The morning call., 1891-12-25
IN THE DARK.
London QbsCur4d by Dense FO6-BuSl-
ness Totally Interrupted.

LONDON. Dec. 24.-The fog that settled
down over the city Tuesday last still hangs
over it. and everywhere it is as black as
night. Business is interrupted and the
money loss is serious, as the people will not
venture out, even to make Christmas pur-
chases. IL is impossible TO see more than
few inches in any direction. Street and
river traffic is greatly hindered. The fog Is
not only prevalent in London, but it ex-
tends over wide sections of the country. 1t
is without exception the worst visitatlo OF
the Kind that has come to England IN years.
Fears are entertained that If the thick
weather prevails off the coast, it will be the
cause of many disasters to shipping partlc-
ularly to vessels bound up and down the
channel. The weather Is so bad that the
people who venture into the streets do so
only when they are absolutely compelled to.
The saddest feature OF the situation is the
great loss of life caused by persons losing
their way and wandering into rivers. canals
and ponds. Already seven bodies OF un-
fortunates who have fallen into the river
and drowned have been recovered. -Four
other men and girls are reported missing,
and there Is scarcely doubt thai they nave
perished as the others did.
1t is Impossible for trains to run on their
schedule time. Many trains from subur-
ban points did not reach London until two
hours after their regular time. The buai-
ness of the city is generally suffering be-
cause OF the phenomenal density Of the fog,
and in some cases it is entirely suspended.
A dispatch from Leeds this morning
states that three men, while walking beside
the canal lost their way in the fog and fell
into the water and were drowned. Several
persons were killed on the railway.
Advices from points in the eastern part of
England show that the fog was prevalent
along the whole length of the eastern coast.
On the River Tyne the shipping industry
was almost mt a standstill, it being deemed
too dangerous TO send the vessels away from
the wharves. The trains on the trunk lines
in the north OF England we're greatly de-
layed. The atmosphere was so thick that
the usual signals could hardly be seen, and
the engineers were compelled TO use the
greatest care to avoid collisions. The Scotch
Express came in to-day five hours late.
Walking about the docks is extremely dau-
gerous, even to those thoroughly acquainted
with all the hooks and crannies. Three
dock cOnstables lost their lives during the
fog. These men lost their sense of locality,
became bewildered, walked into the river
and were drowned. The steamers engaged
in the channel service are making thelI
trips, but are greatly retarded. A number
of skating accidents are reported. The
| fog causes the ice TO become rotten very
| rapidly, and the result has been that many
| skaters have broken through the ice aud
| drowned.
! he fog is boon to gas companies, every
| body who uses gas has been compelled tC
| burn 1t all day and enormous quantities
have been and are still being used. The
| gas supply at the general POstofice failed
| to-day and for some time London's mai
service was in state of great confusion
Hasty acquisitions were made for lamps anC
| candles.
Two passenger trains came into collision
| at Barny junction to-day and were badly
| damaged. One OF the engine-drivers,
! guard and one passenger were killed ant
| ten other persons injured.
The engine and tender Of one train tele
scoued the carriage in the rear of the othe
| train. The killed are fireman name(
| Read. guard named Lake, and a passenger
named Mallelt Ten persons were CRITICAL,
| injured.