The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-14
NEW ORLEANS 1CE-cL4D.
Only I Degrees Above Zero-Eeurs for sugar
anc-CnrniV Postponed.

INV NhTHlN" NVN'UVhNNs
NEW ORLEANS. La. Feb. 13.-Nt Z this morn
ing the official United States Weather Bureau
thermometer registered az above zero, and
in some more exposed places the Their
momemotcr went down TO T.. This is
not only tho coolest weather known during the
two centuries since Louisiana was discovered,
but eleven degrees colder than the lowest on
record. On top of an inch OF slcet two inches
of snow fell. partly melted. and then froze. COW
erinU every inch Of New Orleans with ono vast
cake OF fec.
Walking was next to impossible. and broken
arms. legs aud heads resulted from the Slip
perry condition OF the streets.
New Orleans found itself utterly unprepared
for such cold weather and helpless to q degree
that can scarcely be understood in the North
There was not a gallon Of milk in the
city. tho bakers did not bake, not a
loaf Of bread could be got for love or money.
The water supply. which comes mainly from
the ~clsterns was cut off by the freezing Of the
cisterns, and many families we're without
water either for drinking or washing purposes,
the meters were frozen stir and all illtmin-
alton save from candles cut of.
There was a tremendous demand for coal.
but tho Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty
to Animals began arresting all drivers OF coal
and othcr carts this morning. Tho ami
mails were not shod for ice and stun
bled and fell. injurinG themselves. 1t was
late in the day before this difficulty could be
altered by changing the horses shoes. For
t%unatcly it was a public holiday. the day before
tho carnival. when little business was trans
acted and all the schools were closed. for work
of any kind would have been impossible.
ltis difficult To determine Just yet the amount
OF damage done by the cold. because no one
can tell its intensity. as II has never been known
here before All the carly vegetation on the
truck farms around New Orleans has been
completely destroyed.
1t is the belief OF the Weather Bureau TINT
the orange groves have been completely de-
stroyed. All the young trees. OF which some
100000 have lately been laid out. have
been killed in spite of the smudging.
irrigating and other expensive processes
used to protect them. 1t 10 thought by tho
fruit and horticulturalists that the palm and
other tropical plants which form so conspic-
uous a figure in all the New Orleans gardens
have been killed. but the greatest fear is as to
the sugar cane.
Asuspicion has grown steadily stronger tina
the seed cane and the %cottons have been killed
by tho cold. 1t is not believed that thev can
stand n temperature of " to 81. and tho only
question is whether the snow that covered
them may have saved them from being
htSNlOS'b ~ Ahd iltFIo. II u Il''dbll
be u week before n careful examination deter
mines whether or not the seed has been killed.
II it has been it will mean n loss OF $4.O0O.O0O
to s.. OoO.OOO to Louisiana for tho purchase Of
fresh seed from the West Indies.
1t has been so difficult TO get around in Tia"
city that the full extent Of the suffering is not
yet known, but two men brought to the Chart
ty Hospital for freezing have already died from
the exposure.
To-day's races were postponed. the track be-
ing n mass OF ice and too dangerous 70 be used.
The Carnival Parade OF Proteus. which was
to have made its appearance tonight, was un-
able to do so on account of the severity 81 the
weather. and was postponed until Friday.
Last night three Of the theatres were closed.
because OF the cold. and in one other the
actresses lad 10 wear cloaks aud capes.
The city is filled with people from the North
and West. who have como TO New Orleans be-
cause OF the carnival and TO escape the severe
weather at home. only to find zero here.
4 big exodus is promised TO Havana, in
search OF genuine warm weather.