Evening journal., 1893-01-16
FRIGID ZONE WEATHER.
Wilmington Shivers With the
Mercury Below Zero.
FJURDEGREEs BELOW BEFORBDAwN

tOUh DEG hEbS bhLUW bhtUhh DAWN
One Thermometer Recorded Eight Below
This SIorning-Reports From Surround
ing Places That Are Exposed to the
Bleak winds-A Comparison of VIII
mington's Thermometers-The Della
wares Arctic Appearance.
The third Monday in January dawned
bright and clear in Delaware but it will
probably go on record as one of the cold
est days for twenty years. Bitter and
piercing winds from the west sent the
mercury down below zero and from mid
night until after sunrise it huddled be-
tween 4 degrees below and the point
which is represented by a cipher This
frigidity has never been equalled since
1877.
Much to the discontinue of church
goers, street car men and drivers, the
cold wave forecasted by the Weather
Bureau for last evening arrived some
hours ahead of time The coldest blast
must have struck Wilmington at 9
o'clock this morning for then
thermometer at the residence
of DR.. l.. P. Bush Registered 8 degrees
mometers all over the city showed that
the mercury had gone down TO degrees
below the zero point. At Farnhurst it
was degrees below at o'clock, while
people at Henry Clay hustled to keep
warm, in a temperature 4 degrees below.
At ROckland the sun brought the mer-
curry from degrees below at o clock,
to above at 10 o'clock
Change wrought I'm Five Months.
Wilmingtonians certainly live in a
changeable climate. Five months ago
business had to be suspended on account
of the intense heat, and an egg could
have been roasted in the sun. Today
business and commercial interests all
over the country are not only suffering
but are crippled from the effects of the
cold and an egg freezes as soon as the hen
leaves her nest. The warmest portion of
Wilmington is the heart of the city and
here is what the thermometers registered
on Market street today:
Baynard's. Beetem's. Belts.
a. ..... 80 below. 30 above. 20 above.
And here it is for the hottest day of
last year, August 10, as published in the
Baynard's Beetem's. Belts.
a.m.... $50 go 80
wv
Few sleighers Out To-day.
Intensely cold as the weather was
yesterday, the number of sleighs on the
causeway, French, Monroe and other
streets during the afternoon, was, per
haps, greater than on any day since
there has been enough snow on the
ground. All kinds Of turnouts could be
seen, from the latest and most fashion
able cutter, drawn by speedy trotters, to
the ld-fashioned carry-all behind balky
horses that, on week days. are compelled
to haul heavy merchandise Yet there
seemed to be as much genuine enjoy
ment experienced by the riders
in the latter equipages as was
felt by the occupants of the more stylish
"rig" To-day the sleighing streets are
almost forsaken although the packed
snow glistens invitingly.
Twill be Warmer To-Morrow.
The Weather Bureau sends out des
patches all over the country this morn
ing stating that there would be a chang
tomorrow. In the morning it will bi
much warmer and will continue so unit
evening when more snow is promised
The fact that siesta is coming, if onl,
for day, brings good cheer.
Steamboat Trafnc stopped.
The Wilmington Steamboat Compan,
gave up on Saturday and Withdrew
its steamers until the cold wave passe
over and the ice breaks Both tn
City of Chester and the Brandywine wi
doubtless 90 into winter quarters
The w. & n Railroad Company an
the B. & o. Company withdrew thei
tugs and car floats and river busines
has practically ceased. This will allo
the Christiana to freeze over from il
mouth up
Market Street Bridge Frozen Up.
The market street bridge is in ba
shape. The water pipes supplying tt
tank on the bridge have been frozen an
cannot be kept thawed long enough I
allow a supply to he put in the tank. I'll
bridge was pulled off yesterday with ii
aid Of two tugs the steam and haT
power The steam guage of the boil'
froze last night with thirty.f pounC
of steam in the boiler
Commissioner Mealey was on Il
bridge this morning and is workin
energetically TO get the bridge in wor
ing order Such weather, it is said hi
never been experienced since the erectiC
of the present draw.