Of the institution.
6G3 of whom are accounted for,
leaving 81 persons missing, 46 of
them children. Twenty bodies have
been taken from the ruins in such
q charred and mutilated condition as
to be disfigureG beyond identified
ton. The origin OF the fire, as u.s.
ual i'll such cases, is uncertain, but
seems TO have started in the engine
room, VIII Gu is n basement: annex.
Mr.. Blaine has dismissed the SEN
tincl / bel suit, alleging that he can
not obtain Just verdict in Indiana.
Il is quite probable TINT just the re-
verse is true, and that he well knows
the verdict would be against him be.
fore any impartial jury. The suit,
having served the object for which it
was instituted, however, to make
some show Of defense, 1t is of no
further service to Mr.. Blaine, and
like everything else which ceases to
be of use to him, it is 1T once cast
aside.
y GANG of cowboys took possession
of a west-bound passenger train, on
the Southern Pacific Railroad, on
the 23d, aud amused themselves by
shooting at the lamps and windows.
The cars were riddled with shots,
but nobody was injured. They
boarded the train near Langtry, and
after riding sixty miles, left it at
Uvalde.
THE roof of Stahl's Opera House,
in Walla Walla, fell from an accumu-
lation of snow, on Christmas eve,
about two hours before the time
fixed for festival by the Methodist
congregation. Had the accident oc.
Cured later, the probability is that
hundreds of lives would have been
lost
The Sharon divorce suit, which
has attracted so much attention all
over The Coast, has been decided in
favor of the plaintiff. Mr.. Sharon
will appeal, and feels confident of
reversing the decision of the inferior
Court.
The Methodist Church in the East
has secured $3.50, 900 for the building
and establishing of an institution of
learning, to be located on Puget
Sound-just al what point has not
yet been determined.
The Springfield Republican,, com
menting on the large caucus held by
the Democrats Of that city, says:
The Democratic party seems to be
Sll:., xho L. ol>a