The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-04-28
THE FLORIDA FREEZE.
Graphic Picture of tho Gold Snap
from a Window.
Blossoms and butterflies Suddenly Trans
formed Into Limp ana Lifcless
ThinGs-A Terrible Wis.,
it1tiOn.


itation.
1t was Christmas day, 1894, and as I
sat at my open window, the sweet fra
GRANGE of roses filled the uir, mingled
with that of sweet violcts and pinlss,
writes correspondent OF the New
York Advertiser.
Just beyond bed of the latter tow
cred large grapefruit tree, its green
clad branches bonding beneath the
weight of the great golden fruit balls
they bore, many of them rs large as the
head of ycar-old infant. A little fur
Their on was large peach tree, per-
feet picture of beauty, with its limbs
arrayed in delicate pinl1 blossoms, and
the fresh green leaves peeping out here
and there. On the topmost branch
hooking bird was perchcd, trilling
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
turcd out in midwintcr? Well, small
wonder if they had.
Still further off stood row upon row
of beautiful trees, dressed in shiny
robes of green and spnnglcd all over with
golden balls that presently would be
gathered and sent to 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 .nocl1ing bird, a half
tanned pet of the household, trilled forth
his hymn of thanksgiving, and present.
~ down beside him came, like flame
colored flash, scarlet-clad cardinal
bird. pause, as the two eyed each
other. War or peace? Peace, all yes,
better so than war, above all on this
hunowed day, and SO the two sweet
voices were raised in song together, I'M
til the bright eyes caught sight of those
butterflies sailing away over the green
grass. That was moro than they could
bear unmoved, and away they darted
in hot pursuit.
Farther off still, just visible through
the garden fence, were luXuriant rows
of peas and beans and lettuce, and
other vegetables.
Brightly the sun shone softly the
wind blew, swectly the birds sang. All
was beauty and peace and prosperity
in the fair Land of Flowers" where it
was'midsummer even on Christmas day.
And so it was three days later. The
thermometer marked sevcuty-five de-
grccs at noon and all nature rejoiced in
the balmy air.
But suddenly the soft breczcs died
away and from the northwest came
rushing down mighty wind, hurting
into our dismayed faces bitter, sting
ing cold Down, down, down sank the
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.
Such n thing was never known in
Florida before, and we hope may never
be known again. There was ice, thick
ice, indoors as well us out, in pitchers,
basins and cups, and vases filled with
flowers were shattered. Milk was solid
in the pans, butter and vegetables and
meat were as brittle as ice itself. But
these things, and the physical discom-
fort, were of small account beside the
disaster that had befallen those beau
tiful growing trees and plants.
Again looked from my window, not
open now, and what did L see? First,
our pet mociingbird, crouched close by
amidst the dead leaves, and as looked
he stirred and fell upon his back on the
ground almost lifelcss But the warmth
of Il fire soon revived him and he flew
away to join the cardinal, which sat in
the sunshine like n scarlet puffball.
Gone were the roses, the violets, the
pinlls, all the pretty flowers and vines;
brown and soInber was the emerald
green of the lawn.
But the trees, the poor trees! The
delicate peach blossoms hung limp and
withcred. The glossy leaves of grape
fruit and orange trees were brown and
scorchcd as though fire had passed
over them and their golden fruit was
frozen solid ice to its very heart,
and soon it would fall upon the ground,
valuelcss
Even the song of the birds was stillcd
They like their human friends, had no
heart to sing, albeit they did not know,
us 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 n
few hours time!
SEQ Roth Uavs