The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-12-26


DrunlSs.
Christmas in Roanoke was celebrated
in the old-time way 1t was the same
Christmas that the gray-iicaled sires
have seen annually for three score wears
and ten
The small boy was in his glory and
had his annual measure of fun with his
pop gun and the standard Christmas
toys of the day.
Santa Claus and his reindeer had nice
slcighing, and the merry music of his
jingling slcigh-hclls was occasionally
interrupted By the reports of fireworks
that have not ceased since Wednesday
noon. Long stockings in Roanoke
households were filled with the best
that old Nick had in his shop. and the
children were happy.
THE WEATHER.
The weather was twelve hours ahead
OF tho Uncle Sam swcathcr-makcrs, and
snow was falling at o'clock in the morn
N''N~" VI tfV hii, nv, ny
tbs weather bureau. Before noon tho
few places that had been cleared OF the
snow which fall last week were again
covered. The flying flakes continued
to fall ana Roanoke enjoyed the luxury
of Il snowy Christmas. The wind blew
cold and tho fine fakes OF snow were
singing. by night the snow was scy-
cral inches deep on the remains of the
great storm. But thn weather WAS not
cold enough to freeze out the Christmas
g!cc OF RoanolScrs
ON THE STREETS
The streets were wet and slushy We'd
ncsday from the melting OF the Snow,
but early Wednesday night the water OF
the day was ice. Upon this frozen sur
face the snow began to fall ut $ o'clock
yesterday morning, and the cement and
granolithic sidewalks were decidedly
slick in many places. Nlany people
were suddenly inclined to sit Hat down
upon the sidewalks, and just as sud
denly followed their inclina tinn, but no
serious injuries from such falls arc re-
ported. Perhaps the amount of Christ
mas cggnogG that was flowing in numcr-
Gus bowls prompted much OF the inc!ina-
ton TO sit on the streets.
The streets were not tironged with
people during tho day, but quite Il
number of men.and boys faced the snow
to destroy fireworks The usual number
OF Christmas DRINKS staggered on the
streets and the watchfn policemen
marched many mere than the usual
number to tile station house Nearly
all tho places Of business, cxccp. the
saloons, were closed and everybody. OK
cept the cops hotel clerks bar-tendcrs
and TIE TINES force. was taking holt
day
The iirc-bcll rang about o'clock and
the plucky ,Iuniorllosc team pulled their
hand-recl Il mile through the snow 10
the extreme northeast section of the
city to find that, in .'tar-hccl'' country
parlance, the alarm was only "a Christ
mas trick.
The men Joined the boys in the sports
Oh the streets, and two prominent citi-
tussle ut the corner OF jefferson street
and Salem avenue. in which each in
turn were buried in the snow
A few sloighs were out in the after
noon, and perhaps IL few boys sang last
night. Aren't it pleasant with your
sweetheart riding in sleigh" but the
high price OF 81 per hour scared off not
few who had spent most of their sur
plus cash in purchasing Christmas pres
cnts for their best girls and sisters
At night the light from sl,y-rccllcts
and roman candles took the place of the
stars that were hidden by the SNOW
clouds.
The day and tho night passed without
any disturbance, and the police handled
the crowds i'll the dens along Railroad
avenue very satisfactorily to the general
public.
Az TIE STATION HOUSE.
One of the first events of the morn
ing ut the Station House VAS the can
ing of Chief Norris and Sergeant j onos
mention of which was male in ycster-
days TIMES.
The chief and tho sergeant very
gracefully expressed their appreciation
of the Christmas gifts made by the
members of the force. and the chief re-
marked to IL TIMES man that he ex-
pected to lean on that substantial cane
~ long as he was able to stand.
Not long after tho usual morning
court the Christmas whiskcy began to
get in it's work, and the officers con-
tinued throughout tho day to pack
offenders in the pens. Station-kecpcr
Baily was kept busy throughout the
day taking care Of the men who were
turned over to his keeping. The officers
made raid on Francis Isabclle's house
on Railroad avenue, where there was Il
general row, and pulled four negroes
who were participating.
Twenty arrests had been made hy &
o'clock III the evening, and by l. there
were thirty persons III tho jug.