Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-12-18

rccolections of other big storms, and
drank various complicated and hery
fluids to ward off the evil effects OF too
much snow water.
The streets vividly recalled the mem
orable blizzard OF February, 1854.
There was less snow, toobe sure, than
upon that interesting occasion. but
there seemed to be twice As much slush.
The entire space between the curbS.
along the paved thoroughfareS was one
immense mass Of nastineSS, while at
every crossing the water was anywhere
| from two or three to eight or ten inches
deep, as a rule being artfully concealed
by thinlayer of floating snow. What
snow there was on the sidewalks was
compacted into lee, and being wet, was
about as slippery as piece OF banana
peel, and to keep ones foo(ing requires
something Of the skill Of a professional
equilibrist. Woe to the man who fell;
his only remedy was to go straightway
and buy new suit of clothes, for moth
ing short OF trip through clothes
wringer and course OF ironing would
make the old anything like present
able.
The wind was particularly keen. not
to be below the freezing point, and the
snow and siect was blown around with a
vigor which made promenadng not
very popular amusement. As rule.
you could tell the Island citizen by the
way he dug the soldly packed snow out
of his ears, after crossing the bridge
while citizens OF every degree bore d
startling resemblance to half-drowned
McGintys, or dissipated Kris Kingles
after travcrsing few blocks in any
direction.
1t was a great day for the hackmen
and cabbies. Their vehicles were in de-
mand, and their horses found no rest
for their hoofs from early morning
until long after midnight. The usual
long line OF cabs in front OF the McLnrc
and Central were conspicuous by their
absence, and during the early evening
there were good many jokes about
starting list, and having the people
who wanted to ride fall into line and
await their turn.
1t was particularly tough day for
letter carriers, reporters and policemen,
and If there are not few choice cases
of pneumonia as a result Of the expos
ure, it will be entirely owing TO the
toughncss of the class-physically.
Walking about the streets was not
unattended with danger. Aside from
the net work of wires lying about in
every direction, any one of which was
liable TO convey deadly shock, there
n hnlNV
masses of snow and slush falling from
roofs. awnings, telegraph poles, and
everything elseato ~hich tue stuG was
apt to cling, and it was no unusual
thing for a passer-by 10 have a ten
pound mass Of snow just miss him as II
sought the earth. No damage resulted
from this sort of thing, however. be-
yond several mashed hats aud torn UNI
/ brellas.
WILL THERE BE A FLOOD.
Naturally. in times like these, the
thoughts OF the average citizen OF
Wheeling turns instinctively to the
river, and yesterday, as matter OF
course, there was quite a general inter
change Of views as to the amount oil
water there would be when the snow
fall disappeared. Reports were in cir
culation, and seemed perfectly plausible
when one looked at earth and sky, that
there was anywhere from foot and a
half to two feet Of snow at Pittsburg,
and foot more In the mountains, and
upon this, the pesslmists went about
predicting that the snow was but the
forerunner OF greater disasters, and
that there would be regular Old-tlme
/ flood.
How much OF this IS going to come to
pass is matter for conjecture. 1t Il
certain that the snow must be consider.
ably deeper In the country than in town,
and deeper still In the mountains-there
was fifteen inches at Findleyville, Pa,
yesterday morning-but it does not nee
essarily follow that there will be flood
1t may disappear gradually, as many q
big snow has done before. and not give
us stage of water sufficiently large tC
excite remark; or it may go of with .
rain which will run the river way up
! As we say in Spanish, Quien sabe?