The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-19
EFFECTOFTHE WEATHER
TIE COLD RESULTS DISAsTROUSLY
TO THE OYsTER TRADE.
A Large Number of Boats Frozen Hard to
the Whaves-very Cold Weather In
Many Portions Of the State.

NORFOLK. VA. Jan. 1s.-Special.-
While every branch OF trade has suffered
more or less from the effects of the pre-
sent almost Unprecedented spell Of winter
weather. none has been more seriously
affected than the oyster trade The pack
ers OF oysters In this city. number twenty
five firms. who employ about 1000 hands;
| these men get on an average OF 81 per day,
| they live In Norfolk and vicinity, and
| spend their money here. Thus It will be
| sten that ths retail merchants OF this
| community are losing about $4,000 per
week. The situation is vesy serious, said
| one CT the largest oyster packers in this
| city. When the freeze came there were
| Only fair supply on hand. he Christ
| mas holidays having just preceded the
freeze. time when the shuckers knock
off 10 go to their homes TO enjoy with
their families the festive season. and
the severe weather coming Immediately
Oh the close OF the holidays. made a
serious drawback in getting supplies for
the trade. Since the first few days OF the
cold snap all Of the establishments have
been shut down, and the hands are with
out work, ard until there Is a break In
the weather business cannot be resumed
a large number OF oyster boats are
frozen hard to the wharves in Atlantic
city. and do not know when they will
be able 10 get away. Many Of the cap
tains OF these vessels have not seen
their families since before Christmas.
Already the hands thrown out of employ
ment have begun 10 suffer. The Relief
Association is supplying daily about two
hundred families, and expect that the
demands upon them will be largely IN
creased, owing TO a suspension of the
oyster trade.
The brig Mary L. Pencil. Captain
Frye. bound from Perth Amboy to Rich
mond. with n cargo of fertilizers, has
arrived nj this port, having experienced
severe struggle with the ice. Captain
Frye says after arriving in Hampton
Roads. whore he anchored. the ice came
down the bay. which required him TO
set sail. fairly escaping it, that he was
forced back to Cape Henry; that he
again set sail for Hampton Roads. and,
finding that the ice was cutting his yes
sci, he took the tug Luckinbode and came
to this port where he enters protest.
The flags OF the Chesapeake and Ohio |
railroad are at half-mast to-day, due TO |
the death of Mrs. Louise ingalls, Barnard.
daughter OF President Ingalls, which oc-
CURED in New York.
The schooner Maine. Captain Bennett,
from brunswick. Ga, to New Jersey. ar
iINtu mere lO-ulbIl. ne captain SAYS ne |
anchored in Hampton Roads Sunday; that
the ice was SO heavy It parted his chain.
after which he drifted about the Roads
for two days.
The Merritt Wrecking Compaay's
steamer Rescue, which went TO the rs
sistance OF the schooner Cakes Ames,
wrecked on the Eastern Shore, could lot
get within two miles of the Ames.
There are anchored below Thimble light
house and unable to get inside the schoon-
ers Blanch II. King. Esterbrook Bertha
Dean. Clara Goodwin. George +. Walcott
Richard x. Leaning. Edward II. Blarke
Cox & Green, Viking A. Raymond. T.
Maull. The schooner Lizzie II. BraytOn
struck lead Of clear water and got into
the Roads.
Several Of the buoys on the Elizabeth
liver are out Of position. In fact the
whole buoy system of the lower harbor is
n disorder.
The revenue cutter Morrill, managed to
get here this afternoon, and reports very
leavy drifts Of ice extending outside the
apes.
The will OF the late Patrick Dickson
vas admitted 10 probate to-day. lie left !
IN estate worth 1922 900. divided equally
,etween his son. W. c. Dickson. and his :
laughter, the wife of Hon. NJ. T. Cooke