The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-09
The BLIZZARD.
Finishing the Work Of Pump
ing Out Cellars.
Electric Light Plant Accident the
Cause Of Serious Damage.
The Storms Havoc All Over the
Country Very Disastrous.

Inc Weatnerl
1t seems almost ridiculous to talk about
the weather when every body is having a
taste of it aud is more or less inconven-
fenced thereby, but very few people
evidently realize the extent TO
which the present "spell OF weather. has
retarded business. We ere passing
through blizzard "long drawn out"
which has so far uone almost as much
damage to business interests in this city
as did the famous March blizzard which
was the indirect cause of Conkling's
death.
The greatest damage by the elements in
financial way, SO far as Providence is
concerned, has been caused from water, as
every down town business man
did not come in the way of rain, however.
but from the river. Flood tides and full
moon are directly blamed for more in
convenience and extraordinary expense
than have occurred in this region since
the terrible gale of September, 1868.
Northeast winds have prevailed off
shore for several days and, as tides are
always higher just before the advent of
the full moon, We have received the full
benefit OF the force of the waves.
The one industry Of all others to suffer
most from these incipient tidal waves was
the Narragansett Electric Lighting Com
street adjacent to the river and
just off from lower Dyer street
the lowest point in the city. The COM
pany's engine room has several times
been flooded to some extent, but never
before inundated as on night before last
Six feet of water stood IN the
ing. Every fire was extinguished
by the water and all the belts were ruined.
Consequently there were no electric lights
yesterday and today, nor will there be
any before midnight tonight, and then
streets and stores may all be lighted by
electricity-and perhaps not.
The greatest loss, however, was to those
firms who depended on the Electric
Lighting Company for power to run their
machinery. These included nearly 100
firms all over the city, in all lines o fbusi-
ness, including jewelry manufacturers
One OF the largest firms to suffer was
that of the Greene & Knox Manufacturing
Company, running on full time and with
full force, which was compelled to shut
down. Over 10000 horse power is furnished
by the company, so the damage done
by the tidal wave which struck the plant
may be imagined better than described.
Everything is being done that can be to
correct al this and by Monday power will
be furnished as usual. Extra betting
came from Concord, n. H., last night by
special train and the city had steam
engines at work all day yesterday pump
ing out.
Lower Dyer street was flooded to depth
of six inches, and pedestrians were gem
orally disgusted as they went over their
overshoes at every step.
The city hall basement was flooded
with the rest, the fires were put out, but
today the water is all out.
q
that the fire apparatus has been aug
mented by extra horses.
There was no school yesterday owing to
the inclement weather.
Tha tugs Walter Il. and Nat Sutton, OF
the Providence Tow Boat Company, were
set to work early this morning to break
up the ice in the bay. But as the ice was
so thick, they were soon disabled by the
breaking of the heavy iron caps on the
bow of the beats. The work Of repairing
the iron was done where the accident
occurred, which was between the New
York dock and Wilkes barre pier, the ice
being sufficiently thick to hold the
workmen and their heavy machinery.
NEW YORK, Feb. 9.-Instead of getting
colder today, as Forecaster Dunn pre-
dicted, the temperature has remained
about the same, and he says 1t will be
practically stationary during the remain
der of the day and tonight. The ther-
mometer reached zero at 8 o'clock this
morning, and at 10:30 o'clock it was seven
above.
The highest velocity OF the wind here
was at O'Clock, when it was blowing as
miles an hour. At Sandy Hook IL is howl
ing along at the rate of 56 miles.
The wind does not seem to be losing its
force, but Mr.. Dunn says 1t will decrease
a little tonight.
He predicts fair weather until tomorrow
afternoon when we may have slight fur
ries of snow. The southern point of the
zero line today is Knoxville, Tennessee.
Commissioner Waring of the strret
cleaning department estimates that it will
take 10 days and an extra cost OF S100, 900
TO clear the snow from the citys streets.
The garbage scows are unable TO run and
the work of taking away the ashes and
refuse was practically stopped this morn
ing. The ferry lines are running with
much difficulty.
Clinging to the Rigging.
Espr IorhND Feb ALL of fha crov