Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-12
STORMS OF YEARS AGO
Those Of Bygone Days Recalled
BY the Present One
HAD MANY COLD WINTERS,
NOT Unusual for the HerCnry TO GO
Below Zero Here.
SOME OF OUR RIG SHOWS.
Those of 1913, 1856, 1883, 1872, 1856.
and the Memorable One of 1857
james River Frozen over I'm Day
and Night.
SOME OF OUR BIG SHOWS.
and Night.

The severe weather experienced here
during the past two weeks, and more es-
pecially for the last few days, when, in
addition TO the snow. sleet, and ice, the
thermometer has been lowering around
zero, and sometimes going below, has led
people to think Of she cold winters and
memorable storms Of years gone by.
A little reflection and research bring
one to the conclusion that in both VIr-
ynia has had her share The old are dis
posed TO look back upon the winters Of
heir b0Yhood as much more severe than
those Of to-day; the present generation
,houghtlessly declare that each severe
'pcl-cspecialy such as we are passing
through just now-is the most extreme
hey have ever known.
The indsputabe facts show that per-
iaps there were Longer and more cOntinu-
)us spells of intensely cold weather early
IN the century than there are nowadays;
but 1t is just as true that we have as
old periods, though Of shorter duration
low as We ever had. Shows are, perhaps,
not quite so frequent as Of yore
COLD SIX YEARS AGO
The records show that the weather was
colder here six years ago than 1t has been
IF late though only by one or two de-
grees. On the 18th Of January 1885, there
was a snow-storm entitled to be recog-
nized among the great fleecy tempests of.
1886, 1855 1872 1856. and the memorable
storm Of 1851. This came in the midst OF
very cold weather. There was between
he hours of 2:30 and \. NJ a fall of
rom 10 TO y inches, and this came upon
a frozen coating inches deep which
had fingered from the snow Of week be-
lore. Richmond was the centre Of that
storm and at places the drifts were 3
Jr I feet deep.
Four days later there came the coolest
snap of some years The thermometer i'm
trout OF the Dispatch building recorded
IN the morning OF the 10th 6 degrees be-
.ow zero, while at more exposed points I'm
the city IL went as low as l3. Bon Air
registered b. Manchester and Chestnut
Hill II, Ashland l. -. Newport News
5tauntOn, ana Clifton Forge Zero. James
river was frozen over from here to New
Bort News. lee at Rockets was eight
inches thick and there was fine skating
for miles below the city The river was
not open for navigation until January
list, when two tugs broke through. The
memorable Allen q Ginter fire occurred
On the morning of January 18th between
ana o'clock, when the thermometer
vas about zero or below. The average
minimum temperature for that month
he coolest in fourteen years-was IA
The estimated snowfall was twenty-fOur
inches February was also the coolest in
fourteen years the minimum temperature
having been 2s.5
EARLY IL THE CENTURY.
The State "A few years ago printed an
interview with gentleman recognized as
40 authority on the weather, In which he
aid:
The first memorable weather that
Know or was in 1916, when there was
'rOst i'm the counties around Richmond
every month in the year but one, and In
hd northwest counties during every
month. That year had also one of the
greatest droughts Of the century Wheat
cached the price OF 81 a bushel, or. 80
barrel for flour. The next season Of in
crest was I'm l27'2s. In February the
'ruit trees were In bloom and the wheat
vas headed.
ION the Saturday before the second
sunday Of February, 1885, probably one
IF the coolest spells. and most sudden
Ranges occurred. In the morning it was
% bamy that even ordinary clothing was
Utmost oppressive. But in four hours there
was such change that people caught
out without wraps We're almost frozen,
nd I'm the course OF five hours the tner-
mOmeter had fallen about 10 degrees. On
the succeeding night James river was
frozen over 80 firmly that persons could
walk far on the ice
\ gentleman familiar with the facts
assured a Dispatch reporter yesterday
that this latter statement was absolutely
correct y party who went over from
Goochland on Saturday to dine in Powha-
tan walked across the river on ice on
Sunday.
COMING TO LATER DAYS.
The winter Of 1876 was. perhaps
marked by greater severity OF cold than
any winter of the present century. The
cold spell commenced early IN January
and continued until April. The thermom-
eter i'm Eastern Virginia fell In many
places as low as 20 degrees below zero.
while for nearly the whole month OF
January IL lowered in the neighborhood
Of zero or below. The opening or spring
was also late, not much vegetation occur
ring before May. All throughout Eastern
Virginia the rivers were frozen 10 a utptH
OF eighteen inches and allowed the pas
sage OF loaded wagons and teams across
on the ice
The winter OF 1851 was also an ex-
tremely cold one. the thermometer going
In Eastern Virginia to II degrees below
zero. and remaining during the whole
month of January and the greater part
Of February not much above zero. IL
was during the early portion OF January
that the memorable snow fell.
An extremely cold spell occurred in the
winter OF lSS0-'si I'm which the thermome-
ter fell in this city 70 II degrees below
zero. but the cold was not protractsd.
The winter OF lss6-'S was also extremely
cold The ground was covered with
snow nearly all OF the three months, and
all the rivers of Virginia Were frozen TO
such an extent as 10 suspend navigation
until the latter part OF February.
ON March IS, 1872, snow fell 10 the depth
OF fourteen inches, and on the same day
i'm 1868 or 1863. To like depth
THE sNoW-sToRM OF 81.
The snow-storm of 1856, TO which allu'
sion has been made, was very much Ike
that OF 1893. ON January 10. 1881. 10 inchss
~ snow fell in Richmond. There was a
very heavy fall January ], 1871, ana on
FRIDAY. March II, 1872 there was snow
which will long be remembered. IL reach
ea a depth Of " to II inches poruon
az the roof OF the concert-wom OF the
,,.,,a,oa IIotal Was broken In by the