The record-union., 1897-01-26
The Thermometer at Chicago Many De-
sreeS Below Zero, and Still Falling.
Great Suffering Among Thousands OF
Destitute People.
Intensely Cold Weather Prevailing in
Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa,
Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Colorado and the DakOtaS-Ihe
Missouri River Entirely Frozen
Over at Omaha.

CHICAGO. Jan 25.-The people of
Chicago in bodies and as individual cit
iZens We're aroused to-day to take
prompt and generous action for the re-
lief of the two thousand destitute IN
habitants, whose suffering for want OF
food, fuel and clothing has reached an
extreme stage as a result of the terribly
cold wave which came upon the city
Saturday increasing in intensity until
it reached the lowest point recorded IN
a quarter of a century.
Between > and I a. m. the Weather
Bureau in the Auditorium tower, where
it is warmer than on the street, re-
corded 20 degrees below zero. Only once
in the history of the Bureau, December
24, 1872, % degrees below, has the tenn
perature fallen lower. From 8 a. m to
D. m. there was a gradual rise, the
range being IS to II degrees, but the
reaction was hardly felt, when accom-
panied with a cutting wind from the
northwest The highest temperature for
the day was 10 degrees below, and to-
night the mercury is moving slowly
downward again, with no hope of ma
terial reduction for tomorrow.
Mayor Swift issued a proclamation
this afternoon, according to his ex-
pressed intention yesterday, appealing in
urgent language to all citizens who have
the means to spare to contribute at once
money and supplies to prevent the star
walton and freezing of unfortunate
thousands. He urged the subscription of
S100.0 900, as being none too much to af-
ford the help needed. The funds of the
charity organizations have become de-
pIeted, owing to the extra demands
made upon them even during the mild
winter weather which has prevailed here
until a few days ago. The Chicago Re
lief and Aid Society was compelled to
make a special appeal for money last
week to carry on it's work. because of the
unusually large number of heads and
supporters Of families who are unem-
ployed while willing to work
Before the Mayors proclamation was
issued contributions to the special fund
came pouring into his office in currency
and checks, while various offers Of pro-
visions, clothing. coal and wood were
received on a liberal scale. The Board
of Trade and other organizations started
to raise funds, and the churches and
Salvation Army began making syste-
matte and extensive arrangements to
assist in the charitable work along their
special lines. Soup houses and shelters
will be established and maintained as
long as necessary.
plan of the Mayor and Chief Of
Police Badenoch, agreed upon at con-
ference to-day, was Immediately put
into effect The city will buy with the
special fund food and fuel and dist1-
butte them on demand through the
agency of the Police Department. This
relief is to be afforded without the
usual investigation until the regular
Charitable organizations are able to
take up the work. All police stations
have been thrown Open
The Mayors proclamation is the first
of the kind to be issued in twenty five
years.
The worst and most numerous cases of
suffering were reported from South
Chicago and Kensingiton, where thou
sands of men have been laid off at the
steel mills and other esta bliShments-
The savings of most of these victims of
the hard times have been used in pay
ing for their little homes. leaving them
practically penniless. although not
pauper's.
Much damage was done in the suburbs
to telegraph and telephone wires by the
cold. Traffic with Cicero was sus-
pended until to-day by the collapse of
cable poles.
The work of affording instant tenn
porary relief during the inclement
weather was pushed by the police
agents. using patrol wagons and am
balances in such a systematic manner
that no case of destftution reported re-
mained unaiute tended tonight.
At midnight the thermometer regis
tered IL degrees below, and it is be-
aieved the upward tendency viii con-
+in,,e. The police stations throughout
the city are filled with dodgers. many Of
whom applied for shelter With frozen
ears and fingers.
VERY COLD IN MISSOURI.
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 25.-The cold wave
which gathered in British Columbia
on Friday swept down upon this section
yesterday. and still continues here,
though slightly abated tonight. AT 1
O'Clock this morning the temperature
here was exactly zero. At noon : de
prsas above was indicated, and at ,
D. IN. degrees above
This extremely low temperature fol-
bowed sharply upon long season of
mild weather and found thousands of
poor families unprepared. The demand
upon the associated charities for food
and fuel was never greater. When the
ticket window of the Provident Asso-
ciation opened to-day 300 men and
women were in line wahtdng for assist
ance. The police department are doing
everything possible to relieve the dis
uress. Twenty two fros.- bitten victims
were treated at the City Dispensary to-
day. and three amputat#07fs were nee
essary. Hundreds of homeless people
are sheltered tonight at the police sta
tions.
The river has not yet closed here.
though it is full of floating ice. which
endangerTs shipping Trains were gen
orally on time this morning, bsIT this
evening all those due from points west
and south We're late in one insaa anee
two hours ard ten minutes. All We're
delayed by snow blockades.