The age-herald., 1901-12-18
LIGHT SNOW FALL BREAKS MONOTONY OF THE COLD WAVE Mercury Played See-Saw Game Up and Down All
 Day SNOW ALL OVER THE STATE United Charities Besleged With Alp pIicants for Relief-Donations
 Needed and Coal Supply
 May Run Short.
SNOW ALL OVER THE STATE

Snow in flakes as large as peanuts and of the proverbial whiteness fell in Bir- mingham yesterday for thirty minutes The ground was covered with thin coat ing. but before the thickness of a mices skin was attained the fall stopped. Snow kept falling at intervals throughout the day, but never enough to make an im- pression.
 The day was one of the kind described like changeable silk-every time you moved your nose 1t was different from what it was before. The day opened with the mercury around the 2S point. At o'clock the official thermometer read 20 degress. At noon 1t read 2S degrees, while at p. m. the mark was 24
 At various times during the day the mercury made noticeable falls, at one time going as low as 13 degrees. At other times the sun shone manfully and drove the mercury upwards until the highest point reached was S2 degrees. Changes of several degrees occurred every hour and every one was kept busy guessing which way 1t would next be driven.
 oi d1I dL " v OiSSNs
 It was 10 o'clock when the first shower of snow-fakes was scattered over the frozen earth The fall only lasted short time, when the mercury dropped. This drop was succeeded by a few lines of sun- shine, which sent the temperature up hill again Then the snow began to fall rapidly. thickly and in large flakes, as if to make up for lost time, until the mer- cury was made jealous because of the whiteness. It took a drop and again choked off the snow. After a few min utes of this the weather man began to grow piteous and released his icy fingers from the mercury tube. The rise then continued until about o'clock in the af- ternooh, when 1t changed it's course and slowly tumbled from 32 degrees until at ' D. m. the mark was 24 degrees.
 Snow Throughout State.
 Throughout the State the same condi- tions prevailed. Special dispatches re- ceived by The Age-Herald tell the same stories of snow and cold. At Scottsboro a snow storm ragged during the day. The Tennessee river rose and at night was out of its banks.
 At Anniston a snow storm ragged for two hours. The temperature fell from 32 degrees at 2 p. m. to IS degrees at 10 D. m. At Huntsville and Blocton, as well as other cities, the reports were identi- cal with that from Anniston.
 Charity Workers Busy.
 At the office of the United Charities in the Thompson building the manager was kept busy. A number of poor families without food or fuel called and asked assistance The calls for coal numbered five or six, each applicant being given half ton. The calls for food were more numerous.
 In talking of the calls for fuel Mrs. Torrey of the United Charities said:
 'We have to be very careful in the dis tribution of fuel, for we have only small quantity and cannot secure more. We have had several cars promised us, but so far the companies have been unable to ship them. I think, however, that we will have enough to answer pressing calls within a few days. We are very much in need of donations, and I wish you would ask for. contributions through The Age Herald"
 The weather prediction for today is fair and cold. No very marked drop in temperature Is expected.