The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-02-18
THE HISTORY OF COLD WINTERS.
Those of the Present Time Not as
Severe as of Old.
Latter-Day Notions Are at Fault, as a
Sacramentan Shows by Statistics
of the Past.

land States were buried under a heavy
fall of snow in March, and New York
City was for several days practically cut
off from communication with the outside
world, people were heard to express the
belief that the seasons were changing
that the ice region was moving down
from the Poles, and that the temperate
zones would in a few centuries become
of the irigid order.
For some weeks past the weather
throughout the southern portion of this
continent has been very severe, with
snow and ice as far south as the Gulf OF
Mexico, and resulting in millions Of dol
lars loss by the destruction of citrus
orchards and semi-tropical products.
And again have been heard OK pressions
to the effect that the earth is rapidly
cooling and glacial period approaching.
1neSe representations are without
foundation, as the following data, COM
piled by ). II. Gerrish of this city, will
show. Mr.. Gerrish has made me teorology
the study of a lifetime, and his investi-
cations relative to the severe winter
periods Of the past should prove Of much
Interest to everyone. He writes, under
the caption of
HISTORICAL WINTERS.
AS the Eastern States of this Republic,
and also Europe, have had an exceptional
winter, causing great suffering and loss
OF vegetation IN the semi-trOplcal parts,
1t is interesting to look back and see the
effect of cold winters in years and CEN
turtles past.
The modern method of gauging the
degree OF cold does not date earlier than
1850, and our present thermometer was
not invented until 1920, SO that we have
to judge the degree Of cold they had to
suffer by the effects, in all years prior to
that time.
Notwithstanding we have the Their
mometer as a test of the extremes of
temperature, the effects are still a better
gauge, as conditions, like winds, drYueSs
dampuess and electrical conditions of
the atmosphere, make great differences
even under the same temperature. We
are apt to consider the present cold
which we may be suffering the worst
ever experienced, and can only disabuse
ourselves Of the notion by comparing it
with that which has passed into history
In ancient times the climate OF Europe
was much colder than at present, as
HerOdOtus speaks of the cruel cold they
had to endure between the Black sea and
France. Ouida writes OF how much he
had TO suffer from the cold. julius Caesar
mentions the hardness of the winters i'll
Gaul. and says in proof that nearly all
the rivers were frozen. The Gaditauian
COlunela, the first author who speaks Of
the vineyards of Gaul. says:
In the opinion Of respectable authors
the quality and the stale OF the aLmo-
sphere have changed in the course OF a
long series Of years. Since Saserna, in
the work on agriculture that he has left
us, shows the notifications, since GER
tain districts that were formerly too cold
now produce much oil and wine, as the
climate is soft and warm"
Pliny, the elder, says in his Natural
History that those who raise trees and
grain should desire the snow to remain
on the ground. And Pliny, the younger
says that the cold troZe and killed the
laurel trees III the vicinity of Rome in
many winters. lie also writes, while in
IUsCulum, IN Lauum: The winters are
so cold and rough here that the myrtle
and olive Will not grow"
The changes may have been produced
by civilization that enables the vine and
olive to grow luNuriantiy in that part of
Italy. 1t is TOO much TO assert that il is
the change OF conditions in the earth it.
self The following data is more ex-
plicit:
In the year 299 of our era is recorded a
terrible winter all over Europe, especially
in the Orient. The Black Sea was com
pletely frozen.
In $50 the BosphOrus was frozen over so
they passed on foot from Europe to Asia
on Ice.
In 400 the Rhone was totally frozen and
they crossed it on foot and horseback.
In 452 the cold was intense and general
in Europe. An entire army passed the
Danube on It's frozen surface.
In 547 they crossed over all the rivers
in France on the ice.
In j5S the Black Sea was frozen for
twenty days.
In $50 the winter was not so long. but
very severe. Many persons and animals
died of cold and hunger.
In COS all the vines in France were
killed.
IN 763 was cruel winter Of intense
cold and long duration. The Black Sea,
the Sea Of Marmora and the Straits OF
Dardanelles were frozen to a great depth.
and people crossed over from EurODe to
Asia on the ice. great part OF the
wharyes OF Constantinopie were de-
stroyed by the expansion Of the ice
In SD loaded carts passed over the ice
OF the Danube, the EIbe and the Seine, at
Paris, for the space OF 4 month The
RhOne, the 20, the AdriatIc and many
OF the harbors Of the Mediterranean, were
frozen. And TO have congeaied the sea at
Venice it would have TO be at least 4 be-
low zero.
In SO was a rough winter. Heavy carts
passed the River SEINE at Paris on the
Ice. and the River Nile in Egypt was
frozen at its mouth. This was asIouisn-
ing, as the minimum temperature at
Cairo is rarely below IS"
In $50 the Adriatic and the Rhone were
frozen completely, ;tnd the snow and
frosts lasted six mCnths without ceAsine
In $50 the winte' was long and severe.
the Rhine and fne Mayne were frozen
and the people passed from one side t
the other on the ice for long period Of
time.
In 81 The Bosphorus was frozen, and
thew passed on the ice from Europe to
Asia. The cold was terrible, and was
followed by great epidemics.
In SIS all the LaryeSts were destroyed,
and the people conceived the idea that the
world would be destroyed in the year
IOO0.
In 1909 all the rivers Of Spain and Italy
were frozen.
In 1867 the winter was long and severe
ana the rivers OF France ana north o.
Spain were frozen.
In II33 the River Pc, in Italy. was
frozen, and wine was frozen in the cellars.
To freeze wine would require a tempera-
ture below zero, for thus was the tempera-
ture OF the wine vaults. 1t must have
been many degrees colder in the open
air. as great numbers OF trees were killed
by frost.
In I2lO and 1884 loaded carts crossed
over the Adriatic sea on a thick covering
OF ice.
In 1886 for over month the River
Danube remained frozen.
In 1905, on the coasts of Holland, the
sea was frozen 10 within three leagues
and the river Scheldt was frozen 10 its
In 1928 all the coast of the Mediterra-
mean Sea was covered with ice.
In 1864 the Rhine was frozen to depth
liz, -frnrn IN 4 r,,ns FL LII