The Indianapolis journal., 1899-02-13
Biting Wind and Low Temperature
Steamers BeIated.

NEW YORK, Feb. 12.-Last nights storm
was characterized more by the biting wind
that accompanied it than by the fall of
snow, but, although the snow fall was not
great, it managed to drift sufficiently along
the railroad lines to delay many of the in
coming trains, and consequently, the mails.
In the morning the incoming malls were
from three to five hours late, and most of
them were incomplete owing to the failure
of the through trains to make connections
with the branch roads. The mails from the
North and West over the New York Cen
tral, due at a. m, arrived at 910 The
mails from the North and West due at II :25
a. m. did not arrive until late in the after
noon, and so it was with all the mails.
The North and East rivers were blockaded
with ice, the former being frozen solidly
across at the upper part of the city. The
harbor is full of masses of ice and miniature
icebergs, which seriously interfere with
shipping. The Harlem river is frozen solid
north from the Harlem bridge In the kills
between RandaTs island and the mainland
and the mouth of the Harlem river were
great cakes Of ice. There was serious in
reference to-day with the transport service
of the New Haven Railroad, tugs being used
constantly to break through the foes The
Boston express, which is ferried around to
Jersey City, was delayed very materially
on this account and the big freight-car
floats were moved with the greatest diff
Guilty.
AT late hour to-day none of the big lin
ers had reached their docks A strong north
wind was blowing during the day and this
may have the effect of keeping some of
them off the coast. The list of those due in
cludes the Cunarder Etruria, the Alsatia
Anchoria, Paris, La Betagne and Spaarn-
dam. The Spaarndam belongs to the Hol-
Iand-American line and should have reached
port two days ago. The few vessels that
did creep gratefully into port struggled
through Ice fioeS in the lower bay. The few
sound steamers scheduled to reach here this
morning were about four hours late.
The suffering in this city throughout the
last week has been intense. Charitable or
ganizations, free homes and places of refuge
have been taxed to the utmost to attend
to the many destitute people, Every night
the police stations are crowded with those
who have nowhere to 60 The capacity of
the hospitals and the free dispensarieS have
also been put to the test and have attended
to hundreds of persons suffering from frost
bite. Commander Booth-Tucker of the
Salvation Army, sent out the following tee-
gram to seven hundred leading army off,
GERS: Urge you to consult authorities 10
take immediate steps to relieve distress. II
necessary open your halls day and night
during the cold snap" The Salvation army
has been doing a great deal of work in
this city and numerous large checks have
been sent to the army officials by prominent
people to aid in the relief OF the poor.
All of the Salvation Army halls in this
city have been omen for the accomuodafion
of the sufferers. Three of them have
been open for the last three or four days.
with sufficient accommodation for a thou
sand people. Meals have been served at
one of the halls in Cherry street at l cent
each. Beginning with tomorrow, coal and
food viii be distributed at various named