The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-22

The fierce storm that broke over this
state Friday night was continued last
night by another downfall of snow.
Throughout the day yesterday the sun
shone clear aud warm. and in spite of the
cold winds that occasionally swept the
streets, his rays made considerable havoc
in the big drifts piled along the high
ways.
The amusement seekers started out
last evening without umbrellas, the sill
verv CLEANS of the moon, promising a
clear night, but the promise was not full
filled. Shortly before midnight a fine
hail commenced TO fall. Soon the hail
stones gave way to snow fakes and in a
short time the air was filled with a swirl
ing mass of feathery flakes that lodged
down the turned up collars of the pedes-
trains and covered the occasional police
man with white blanket. The snow
came faster and faster and as the fall con-
tinued. the cold abated until at about s
o'clock this morning the last flake fell
and the snow retired before the Wig
orous onslaughts of rain.
How it did rain The early hours of the
forenoon saw. the streets transformed
into rivers and the cutters blocked by
snow became reservoirs into which the
uDsuspecting traveller plunged clear over
the tops OF his shoes
The snow soaked up considerable Of the
water and every crosswalk was covered
almost Knee-deep with the slush
Throughout the forenoon the rain fell in
dogged persistency, the downfall slack
evening at times and then renewing the
pour with increased vigor.
In the city the streets were in de-
plorable condition. The horse cars were
anywhere from five minutes to half an
hour behind time. and traffic on the
streets was accompanied with the great
est difficulty. The big drifts on each side
of the car tracks made teaming especially
arduous, and the consistency of tue snow
was such rs TO preclude the possibility
of safe sleighing. Wagons blocked the
tracks in every part OF the city, aud
frequent blockades Oh the principal
thoronghfares was the rule rather than
the exception.
And still the rain continued to pour in
unabating streams.
The tremendous amount OF water
poured from streets, sewers and cross
streams into the Moshassuck river
caused that stream TO run high in its
confines and at Market square the river
swelled appreciably in volume.
All the trains on the railroads passing
through tEis city. were lace, owing TO
huge drifts of snow and the icy condi-
tioa of the rails AT the station crowds
of impatient travellers awaited the
arrival OF their delayed trains. On
the New York and New England
road the first morning train was almost
two hours late, and iwhen the engine
steamed into the station. its front was
covered deep with snow. The Colonial
Express" due In this city at 1906 a. m,
was half an hour late. and other trains
were also behind time.
The icy condition of the sidewalks made
foot travel exceedingly hazardous, and
the spectacle of an occasional man or
woman sitting down violently, some
times in several inches OF water, fur
nished considerable amusement for those
able to keep their feet.
From the overhanging caves and house
tops huge chunks OF ice and snow fell and
in some cases serious accidents were mar
rowly averted.
Taking il all in all, the day was ex-
ceedingly disagreeable, and those fortu-
nate enough to remain at their homes
did so.