The evening times., 1896-03-20

1t Is the first sEring day, but it was
not exactly spring zephyrs that ushered
1t In.
The wind has been blowing four ways at
once for the past two da Us. and the oit;-
est inhabitant is talking OF equiuocti1l
storms. If he happens TO have had ex-
peTlcnce at sea he has some remarkable
yarns to Spin OF things that happen on the
deep in such weather. He knows that the
equinox does bring violent gales if not
destructive teinpcsts and has seen many
a good ship on the beach from veniuring
too much at such time.
But the officials at the Weather Bureau
have little confidence in the tradition of
equInoctial storms. They know that the
sun crossed the equator at 9:24 O'Clock
last night. and this morning is drawing a
line with Its perpendicular rays, toward
the northern tropic circle. With its pas
sage across the line, the first day of spring
began, although 1t is usual 10 count the be-
ginning OF the sea son from March 2i. With
the rays coming more directly down. they
say there is no reason 10 appreherd any con-
tinued cold weather, though there may be
yet a severe snap or two, lasting twenty
four to fort y-ciGht hours, or cven week TO
ten days OF that cloudy, drcary, wet, chill
weather, that Is prolific OF rheumatism.
toothache. hay fever and suicide.
WEATHER PEOPLE TALK.
The weather Eeopic know. TOO. that the
velocity OF tie wind this morning Is about
twenty-eight miles an hour. 4 pretty stiff
gaic. and that in the past two days il has
reached lhirty-siX miles an hour once or
twice. and this is right on the verge OF a
heavy storm wind. 1t is some comfort to
be told that Washington is rot SO bad off
in this regard as many other Atlantic
coast cities. Philadelphia. for instance.
has had Il wird blowing pretty steadily
at forty.four mics an hour.
The Temperature since midnight has
varied as follows: Midnight. "A degrees;
2 a. m, 10; 4 a. IN. usua Il Y the coolest hour
OF the day.. 81. g q. m, &c: 8 a. m, ia.
This Tendency downward. joined with con-
ditions reported at otter places, gives the
prophecy OF fair and to.dcr weather for
today and tonight.
The direction of the wind according to
the bureau report, has been quite steadily
from the northwest, but persons carrying
umbrellas for the past two days know 4
great deal better. The wind hasn't been
from anywhere in particular One thing
that could bc calculated upon all the time
has been that ia the next two seconds 1t
would be from some direction in which
you were not holding ycur umbrella. Eier-
nal vigilance has been the price OF protec-
ton from rain, and worth from 81 TO 50
a second according 10 the grade OF UNI
brclia.
Down THE ALLEYS.
Wrecks lying in the parking AMI down
aiIeyways recall the time when the useful
invention first appeared on the streets OF
Lou,lon aid was attacked by the ponuace
as an invention of the devil. Strips of
black silk on the grass al the front OF Judi
ciary suua re- Just east or tue Lincoln statue.
with ribs and stem twisted and broken,
tell of one misfortune The colorcd um-
brella at Frietllar der's was carried away,
but a colored boy rescued 1t aud laid ii up
to await a claim.
Signs and awnings have been blown
down in a number of cases. A big canvas
torn from its fGstenfies tapped loosely in
the wind for hours at the top of the build
Ing near Shoomaker's, at Fourteenth and Z.
On tie river front only the greatest care
has prevented serious accident Commo-
dorc" Sutton and his men have been kept
busy, and owEers have been Obliged to
rcdouble their watchfuipess. III a line
has parted ano ,her has bcen in place to hold
vessels to their moOrings till new cables
could be run in. A few instances OF boats
beingdriven fromtheirp places have occurred,
and there has been considerable loss in
the aggregate. Tie water has heen forced
downthc river. and the tiGc hasnot reached
its usual height. In some cases serious
Inconvenience has been occasioned.
All along tie North Atlantic warnings
are out and the Weather Bureau has saved
thous ands of dollars worth of shipping
and other property.