New-York tribune., 1885-02-12
COLDEST DAY OFTHE WINTER
THE MERCURY FALLS 40 IN "a HOURS.

thS seasoh made Itself felt yesterday. Inc mercury
not eny fell lower than on any other day. but it
remained low for longer period than at any other
time this season. Following the storm which had
It's centre in NcwYork on Tuesday morning there
came the cold wave which originated in the North
west lt followed close the heels of the rainfall
The wind blew iercely. At 7 a. III. the mercury at
the Signal Service Station on the Equitable Build
ing fell to zero. On December 81, which was the
previous coolest day of the year, the thermometer
registered 1.2o above zero. From a. m till 3
p. IN. the mercury rose steadily. At o'clock 1t was
30 above zero and at it had risen as far as 5.5o
Afiert that time 1t rose slowly, reaching maximum
Of about 70. Assistant Observer Hinman predicted
that the cold weather will continue to-day and
VIII end In snow or rain. Tonight Is likely TO
be about 100 warmer than last night.
The tai in temperature during the twenty-four
hours between z a. IN. Tuesday and the same hour
yesterday was remarkable. II amounted to 44o,
bigger tumble than the mercury often makes in
that length of time in this latitude. The wind
blew with unusual velocity yesterday, reaching
maximum of thirty seven miles an hour at noon.
1t died Oway in the evening, when it was blowing
at the rate of sixteen miles.
At z o. m. the centre Of the cold wave was near
Port Huron. where the temperature fell to 240 be-
low zero. The lowest temperatures were in the
TO 200 below zero. 1t was 70 be-
low in Buffalo at 3 p. M, 10 below In Cleye-
land, Milwaukee and Oswego. and 80 below at
Rochester. The lowest temperature reported by
the Signal Service in Minnedosa Manitoba,
where the mercury fell to 33o low zero.
The weather moderated perceDtiby during the
day all over the country except in New-England,
whittier the cold wave went after leaving New
York. and there severe cold was felt throughout the
entire night. storm was developing yesterday in
the upper Mississippi: valley, where rise in the
temperature of from 100 to 80 took place. At the
same time another cold wave made its presence
manifest in the extreme northwest, but the proba-
bic effect OF these disturbances upon this latitude
could not be predicted mp to midnight.
The cold had pcrceptiHre effect on travel over
the Brooklyn Bridge. During the day the PRONE
made was nearly deserted, though the early even
ing travel reached about half the usual propor-
tons. In the middle Of the Bridge, where allow
ance is made for the effect of extreme weather on
the cables, there was an an opening of about two
feet. 20 great was the contraction that large
dog might have been dropped through without
touching. The Bridge policemen got up go-as-you-
please pedestrian contests to keep their blood
warm.
broadway showed traces of the cold weather
teenth-st and rwenty-third-st., which are usually
crowded with ladies and children during the after
Moons, were little visited. and the shops did but a
meagie trade.
A good deal of complaint was made concerning
the coldness of the cars on tho elevated roads.
especially on the Second and Ninth-ave. lines.
After $50 p. IN. the aid up until a. M
During this time tuesday night the steam in the
pes of number Of cars condensed and froze, aud
great a.nscuitv was experienced IN getting tho not
steam mo the pipes yesterday. In some cases the
One effect of the sudden fall of temperature was
the bursting of the bulb of the thermometer In front
marked 400 above zero. In twcntv-fonr hours it
fell 40. and apparently overcome by tins ex-
tTaorInary crerion. the glass bulb broke. Ii Is
supposed that the glass was defective.
The most fastidious skater could have found no
fault wilh the Ice in Central Park yesterday. The
ram on MoGday night had hlled al the
crcylces aud holes in the ice, and the cold
of tuesday night froZc up everything smooth and
hard as n rock. The ice seems thick enough to last
until midsummer. he only draw back was the
cold. With the mercury below zero, even the
schoolbOy who rarely tires of skating, would ac-
know ledge after few spurts that II was pretty
tough worH, and reluctantly retirr The young
ladies' and their escorts sought IN vain the most
sheltered hooks on the lake. They were sure to be
iouni out after few minutes by the cold, whis-
ting wind, and were glad enough to make their
way back again within the warm walls of the
skate house During most OF the day the wind had
much of The ice ~ itself The pond on the Sanhat-
ian Athletic Grounds, and even the small pools IN
vacant lots though all glIsicned attractvey to the
skater, were nearly deserted during the day.
In Prospect Park. BrookIyn. there were fewer
skaters than usual. although the ice was good. The
vigorous exercise necessary TO skate rpy iliicd 10
keep the skaters comfortable
The ebb tide in the morning brought down the
Hudson River largequanttles 0i lce whlcneAt
for about a third of "A mile from tue New ork shore
and as far south IN the bay as Governors Island.
In the afternoon with the MOOD tlde III tte East
River which il about two hours earlier than IN the
Hudson. the greater part ot tho lee under pressure
of strong west wind, was carried up the Last
River aud ed It from shore to shore FAR above the
Bridge The white band along the shofe oi tIie
Hudson was contracted to about an eighth OF u male
in width and was packed closely IN the slips lho
ferry boats and tugs hal cut 1t up SO tt there were
no large cakes and there was little delay to Terry
travel The only difficulty was experienced IN the
slips and the boats were occasionally compelled 10
back several times and push III under iull mead
of steam IN order to make fast. the ice Dehg pleu
nm many feet deep at the bridges The boats on the
Pennsy lvana Railroad ran IN the morning on
fifteen instead of ten minutes time, ana there was
about the same delay on the other ferries.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Terry boat New-Jerscy'
which lett Courtand-st. at IL o'clock tuesday
night did not reach Jersey Guy untll nearly . a.
M. The delay was caused by the lce: ihere were
a large number of passengers including many
ladies'. and they suffered severely from cold, tho
steampipes in the cabins giving little neat; i no
electric lights were out part OF the time, adding 10
the discomfort and uneasiness OF the pnssen gers
The Gowanus Canal in South brooklyn whose
waters are salty, oily ana Oihok, was ho@eh o'oi
and navigation was entirely suspended. ,
Tho mails due at the Post once from places III INC
West and Northwest we're much delayed by storms
on the Lake Shore and other routes. The Pitts
burg mail from Northwestern points, due at a. IN:
was not received until O:3b p. m. Inc Cincinnati
express by the New-York Central due ut 2:l0 p III.
was tive hours behind time. The Chicago Limited
the fast Pennsylvania train due a. . p. m. was
reported in tho evening as not likely 10 arrive
before l o'clock this morning The ira ns bearing
mails from points west of Syracuse failed to connect
with the train from Albany due at 7;ao anu were
sent in % train due at Up. M, but TINS was over
three hours late. The Southern Pittsbnrg mails
were loss than an hour late. The trains from East
ern points were not delayed The delays are un-
usually great for any season of the year.