Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-01-14
A CLIMATIC FREAK.
OLD PROB PUTS A THIN COAT OF ICE ALL OVER
WHEELING.
Some Hifalutin Times on the CLASSY ThOroughfare.
It Raised Cain with Traffic and Upset Tels-
phone and Tslegraphic Communication.

DlQ you OOIlC6 Ouo lhSOASAOH1 &c.
the willy pedestrian yesterday, trying to
cut geometrical figures in the open air?
II was not so much an intended exhibit
ton of pedal proves, as an accidental
deviation from the regulation step,
caused by the unforeseen pranks Of Old
Prob.
1t will be remembered that Ira Hicks,
who holds the atmospheric destlhles Ia
his vest pocket, predicted cold wave
for several days ago, but it failed 10 put
in an appearance, and in its stead we
were placed in the centre Of singular
meteorological freak. We have had
several phases of weather since the new
year came in, but that OF yester-
day stands alone. There could
hardly be devised more disagree
able weather than that which
prevailed nearly all day yesterday. 1t
was wet, chilly, slippery and sloppy,
rather unusual combination. IL ralned
quite hard on Tuesday night and rained
or drizzled throughout the Silly hours,
added TO which came drop in the tenn
perature sufficient To solidlfy the fuld
soon after it struck earth. The result
was very slippery thoroughfare. 1t
REQUIRED no little manouvering for the
pedestrians to strike an objective point,
and several beated travellers under the
influence of tanglefoot, cut several trl-
angles and figure-eightS in trying TO go
from one square to the other. As 1t
kept on raining and continuing to
freeze nearly all night the condition OF
affairs was somewhat intensified yeSter-
day morning. The whole town was
coated with ice. Everybody took the
fashionable glide step. 1t was like
walking on tacks or egg shells. People
were wonderfully sensitive and moved
with feeling of calculative delicacy.
And we'll they might. Persons living at
the top OF heavy grades had 4 particu-
larly disagreeable time descending, and
throughout the day there were many
falls, but fortunately not many OF
serious nature. 1t was almost impossi-
BILE to get about without rubbers, and
eyed then it was attended with con-
siderable risk. Persons in the
resident districts could be seen grab
bling fences as they walked along, or
making a bee line from one hitching
post TO the other. Most of the pedes-
TRANS In the early morning took the
road as being about the only place
where the feet could secure tangible
hold. Horses and heavy wagons had
cut up the ice in the road to such an eX-
tent that it was comparatively easy nav
igating. One OF the Singularly
treacherous places for promenading
was on the new Island bridge,
particularly on the west side
from where the incline commences.
Persons meandering over the bridge late
on Tuesday night felt imbued with spec
trail buoyancy, and it actually took tall
figuring to keep the head and feet from
reversing. 1t was hand TO hand
movement on the railing. Yesterday,
however, sand was sprinkled on the
sidewalks and walking became more
certain. To many the condition Of af-
fairs was a surprise, and as they ventur-
ed from their homes early in the morn
ing, many took fall for starter, and
then commenced to get their bearing,
and full realization of where and who
they were.
Aside from the seriousness of the con-
dition there was picturesque side, and
that was embodied in the crystalline ap-
pearance Of the trees and vegetation as
we'll as most everything dependent. The
ice-cOated wires throughout the city
presented silvery effect, and even the
most rough and uncouth places of earth
were so uniformly Overlaid with con-
gealed aqua as TO render the ensem BILE
beauteous to the behOlder. The effect
in the early morning Of yesterday was
particularly enchanting.
Among the appreciate sufferers by
the storm was the Street Car Company.
All through Tuesday evening the ser
vice was attended with considerable
difficulty owing to the ice which formed
so rapidly on the wires constantly break
ing the circuit, throwing out flashes Of
electricity and forming an almost con-
tinual pyrotechnical display along the
thoroughfares. Early yesterday morn
ing it was found almost impossible TO
run the cars, and at seven o'clock there
were eight motors stalled on Market
street near the Mcclure House. The
circuit was so frequently broken that
continued progress was almost out OF
the question. One Of the motors got
stuck on the South Side, and had to be
hauled back TO the stable by horses.
The first motor car yesterday started
for Benwood at five o'clock in the morn
ing, and did not return to Forty
Third street until after one
o'clock. 1t was succession OF
starts and stops. One car started out
early yesterday morning from the stable
aud returned at o'clock, the conductor
not having q single fare. This was &C.
casioned in part by the disagreeable
weather, few people being out, and also
by the frequent stops of the car, per-
sons seeing that it would be impossible
to facilitate travel by getting aboard.
The Western Union suffered some by
the storm, but not so much as was anti
cipated, and there were few Interrupt
tious in business yesterday. OF the 90
wires running out of the Western Union
office in this city comparatively few
were effected. About the only places
that could not be conveniently reached
Yesterday were New Orleans
and Detroit. The Cincinnati route
was effected and messages had
to be sent around by the
coast, Washington and Richmond. The
races which are received in this city
daily came all right yesterday with few
interruptions. There were % wires
down at Mt. De Chantal, and poles
were reported down at West Alexander.
down between this city and Bellaire on
the b. & 0. road. Manager Tracy was
early Investigating the trouble and soon
mad number of men out repairing the
breaks. The ice forming on the wires