The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-20
BYAFLANK MOVEMENT
THAT'S HOW BLIZZARD SWEPT
DOWN on THE PEOPLE.
Little Hope for Immediate Warm
Neutrality-suspicious. of the
Weak Gas Pressure.

This cold snap was not predicted by the
Weather Bureau. by the ground hog, by the
almanacs or the amateur weather prophets.
The cold simply dropped in during the latter
part Of Tuesday night. The corn husks
which grew thick last year and the SPUR
rels' tails which were bushy are the only
things living or dead than can say, Il told
you So" c. F. r. W~appenhans, local lore
cast official. was as surprised at what hap
pened as any person who awoke yesterday
morning from a dream he or she was Sleep
ing in a cold storage house. The cold wave
came our way with wonderful rapidity. Had
the department been able to receive advices
from the north at a late hour, predicuons
could have been made accordingly. but no
late advices were received. and the cold.
after getting together, came southwark by a
swift flank movement
The cold is not severe. This announce
ment is official. In substantiation is quoted
the thermometer, which last night at z
o'clock registered but 4 degrees above zero.
The Weather Bureau, in preparing reports,
takes no notice of what people think or be-
lieve. so mankind might be freezing and
blowing away at four degrees above, yet on
the official record 'twould appear but
four above. The great amount OF dampness
AA tAA0 IL NAAa A1o o'@ -
making the cold severe. Last night the air
was filled with a flying frost winch was as
which makes the frost cut and bite, causing
people 10 duck their heads and proceed with
bodies bent. 1t was q rough night FOR the
men who had to be out, and only those who
had TO be were on the streets. The attend
ance at the theaters was light, While few
people took pleasure rides on the street cars
All cold snaps are similar. Each one pro-
duceS the same sensations. and people vow
that they never did see it so cold. Each
cold snap the little street thermometers can
be depended upon in deceiving. the public
and telling in figures most wonderful tales.
Each cold wave brings with IL complaints of
weak gas pressure and memories, IL not act
ual experiences, of the old days when kind
ling wood had to be split and coal carried.
With each cold snap there comes the same
old stories of frozen water pipes, OF frost
bitten ears and of water freezing in the tea
Kettle. The citizen with a loving word for
the old-fashioned winter is generally 81
fenced, only 10 be revived by the first warm
spell. But, putting aside the past and all
stories and complaints, the present cold
spell is about the bitterest, coolest, most
disagreeable there has been for years, for
the public has been pampered with mild
weather and led TO believe that this winter
had no backbone.
Mr.. Wappenhans sat at his desk last
evening studying his weather chart. The
windows ratified and the weather Indicator
In his room vibrated, while the little ma
chine which marks off the velocity of the
wind fairly clicked. Mr.. W~appenhans sur
NCyCU thc liCiSh SlIdlL VI weather. dS
they appeared on the map, and after con-
sideration said:
My, my, we Will have zero weather be-
fore morning" Mr. Wappenhans was evil
IDENTIFY grieved TO note this, for there is no
official in the government employ more
anxious to please the public than he.
There is warm weather SOUTH" contin-
ued Mr.. Wappenlsans, but just look at
the stretch of cold north of US. 1 see no
hope for an immediate rise in temperature
Mr.. Wappenhans then took his pen and
carefully wrote what SO many will read
this morning:
Fair weather. slowly rising temporal
ture."
plants are many, but they are scattered.
Houses side by side observe great differ
ences in the pressure, while in some parts
OF the city the people on one block are
shivering for want of supply. while in the
next block. fguratively speaking, they have
their front doors open. The patrons of the
Trust suffered most, except the patrons of
the indianapolis company in West Indian
apolis, where the pressure, according to
the figures given by the company, was only
one ounce, when four ounces is required by
the ordinance. One man, in speaking Of
the condition in that suburb last night,
said: I'VE haven't enough gas over here
to light a match Everybody that could
get il was burning wood or coal.
The Indianapolis company last night gave
pressure mains as follows: City limits,
north, forty-one pounds; Sherman drive,
thirty-four pounds; city office, one pounL;
West Indianapolis, one ounce. The figures
of the pressure on the Trust mains could
not be obtained.