The Washington times., 1895-02-11
Created Fantastic and Beautiful
Pictures Around Town.
CITY is CLAD IN PURE WHITE
Great Fountain in the Botanic Garden Is
Wreathed with Monster Ieicles-oimpled
Slope of the Capitol Grounds-skaters Dot
ted the Potomac-Crudely Constructed Ice
boats SKINNED Along Rock Creek.

The storm king on his recent visit made
some interesting pictures in and about Wash
ington.
At the Botanic Garden, at the foot OF
Capitol Hill, the great fountain in the center
is wrcathed with monster icicles that CLEANED
white and beautiful yesterday in the midday
sun and gIowed roseate in fantastic shapes at
sunset.
The long slope at the western base OF the
Capitol is covered with broad expanse OF
pure white that is scanned at intervals with
dark winding lines where paths have been
made. Here and there are low mounds
which mark huge drifts rising as high as the
tops of the purple leayed barberry bushes.
On the western steps are great piles OF
snow made by Arehitec: Clark's men in clear
ing the ways and on the eastern steps OF the
House side are other piles nearly as large.
The Senate has been favored by Providence
and the north wind and its steps were swept
nearly clean when the storm ceased.
ALONGSIDE THE MIGHTY EDIF1cE.
The snow is blown in heaps in the angles
of the plaza west and south and winds in
white lines alongside the mighty ediflce up to
to the base of the dome. There it ceases.
The bases of the groups OF War and Peace
at the grand entrance are heaped with snow,
and snow has blown in at the foot OF the col
umns there and covers the broad steps. The
wooden shauty that covers Crawford's statue
of the Father OF His Country bears its load,
while OH each side the great urns stand
giants chaliees. tipped with foam.
On the Potomac from Georgetown to Buena
Vista and below the ice was dotted with
of fHsarr,
the picturesque view there presented by the
snow-coyered shipping. by the Long Bridge
with train just steaming across, by the V1r-
gInia hills falling away IL strong lines be-
yond. and last by themselves, the center OF in
terest to man, the egotist.
Every style of costume, skate, and sled was
represented in the crowds and nearly all
grades of skill in skating, though very Little
OF artistic display was attempted because OF.
the roughness of the ice.
There were a dozen rude shifts for Ice
boats and they sped full sail down the river
at driving pace before strong west wind.
PATCHES OF CLEANING SNOW.
In the midst of the excursion and regular
line steamers feature was the long, rakish
black hulk of a eoasting schooner from which
rose three lofty masts with their net work of
ropes and patches of snow cleaning from
sheltered lodging places. Above the Norfolk,
at her wharf ran along the snowy bank the
delicate threadliEe tracery OF smaller sailing
craft. A somewhat similar scene was pre-
sented at Georgetown and again az the navy
yard. At the latter point an awkward, un-
couth looking object was the dredging-boat
frozen fast to the opposite side. The snow
lay in sheets and mounds about the navy
yard; in heaps on the gun factory and other
roofs. And in the background here are the
snow-clad Anacostia hills, with ST. Elizabeth's
snow covered roofs.
The widest, most startling. and most rarely
seen effects, are along the Rock Creek Valley,
where the steep hill sides show great gorges
filed twenty feet deep beside projecting
knobs blown bare The falls below the
Massachusetts avenue briuge present a study
OF the curious forms flowing water can take
at the hands of the Frost King.
Nothing more attractive to the sight-seer
could be found than the busy scenes where
gangs of men were shoveling out the stalled
milk wagons, and streets cars. and the rail-
way trains. The growing mounds of snow
piled twenty feet high. the sheer walls some
times over ten feet deep. the ears with snow
still clinging almost 10 the roof, and the busy
workmeu sending the white snow flying,
made pictures rare in this latitude.
point worth far visit is the Great Falls
OF the Potomac.
The fun of the blizzard fairly began Satur-
day night with tie broad moonlight that
flooded the city The temperature rose 10 Al
endurable point and sleighS were in demand.
Every Young man who failed to appreciate
the conditions Saturday night was yesterday
given opportunity by his best girl to catch
on and jingle of bells filled the evening air.
On her lovers arm she Ieant,
Round her waist she felt it fold;
Out across the world they went
In that new way which is the old
He drove largely with one hand and some
times with his teeth.
If the promised rain comes there will be no
sleighing tonight.