The morning news., 1899-02-14

taken for representation OF the Alpine
village through which young Excelsior
passed on the quest which led TO his death
in an icy embrace. There were no icy
mountain crags 70 be observed, IL is true
but the numerous housetops sheathed in
snow and ice might have very well sup
piled this deficiency. There was a super
abundance OF natures congealed moisture
in evidence. such as has never before been
known in Savannah, not even in the
memory of the Oldest inhabitant There
is nothing trite about the latter express
sion in this case, for several of the older
citizens who were appealed 70 on the sub
Ject stated that they cou.d recall no for
ner time when so much snow was to be
seen in the streets Of Savannah or when
the thermometer had gone so low. Jan
Z, 1885, has heretofore been considered the
record-breaker. the thermometer falling on
that day to y degrees. 1t did the same
thing on Feb. s, 1895. but then the cold
spell which caused the low temperature
of January 1856, proved 10 be of longer
duration than any that had occurred flor
many years previously or has occurred
since The cold wave, or whatever il was
called in those days, la'ed for ten days
or more. The Ogeechee canal
was frozen over and remained so
for several days, and skating on the ice
was freely INDUCED In by those proficient
IN the art. Yesterday, however proved
SaVaunah's double record breaker in the
weather line. Not only did the tempera-
turc drop several degrees below the pre-
Nlous minimum records, but at the same
time the largest snow fan that has ever
been recorded here by the weather office
occurred. But two previous snow falls
of any note have occurred in Savannah in
The last twenty-five years and both of
these together would not have eaualed
the amount which incumbered Savannah's
streets.
The snow has become a more frequent
visitor TO Savannah I'm recent Years. The
one inch of snow which fell on Jan. 1S 1893
was the first thet had fallen here in near
by twenty years. In fact, il was the first
time that many of the children OF the city
had ever seen snow. The event was re-
earded as 50 remarkable that practically
the whole population quit work. not as
they did this year because 1t was too cod
10 work, for the weather then was mild
ana pleasant, but to celebrate the event
Old men froicked in the snow like chill
dfen and business men conducted them
selves like schoOboys 1t was the only
snow savannah had had in many years
ana the general supposition was thai n
would be the last for many years to come
ms ana not prove the case, however. for
on feo 10, 1885, snow fall of 1-1O inches
occurred This brought a repetition az
the scenes of January, 1898.
Inc snow storm proper began about I
o'clock in the morning. Previous 10 thar
ume there had been considerable aleet
wan some snow. but from / O'Clock until
dayoreak there was continuous ana for
TINS section, heavy fail. The temperatura
during the snowfall was not nearly so
cold as it became afterwards. In fact
many reVeters, who were stll on the
streets when the snow began, enjoyed the
sight so much that they continued their
reVels the greater part Of the night
About daybreak the mercury began 10
tumble, and many, who had been sleeping
IN comfort, awoke 20 realize that some
thing was wrong and that another cover
lei on the bed would not come amiss.
Southern houses are not constructed 10
Withstand such low temperatures. and
there were few who did not get up TO find
the water in bowls and pitchers frozen
and many found IL necessary to break the
Ice before they could indulge in their
morning ablutions. In fact, 1t is prob
able that there was more sparing use of
water than is customary