Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-11
BELOW ZERO POINT.
Yesterday Morning Was the Coldest
One of the Winter Season.
SLEIGHING PARTIES NUMEROUS.
Gayeties of the Great Carnival Of Snow
Cut Center Avenue.
SAD STORY OF An EAST END sUFFERgR

Yesterday morning was the coldest of the
winter The Signal Service mans figures
for it were 3.7o above zero, but out in the
suburbs plenty of thermometers registered
from 80 to so below. All agree that it was
at least 90 colder than any other morning
of the winter, and the squeaking sound pro-
duced BY the snow under the feet Of pedes-
trians made it easy to believe. AT o'clock
it had warmed up couple of degrees, and
by noon the sun had come out and the
weather became delightfully."- pleasant for
real cold winter day, the Thermometer
rising to 24o during the afternoon.
1t was a grand day for sleighing and every
one who owned sleigh or anything that
looked like one took advantage of the op-
portunity. Out in the East End the merry
tinkling of the bells was heard on every
hand. particularly OH the smoothly paved
streets. But on Center avenue the fun
was fast and furious. Anyone who has
never witnessed snow carnival at Wash
ington, D. c., could have gained a partial
idea of how Washingtonians celebrate days
when there is sufficient snow for sleighing.
Spanking Turn,uts on Center Avenur.
During the afternoon and evening fully
800 sIeighs raced up and down the three
quarter mile stretch on Center avenue,
from Highland to Negley avenues. Form
erlF Highland avenue was the scene for this
sport but the Duquesne Traction line has
caused a change to that portion of Center
avenue on which there are no tracks. The
turnouts yesterday included everything
from the old-fashioned woodbox sleighs of
40 years ago to the fancy nickel-plated cut
ters that are built in the present age, and the
motive power was furnished by all sorts of
nags, from the big, awkward brutes that
haul butcher or grocer wagon six days in
the week, to the neat, trim steppers who
win applause on the oval or the kite. The
drivers were likewise of many grades of
society and proficiency Brushes were
frequent between the goers, and the street
seemed to be crowded with the hying cut
ters and the sidewalks lined with hundreds
of spectators.
Among the well known flyers taking part
in the sport were Kinsman, driven by his
owner Dave Shaw and Shaker over whom
John Predmore, the driver of Dallas, drew
the ribbons. Mike Mccormick, owner of
Dallas, was out with speedy black PAGER
and had several hard races with Dawson !
Gallery who was driving a fine little bay.
Mr.. Harmon, owner of Shaker, had nag
that threw the snow up in clouds. Ex-
Mayor McCallin was out with his fastest
nag and threw snow into the eyes of many
of the alleged fast ones on the avenue,
Phillip Films sorrel goer among the rest.
Prominent Pittsburgers in the Race.
Among the many other well-known per-
sons seen taking part in the fun were: Ex-
Sheriff McCandess, Police Judge Hvnd-
Dah hbeC
and Mckinley, George p. Le.sche, George
Baum, William Hosick, Will Hemen-
house and William Glue, the Poor Farm
speculator
The cold weather, besides producing
amusement for those able to enjoy it, has
also caused great deal of sickness, and the
death list has reached an alarming length,
as reference to the death column this
morning will show. Pneumonia is very
prevalent and many deaths result.
One sad case where natural gas shortage
figured was heard of last night. There
have been few complaints of gas shortage in
the East End, but there were two DAYS dur
ing the past week when the pressure was so
low. that the regulators in many houses
closed and the fires went ont. Friday was
one of these days, and in a residence on
Marchand street there lay bright little
boy, who had Just become convalescent from
pneumonia. Suddenly the gas went out.
Several hours elapsed before it could be re-
placed with other fuel. and in the mean
time the sick chamber had become chilled,
the little sufferer inhaled the taial cold air
and soon became worse. The family physi-
clan, hastily sent for, came and shook his
head. Last night he gave up all hope and
at late hour the grief-ssricken parents sat
by the bedside hopelessly waiting for the
end.