The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-27
Widespread in Its Severity
Nearly Everywhere.
Most Disagree able Day Of the Season
in This City.
Luckily But Little Damage to Inn
portant Machinery Was Done.

1t showed all night and it has rained
most OF the day, and the result OF the
com oination is something startling, as
any one knows who has tried to get be-
yond his own doorstep.
At $3.50 this morning there was a
five inch on-the-leve deposit of snow on
the ground and then the flakes changed
to rain balls, Ave to the quart, that came
down In literal sheets for six hours.
All the back yards became lakes and
every mans cellar was his aquarium. The
st reefs were slush-filled rivers and per-
son with anything less than hip boots on
had no business in trying to get over q
gutter or alight from q car.
The streets were practically deserted
after o'clock when all who had come
down town had fulfilled that obligation
and got under cover in store or Office, and
they were not troubled afterward by pat
rons. Half q dozen Westminster and
Wey ybosset street store keepers said that
they could not have done less business if
they had kept their doors locked and
given the half day off,
But there was little damage. No
wind accompanied the storm, and as the
snow didn't have time to accumulate on
the wires the interference with the police
and fire alarms, telephone and telegraph
systems was very slight.
At Anthony, Cowell g. Co.'s there was
some damage in the furniture loft from q
leaking roof, but aside from the flooding
OF cellars this is the only case OF loss that
has been reported.
The steamers City of Newport of New
port, and Mount Hope, iiom Fall
River, arrived here on time, but the
William Lawrence from Baltimore, and
the Nashua from New York, are several
hours overdue, as the4result OF a stiff
northeaster outside.
The early morning trains were ell de.
leyed by the slippery condition Of the
rails and the running time of the street
cars is an uncertain factor for the same
reason.
Blackstone River Is Rising.
PAwTUcKET, II. L.. Dec. 27.-The snow
storm which began at o'clock last even
ing, increased in fury durning the night
and covered the ground to the depth of
several inches before morning. At 4
o'clock, it moderated and has since rained
hard. Streets are several inches deep
with water, drains are filled to overflow
| ipg and the Blackstone river Is rising
| rapidly. 1t is not believed that the rise of
| the river will be sufficient to do damage,
however, and outside of Inconvenience to
citizens the damage OF the storm has been
| trifling.
Peculiar to Boston.
BosToN, Dec. 27.-Boston's streets are
today in that unusually disagreable con-
dltion peculiar to Boston after heavy
storm. Mud, slush and snow
cover the pavements, while stiff
breeze blows the falling, rain down
the narrow streets and almost carries
the pedestrian into the. gutter. Traffic
on the street car lines Is greatly delayed
and impsded, the streets are blockaded
with trucks and teams, which experience
great difficulty in making their way,
while all trains into the city are late.
The New York mails are an hour late, and
those from the East are several hours be-
hind. In South Boston the wind carried
| away the root OF the First Baptist
Church about , o'clock this morning, and
blew down the big chimney Of the Damon
Safe and iron Works. Only slight dam
age by the gale is reported in other Sec
tions. Telegraph and telephone wires have
thus far stood the ordeal well, and the
wire service Is not very badly crippled.
Snow began to fall here about $3.50 last
night and 1t continued until six inches
covered the ground. A heavy rain fall
followed which diminished somewhat in
severity by 8 o'clock this moreing, but at
noon light rain was still falling. The
wind is blowing over 40 miles an hour.
On the Coast.
FIRE ISLAND, N. ", Dec. 27.-Thc storm
which set in yesterday afternoon still
continues; the wind is blowing a gale
from the northeast and it is raining hard.
A report received from Point Lookout
Life Saving Station says that there is a
bark we'll under shore, about two miles
west OF Long Beach. Whether she Is
aground OF at anchor tho life savers are
not yet able to determine, as she cannot