The times., 1899-01-01
IN A BLIZZARD'S GRASP
Ninety-Nine Brings Washing
ton a Mantle of White.
MOTOR LINES SUFFERED
Holiday Pandemonium Checked by.
the Storm - Many Applicants for
Sheitcr-The Cold Waves Advent
The Struggle of the Street Rail-
ways-Crowds in Discomfort.

Washington enjoyed a real d-fashioned,
double barreled. Minnesota blizzard last
night. and for time 1t looked as though a
| long list of those frozen to death might
adorn the morning papers.
The blizzard was the advance agent of a
cold wave which will remain in our
midst for several days. The said blizzard
arrived at S O'Clock sharp last night and
proceeded to do business without giving
warning. The temperature dropped about
thirty notches. a fierce wind sprang up and
n bitter sleet storm began. s''r57,a-, t.t
An Icy Glare of Streets.
The streets were soon covered with an
icy mantle and pedestrians began to grow
scarce. Long before midnight the streets
were nearly deserted and the city was at
the mercy of the blizzard.
Just before midnight the sleet changed
into snow and in short time the city was
white. The snow blew about in tiny drifts
and added to the general discomfort.
The New Year jag was conspicuous by
his absence, as he preferred to go dry rath-
er than face the weather. Only the muf-
fled policeman occupied the thoroughfares,
and even he kept well in the shelter of
doorways.
Struggled Against the storm.
The street ears had much trouble with
the electric current. and bushels of sand
were required to allow any progress. 1t
was equally difficult to start and stop the
cars, and the suffering motormen had no
easy task.
1t was without exception the most miser-
able New Years Eve in years. While
nearly every household observed the eve by
watching the new year in, the absence OF
the usual hooting crowds in the street was
very marked, ard few horns were footed to
preserve the old custom.
Everything was dead and quiet, and few
arrests were made. The blizzard reigned
supreme and ran matters to suit itself.
The Cold Wave.
The cold wave has advanced from the
West and covers the whole country from
the Mississippi Valley to the Atlantic
States. 1t is slated to remain around
Washington until Tuesday. 1t covered
the Middle and North Atlantic States,
Georgia and Flo A last night.
The indicatioRs for today are clear and
colder, with high rorthwesterly winds and
generally disagresable. All indications
point to very quiet New Year Day IN
Washington, and one spent indoors. The
day is expected to be even quieter than
vas Christmas.
The number of applicants for shelter at
the police stations was increased last
night by the extreme cold weather, and
the blizzard caused much misery in the
city.
Although there were few pedestrians on
the streets during the early part of the
night as midnight approached aud as the
theatres and various places of amusement
began to pour their humanity into the bliz-
zard-beateD. snow-coYered streets, there
were enough people astir to cause large
/ crowds at the various transfer stations and
under sheltering signs in the avenue, +,
Ninth and Seventh Streets, to await the
breaking OF the blockade on the various
car lines.
Traffic DeniOraIizcd.
The blizzard of last night was one OF the
most severe and difficult with which the
local transportation companies have had
to deal. The storm began with hail aud
slcet which soon covered the tracks of the
various roads with hard coat Of ice.
Snow followed quickly en- the wings of the
wind and the streets we're mant,sd with
considerable covering before very long.
The cars were unable to plow through the
heavy fall until about midnight. The snow
plows could not render very. efficient SER
vice for the reason that the cars were
blocked at so many different points that
the plows could not pass The Metropol-
| tan Company dispatched men with stiff
| brooms to sweep the tracks at various
points in order to clear the tracks of the
congested traffic and afford the plows an
| opportunity of doing their work. The same
thing was accomplished by the Capital
| Traction Company. After n long delay
/ both lines were in working order again.
! but the cars did not move along their lines
with much speed, and regular schedule
! time was done away with altogether
The horse car lines were practically
frozen out of service. The greatest diff
Guilty was experienced in getting the horses
! to pull their heavy loads, and as the paving
! between the tracks was slippery the poor
animals frequently fell.
| During the binding storm of snow which
| followed. numerous horses, stung to the
| quick by the disagreeableness of the wealth
| er, strayed from stores and from in front
of dwellings. Numerous reports were re-
ceived at police headquarters telling of
| lost horses.