Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-27
SNOW, RAIN, AND SLEeT.
Street-Csr Travel Interfered With-Tbe
Storm General Throughout Virginia.

For second time this season Richmond
has had spell Of genuine wintry weather.
This Is doing pretty well considering that
winter proper began only six days ago.
Little did those who felt the genial
warmth of Wednesday and the several
DAYS preceding imagine that by Thursday
afternoon the ground would be covered
with snow. But such was the fact, and
Christmasday instead OF being ushered IN
with sunshine was greeted with dull,
leaden clouds, which shortly before noon
began TO Let drop few fakes alike upon
the just and the unjust.
sSow, RAIN, AND sI.EKT.
At first the snow wac very wet and melt
ed as rapidly as il touched the ground. but
as the day waxed older and the downfall
became steadier and more determined II
stuck and the earth was soon shrouded in
white. The storm kept up all the evening,
changing into frozen rain about mid
night. which continued to fall until noon
yesterday.
The ram on top of the snow was quickly
absorbed, making mass nearly as heavy
as lead, causing many roofs tOspring aleak
until their unusual load was thrown off.
BORNE DOWN WITH IcE.
The frozen rain envclOpcd trees. bushes,
and wires, causing many breakages. The
limbs of the former III many Instances
were borne down nearly 10 the sidewalks.
About o'clock last night the moon
made TIA appearance, and Its soft light fall
ing upon the crystal dress of the trees
caused them to sparkle and scintillate like
myriads of diamonds, making a picture
seldom seen and never TO be forgotten.
The walking yesterday was extremely
disagreeable. The pedestrian could choose
between ice or slush and one alternative
was about as pleasant as the other.
HOW THE CARS RAN.
The car service was good under the cir
cumstances. The Manchester electric line
was the first TO knock under. and stopped
running Thursday night about $50 o'clock.
Bv some complication of wires this caused
a temporary suspension of travel on the
Union Passenger railway. This latter line
kept three cars running oil night 20 keep
the track clear, and were enabled TO give a
good service yesterday. Several cars were
run through last night also.
The Manchester electric line was. not
running at all yesterday. but expects 10
start up again this morning. The horse
cars were running as usual, those on the
Manchester line having double teams.
The Main-street line ran several cars all
night Thursday. and one last night. Their
service was very satisfactory, but the
breaking down Of numerous wires which
crossed their trolley-wire necessltated the
shutting off of the current for about half
an hour.
The horse-car schedule was maintained
as usual.
The weather last night was very cold
and the sky wore "A threatening aspect near
midnight.
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
The storm was pretty general throughout
the State. At Clifton Forge there was
eight inches of fresh snow, with some
during Yesterday. The weather was ex-
tremely cold. IL was sleeting at Balcony
Falls yesterday morning. AT Chariottes-
Vile it was clear and cold, with six inches
of freshly fallen snow.
The weather between here and Lynch
burg yesterday was clear and cold with an
unclouded sunset There was no falling
weather Of any kind. The river at Colum-
bia was three feet above low-water mark
and rising slowly. Between Richmond
and Old Point the weather was reported to
be cold and cloudy.
TwBNTY-oNE MILES N TWELVE HOURS.
A gentleman who arrived in Richmond
Yesterday and who came by the way OF
Eagle Mountain from New Castle, twenty
one miles, SAYS the snow is sthirty-slX inches
deep. Four Clvdesdale horses belonging
TO the New Castle and Eagle Rock Line
with Henry Ray as driver, Gan old Con,
fed and one of the best hOrsemen In that
section.) broke the track and kept up the
connection. The time wasitwelye hours.