Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-12
pITTSBURG SHIVERED
All Day Yesterday Because Of a
Marked Shortage of Natural Gas.
THE MovEAENTso OF THE MERCURY.
Warmer Weather and Clear Skies Promised
for the Near Future.
FRoLICs OF THE WILD MARCH BREEZE

Pittsburg travelled from the tropics to
the frigid zone in the last few days and yes
terday afternoon started back again. The
trip was as rapid as the city's progress, and
the return promises to be as delightful as
the weather. Yesterday. morning was dis
agreeable. The thermometer fluctuations
were as varied as figures on stock board,
and until noon yesterday it looked as IT the
bullish tendency of the Northern gale was
going to be as great a sweep as the Reading
deal. In the afternoon the thermometer
started upward and Signal Service Observer
Stewart said it would continue warmer. he
predicts clearing weather for to-day.
The lowest point reached by the ther-
mometer was 13o above zero. The wind
blew hurricane from the west. and where
it didn't capture hats and awnings there
were none to be found. Over in ALLIE
gheny, where swinging signs are allowed,
there was general confusion of broken
boards and ruined signs of every kind.
The removal was more complete than if or
dered by city ordinance. The storm did
what the authorities should do, and in SO
much shorter time that its supremacy was
denied by none.
Not a Partisan Storm.
1t wasn't partisan storm On Smith
field street Mayor Gourley's flat-crowned
hat was seen travelling dozen yards in ad-
vance of its owner at an early hour in the
day, and few minutes later all that could
be seen of Tim O'Leary was wave of
Democratic air chasing tarlff-protected
high silk hat that lacked only properstay-
ing qualities to be the best in the market.
As sprinter after head gear, however,
George Shiras, Ill, proved himself a pro-
and Smith6eld street, and wasn't ended
until the popular young attorney
went under the wire at the Pleasant
Valley passenger station.
In the Northwest yesterday, the mercury
in the thermometer went up as fast as if in
a nitro-glycerine explosion. At Bismarck,
it took jump of 400 and then was only at
"a. Other stations showed similar record.
In the East it was not so cold and was not
stormy. 1t was Northwester as bad as
landlubbers usually see and a great deal
worse than ordinary mortals would make
any effort to get.
A Shortage OF Natural Gas.
Of course, there was a shortage of gas.
AS the cold wave neared Pittsburg, gas
fires got weak, then weaker and finally so
low that each fire seemed like consecrated
candle at its own wake. There was hardly
enough heat in many gas fires to melt a
cake of ice in month, and as for keeping
humanity warm, lighted toby and piece
of phosphorus would have come nearer
supplying comfort. o
1t would have been an act of charity to
have let, loaned or given out on the shares
a few pounds of natural gas to the Depart
ment of Charities. Chief Elliot in ice is
an object for sympathy, and he would have
received it yesterday if every person else
had not been in just the same unhappy con-
dition. The supply all along Fourth ave-
nue. was so low that the gas pipes were
dwarted in carrying it.
The rivers have been falling at all points,
but the rise lasted long enough to let out
all the coal that was ready to start. Sev-
eral large coalboat tows will be ready to
start today or Sunday. The Signal Service
people think the weather will be at its
usual condition on Sunday, unless the Law
and Order people insist on no change on the
Lords Day.