The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-03-22

nc nouIS ienStncncd ana the Ugh
of day gave way to the darkness O
night without the customary retaIle
going to his daily rounds. 1t IS OF
these retail dealers that the mass o
the wageearnsrs depend for their fuel
and when these dealers come not thci
fears increased and the prospect of /:
coal famine presented itself, with al
its disagreeable possibilities. Hun
dreds Of them were yesterday search
ing the city in every direction fol
even a ssuttle of coal. In a few IN
stances they obtained it, but at fig
ure that put the oft-spoken-of wal
prices into the shade.
Owing to the magnitude Of the
storm, as told in the Star of yesterday
no coal could be served to the retailer
Few OF the coal yards had large sup
ply on hand, and none can be OBJ.
tanned for many days to come. When
the present orders are filled fuel can.
not be obtained ct any price.
RESTAURANTS RUN SHORT OF COAL.
In most OF the downtown restaurant.
the effect has been already experienced,
and a number of them have been
closed and will remain 50 while the
lasts. 1t WAS nothing unusual
yesterday to see tine sign "Closed" on
the doors of downtown lunch places.
From Fourteenth street up the sup
ply even among the retailers is be-
coming remarkably scarce and no one
appears to know where to obtain it.
The Astor House has not got sufficient
coal to last until Monday. There is a
large consignment at the dock waiting
for this popular hotel, but there is no
means Of unloading.
The New York Steam Heating Com
pany consumes over 400 tons per day
and supplies a number of customers.
At a late hour last night they had
scarcely enough to last over tomorrow,
and predictions were made that if the
lasted a number Of large
houses would be without heat.
In the poorer localities, however,
the effect was more apparent. The
dealers in almost every instance took
advantage of the situation to advance
prices, and demanded as much as IS
and 40 and even SO cents a bushel,
when the cost to them was only 10
cents. Few were able to pay such a
sum, and they were obliged to return
to their cherries homes and try and
preserve the already dying embers'
In many cases investigation found
whole families sitting huddled together
in one room without spark Of fire
The windows ratified INCREASINGLY
while the wind howled dismally with
out.
SUFFERING IN TESEMENTs.
In one tenement in Houston stree,
sixteen families were found, and clever
Of that number had no means of pro-
viding fuel. In all of the rooms the
supply had given out at early morn
and nothing remained to help out the
chill. Whatever wood had been lying
around was used up to supply the place
of coal. This, however, soon burned
out, and when the blaze had died
away the rooms looked more cherries
than before.
Money was no. the difficulty. Al
along Houston street and IN all the
side streets on the East side, dozens o.
women armed with pals were standing
in line opposite the stores OF retailers
demanding coal. The dealers, accord
ing as the crowd was augmented, raised
the price. 1t started at IS cents in .
number Of stores. and never stopped
going up until SO cents was demanded
Many of the poor women did not pos
sess so much. They returned to the:l
cherries homes wringing their hand:
and crying piteously.
Such sight was common all owe,
the city. Away over on Seventh ave
nue. at Thirty-second street a solisar,
coal wagon was seen by some women
1t was eagerly surrounded, and inside
of twenty minutes the entire cargo hac
been sold off. The women who wer.
fortunate enough to obtain 1t, even a
greatly ADVANCED price were happy
STARVING ON THE BLOCKED TRAINS
Thirty eight trains in oil lie snow
bound between the Grand Central de
pot and Tarrytown. There may be /,
few more or less, but the telegraph,
facilities are so poor that it is impos
sible to get definite information, tn.
worst of the blockades being on Man
haitian Island, solid ten foot drif
extending from Ninety fourth street t,
I75th street. The snow lies principal,
upon the incoming tracks, the out.
going rails being bzied under onl,
three or four feet Of snow.
One engine was able Yesterday I.
get As tar North as Mott Haven. On
1t were Superintendent Touoey ant
Depot Master Franklin. They wer'
out to personally view the situation
They had not beep able to get bacl
at late hour last night, their engin'
getting stuck at Mott Haven. 1t
the intention Of the New York Centra
officials to send out empty CARS 70 re