Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-24
HIDDEN BENEATH A FOG.
A Thick and Black Pail Hangs Low Over
London

A Thick and Black Pail Hangs Low Over
London.
LONDON, Dec. 24.-Ths city is still hidden
beneath fog Of phenomenal blackness and
thickness. For seventy hours has London, to
all intents and purposes, been plunged in dark
ness. Throughout the day the street lamps.
to say nothing of the lights within doors, have
been lighted and link boysare making small for
tunes by plotting cabs and other vehicles
through the street by the aid OF torches or Ian
terms.
Regular traffic and trade are at standstill
and navigation on the river Thames has been
completely stopped. Many proprietors Of
jewelry stores and other such places have put
up their shutters un.:l the fog clears away
They are doing absolutely no business and fear
the visitation of thieves.
The entire police force in the metropolis
may be said to have been on duty night and day
throughout the seventy hours OF black fog A
dispatch is sent scying that there is sign
of the fog lifting, and the city remain COW
cred by the most dense pail of fog withic the
recollection of the present generation OF Lon
doners.
EVEN LoSDoyERs GRuMBLE.
When ON Tuesday last dense fog settled
down over London, compelling a suspension of
traffic on the river and a great curtailment of
the traffic on the streets. there we're the usual
grumblings, and many were the maledictions
dbuiIst Tue WedtNeT, Dut LOnOOnefS
are accustomed to fogs, and it was
thought that after day of inconvenience
the vapor would lift and allow of a resumption
of trade. These hopes were disappointed, how
ever, for yesterday the fog still held the city in
its cold. cammy embrace and showed no sign
of breaking away. Gas and electric lights were
kept burning, but so black and heavy was the
fog that they only served to make the darkness
visible. The vapor permeated dwellings and
stores, and the darkness was as intense inside
h,r.f hopI nn
riously interfered with and the money loss is
severe.
This morning instead of there being any i'm
provement the state of affairs worse 1t
was thought it would be impossible for the fog
to be any worse than 1t was yesterday and the
day before, but today the weather is so thick
| that it is absolutely dangerous to attempt to
so about the streets. 1t is impossible to see
for more than a few inches in any direction
All traffic is greatly hindered, as it is Impossi-
BILE for the drivers Of vehicles to see their
horses.
Here and there through the dense gloom a
glimmering light may be seen shedding its
feeble rays for a few inches in the darkness,
but the most powerful arc lights are not strong
enough 10 penetrate the fog, and all that can be
seen of them is a small radiance up in the air.
The fog IL not only prevalent in London. but
it extends over wide sections of, the country.
1t is without exception the worst visitation Of
the kind that has come to England in years. 1t
40 HSNSo'ois w Coy oh i4hCI uuluC
is stopped.
DANGER on THE COAST.
Fears are entertained thatif the thick weather
prevails off the coast 1t will be the cause of
many disasters to shipping, particularly to YES
sells bound up and down the channel. With a
fog that has already lasted for nearly
three days il would be impossible for
shipmasters to determine their positions.
and in comparatively narrow body of
water like the English channel, where there
are many currents and counter currents to
upset all dead reckoning calculations the po-
sition of a vessel would be extremely dangerous.
With the atmospheric condition row pre-
vailing light houses of little service
| and even the steam fUg-sirens are Of little
avail. Owing to natural conditions, which are
as yet uneXplaipable. the sound of these pow
ertul noise producers in fog as such as is now
prevaiingi is if it is heard at ALL as apt to mis-
guide as to guide vessel depending upon it
for knowledge Of its whereabouts.
BAD FOR sHoPKEEpERs.
The fog could not have come at worse time
for the London shopkeepers. They have been
building hopes upon their Christmas trade but
the weather is SO bad that few people venture
into the streets unless they are absolutely COM
PEELED to. and the result will be that the shop
keepers will, instead of reaping profits, have to
submit to very heavy losses.
The saddest feature of the situation is how
ever, the great loss of life that has been caused
by persons losing their way and wandering into
the rivers, canals and ponds. Already seven
bodies OF unfortunates who have fallen into the
| river and been drowned have been recovered
and the coronersa are holding inques.s upon them.
| -Four other men and girl have been reported
| to the police as missing. and there is scarcely
any doubt that they became lost In the fog,
| inadvertently wandered into the river and
| miserably persisted. OF course it is i'm
possible to make close search of the
waters IN the vicinity OF the docks at
present, but it is expected that when the fog
lifts many bodies will be found floating in
| them. Atan inquest last night on the body Of
| a man found drowned the coroner referred to
the increase Of the deaths in London during
| crease in the mortality was in great meas
ure if not entirely due to the fog.
| The cold damp weather was particularly
| severe upon perscas suffering from lung dis
| esses and a .arge number OF deata. ascribed to
pneumoris and other diress.s Of the lungs had
been recorded
A dispatch has been received from Leeds
| this morning. stating that three men while walk
ing on the paths along the canals lost their way
and fell into the water and were drowned.
Over the Thames the fog is so thick that the
| oldest river man can't remember when it was
equaled. From London to Gravesend il ap-
pears to be heavier than at other places and
none Of the boatmen dare venture out
| Several persons have been killed on the rail-
| ways, and altogether il il believed that London
has over before been visited by fog that has
| been so productive OF death and disaster. As
an illustration Of how business is affected by
the weather conditions prevailing the opening
OF the stock exchange was greatly delayed this
morning owing 10 the density Of the fog which
filed the rooms.