The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-01-14
Herald, Tuesday Evening.l
Oh, How Cold +!

The unprecedented cold continues to claim
the attention of everybody. and it is about the
only theme of conversation here. When old
citizens meet they begin to compare notes of the
cold spells of the days agone, and talk over the
events of those times, to which the young and the
stranger in Florida delight TO listen.
On the 5th of February, 1885, the thermometer
dropped to above zero 10 Florida, and this was
the coolest spell ever experienced in the State
but it was of short duration. The present spell
began to get in lis work Saturday last, and has
continued to increase in intensity steadily since
The most effective work began between and
o'clock this morning, when the mercury at the
Signal Once sank 10 fifteen and three tentts de-
grees above zero. DR.. Baldwin, who has for
years previous 10 the establishment here oil
the Signal Office, kept meteorological
record, and who has very superior thermome-
;ers. kept close watch last night, and he dis
covered Just before day at his residence the mer-
curry was 10 degrees above.
Policeman jackson, who walked Bay street
from 10 o'clock last night till Q to-day, says he
visited the large thermometer exposed in front
of the City Pharmacy every half hour last night
the entire time Al 4:30 A. NJ. it came down to
the twelfth notch, and there 1t stuck. This Off
cial says the mercury moved very slow between
the Is and - degrees marks
There was Q perfect rush of people 10 the Sig
nal Observers Office this morning. so much so
that the observer was compelled to lock his door
a: certain times, until he could finish his duties.
The observer had no news from Key West. but a
private telegram was received at 8 A: M. from
Punta r .ssa, on the extreme southern border of
the State, which stated that the thermometer in
Dictated there 81 degrees above. and the weather
was so cold that hundreds of fish had died from
its effects in the Gulf and foated ashore.
Captain Fulford came in on his steamer. the
Peerless. this morning from New Smyrna, situ-
ated on the east Atlantic coast and he says there
was ice to be seen everywhere down there yes
terlay All still water was frozen over. The
orange trees, he said were thought to be unin-
iured, and in some localities the fruit had es-
capped.
Messrs Chesbro and Pownsll, citizens of Man
DARN, sixteen miles southwest of Jacksonville,
this morning says men walked out eco feet from
shore on the st. Johns river This information
was given by the gentlemen themselves to the
Herald This il the first time that ice was ever
noticed in the river there. Dr. G. w. Davis, re-
siding on The south shore OF the river, opposite
the city, says the mercury never fell below 90
degrees at his house last night On the south
shore, fly feet out into the river, thick ice form
ed last night. and young men were skating on it
this morning. The mail agent from Tampa re-
ports slight fall of snow in Tampa last even
ing.
Mr.. @. B. Rogers says that he was informed
by D. d. Rogers, of Daytona, that on last SUM-
day thin Ice covered the Halifax river In places.
If this Il true, then there Is not good orange TO
be found in the State that was the least exposed
to the cold.
Mr. Uriah Bowden, we'll known In East Flor
ida, and who resides five miles south Of the city,
declares this IL the coolest weather he ever ex-
perienced He was eleven years ofage In 1885,
and says the intensity of the cold now IL. felt
more than In that memorable freeze. Saturday
night about 10 o. clock his oranges 10 the grove
BEGAN % freeze, Notwithstanding he had large
hres scattered through the grove He loses
$4,000 oranges By the ffeeSs.
Captain Buchanan saEs ID January, 1885, the
mercury hare dropped down TO 10 degrees, and
L was considered very cold weather, but Il did
NOT hold On like the pEeeonk 1pelL
Mr.. W. 81 WhIUtlR, An old citiSon Of Florida,
hsssss 81 japnaxy ID. 1851, and that there waa
another IN two days bsfoss The hattie Of
Olustee