Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-30
We HAVE REAL WINTER
Weather Intensely Cold, With the
Thermometer Down to IS,
JAMES RIVER FROZEN OVER
The City Tug at Work to Keep
the Channel Open.
WILL HAVE GOOD SKATING TODAY
Indications of Plenty of Ice ON tho
Lakes and Ponds Near the Ctty-A
Biting Day for People on the
streets.


Winter is upon Us in dead earnest.
With James river frozen over, the side
walks covered with thick sheet OF
frozen snow, which the afternoon sun
does not melt and the Thermometers
nearly 70 degrees below freezing point.
there is nothing lacking TO constitute
genuine winter weather.
Yesterday was decidedly the coolest
day of the winter. The temperature was
low and there was a stif breeze that
brought color TO the check and made tho
ear tingle. The thermometer on the Dis
patch building registered Is at A. -
II rose slowly, and at =. NJ. went 40
high as % But it soon begun 10 fail
again, and at midnight the mercury
stood at Is Up on Broad street al the
same time IL was nearly > degrees colder.
People did not waste time on the streets
yesterday Indeed. those who were nos
called out by business kept closely in
doors. The weather was cold and the
sidewalks were les. At places the leo
was as smoth as glass.
THE RIVER FROZEN OVER.
by midnight james river was frozen
from bank to bank There was only thin
sheet of ice on it, but the weatherwise
say that by this morning the stream VIII
be covered with a solid mass OF Ice. and
the prospects are that navigation will DO
closed.
Ice began 20 appear on the river about
daybreak yesterday morning and at once
the city tug Thomas Cunningham, Sr..
which did such valiant service last winter
in opening up the stream, got TO work
on the channel and opened ip a passage.
thereby enabling the Pocahontas 70 leave
her wharf for Norfolk. The Cunningham
has been diligently az work ever since
keeping a channel open, but last night
almost as fast as she opened the stream
il would freeze again, and her abors
were thereby greatly increased.
SKATING TO-DAY.
on AN the lakes around the city there
Is lee. but there was no skating yesterday.
The prospects are that there Will be sx-
cellent skating to-day. The water having
been drawn from the Reservoir Lake
several days ago there was not suticienr
depth there yesterday To permit OF any
great thickness of ice. The water will
be- at iis normal height by this morn
ing and good skating Is promised as tho
water was freezing as fast rs II ran in
yesterday.
AT Forest Hill Lakeside. and Young's
Pond ice Of several inches thickness had
formed yesterday, but IL was not thought
safe To- open the lakes for skating until
this morning, when it Is expected that
their surface will be covered with merry
gliders.
SUFFERING AMONG THE POOR.
The freezing cold has naturally carried
suffering 10 many poyerty-stricken homes
i'm Richmond. and the Citizens Relief
Association is busy endeavoring TO anne
norate the conditions of some Of the UNI
fortunates.
Some. of the cases are most distressing.
A woman who has always worked Is now
unable To- do anything on account Oh her
ewes being seriously affected Her hus-
band Is incapacitated for work and has
gone 10 the soldiers Home. She has four
children. two of whom usually work. but
are now unable 10 contribute 90 the sup
port Of the family, as he factory at
which they are employed has shut down
during the Christmas holidays. She wfot"
IN The citizens Relief Association asking
for weeks supply Of groceries as sha
was entirely out OF everything ana .hti
nothing 10 live on The children VIII go
back To work on Mondny.
Her immediate needs nave been relieved
and her rent paid. which VAS due. Libe-
raj contributions Of hannelH dresses and
wraps have been donated by the chari-
fal,le people of Richmond. which have
been given TO the suffering and destitute
fu these parts.