Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1895-12-27
THE FLORIDA FREEZE.
Graphic Picture Of the Gold Snap
from Window.
Blossoms and Butterflies Suddenly Trans-
: formed Into Limp andNLifeloss
ThlnGs-A Terrible We
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Thlnes-A Terrible y.s-
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1t was Christmas day, 1894, and as I
sat at my open window. the sweet fra
france of roses filled the air, mingled
with that of sweet violets and pinks,
writes correspondent Of the New
York Advertiser. ,- ..s..... ..
Just beyond a bed of the latter tow
cred large grapefruit tree, it's green
clad branches bending beneath the
weight of the great golden fruit balls
they bore, many Of them as large as the
head of year-old infant. A little fur
Their on was large peach tree, a per-
feet picture of beauty, with it's limbs
arrayed in delicate pink blossoms, and
the fresh green leaves peeping out here
and there. On the topmost branch
knocking bird was perched, trilling q
sweet song from his very heart.
And there, alighting amidst the
sweet blossoms Of the yellow jasmine,
were several dainty butterflies. Had
they lost their calendar, that they ven
tured out in midwinter? Well, small
wonder if they had. -
Still further off stood row upon ROW
Of beautiful trees dressed in shiny
robes of green and spangled all over with
golden balls that presently would be
gathered and sent 10 the frozen north
! land, where they would gladden. the
palates Of the thousands that love our
luscious juicy oranges. -
Flowers and vines and trees were full
of life and beauty, and the birds. how
! they sang! The hooking bird, q half
tanned pet Of the household, tIilled forth
his hymn Of Thanksgiving, and present.
ly down beside hi1a carae, like {. fame
colored fash, a scarlet-clad cardinal
bird. A pause, as the two eyed each
other. War or peace? Peace, all yes,
better so than war, above all on this
hallowcd day, and SO the two sweet
voices were raised in song together, un-
til the bright eyes caught sight Of those
butterflies smiling away over the green
grass. That was more than they could
bear unnovcd, and away they darted
in hot pursuit
Farther Of: still, just visible through
the garden fence. were luxuriant rows
Of peas and beans and lettuce, and
other vegctab lcs.
Brightly the sun shone. softly the
wind blew, sweetly the birds sang All
was beauty and peace and prosperity
in the fair Land Of Flowers" where it
was'lnidsunner even on Christmas day.
And SO it was three days later. The
thermometer marked seventy-fve de-
grees at noon and all nature rejoiced in
the balmy air.
But suddenly the soft breezes died
away and from the northwest came
rushing down Z mighty wind, hurting
into our disn2ayed faces a bitter, sting
ing cold. Down, down, down sank tho
mercury in its little tube, until before
dawn OF next day it marked fifteen de-
grees. Think Of it. a drop Of sixty
degrees within few hours! ..
r, Such a thing was never known in
Florida before, and we hope may never
be known again. There was ice, thick
ice, indoors as well as out, in pitchers,
basins and cups, and vases filled with
flowers were shattered. Milk was solid
in the pans, butter and vegetable and
meat were as brittle as ice itself. But
these things, and the physical discom-
fort, We're of small account beside the
disaster that had befal]en those beau
tiful growing trees and plants.
Again looked from my window, not
open now, and what did see?. First,
our pet mockingbird, crouched close by
amidst the dead leaves, and as looked
he stirred and fell upon his back on the
ground almost lifeless. But the warmth
of a fire soon revived him and he flew
away to join the cardinal, which sat in
the sunshine like d scarlet puffball
Gone were the roses, the violets, the
pinks, all the pretty flowers and vines;
brown and solnber was the emerald
green of the lawn!
But the trees. the poor trees The
delicate peach blossoms hung limp and
withered. The glossy leaves of grape
fruit and orange trees were brown and a
scorched as though a fire had passed
over them, and their golden fruit was
frozen solid ice to it's very heart,
and soon it would fall upon the ground,
valueless.
Even the song of the birds was stilled.
They, like their human friends, had no
heart to sing, albeit they did not know,
as we did, all that it meant to US, that
one cruel night of the Ice Kings visit
Young trees killed, old ones set back,
millions upon millions Of luscious fruits
destroyed and thousands of acres of
thrifty vegetables swept from the face
OF the land! A scene of beauty changed
to scene of desolation, and all in .
few hours time!
See Both Ways.
Nat1lra has am hlad eo.no a1:.aal. -.