Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-03
GROUNDHOC'S FORECAST FAIR
Skies Overcast, BE Make, His Debut Under
AutpioiOus Conditions,
HIS SHADOW SEEN IN WESTERN NEBRASKA
Great Diversity of Weather Pre-
dicted by This Porcine oracle
for the Central Fart of
the state.

The grounding was kept busy all over
the United States yesterday. In some local
tiles he crawlad from his burrow, saw his
shadow and retired again for another six
weeks snooze while in others he emerged
to stay. In the lower valley country
throughout nearly all The southern states. It
rained or ed yesterday, the great lake
section was bathed in sunshine. This means
according to the ancient tradition, that the
south is to have an early spring, while the
north is booked for six weeks Of cold
weather with frosts. snow and billiards..
This is very well for the country in gen
eral, but II the badger hopes to make good
his predictions for Nebraska be Will have
to bring about some unusual conditions.
Hog Must he Versatile.
For example, the eastern half OF the
state generally speaking. was overcast with
clouds. From Plattsmouth, Lincoln, Blair,
York, Fremont and other points east
OF the rain belt came reports OF low
reading Of the barometer, while from North
Platte, Sidney Chadron and Broken Bow
came tidings Of clear skies and bright sun
shine. The dividing line seems 10 fall be-
tween LeNing on AID Cozad, which are about
ten miles apart on the Union Pacific rail.
road. They are threatened with snow at
Lexington. while at Cozad the weather Is
clear. This means that unless John Pat
terson, Frank Krier and Jim Thomas haNs
killed of all the Eroundhogs Of that sec.
tion Dawson county will have more kinds OF
weather this season than Mark Twain
wrote about Editor Markwood Holmes Of
Lexington says that Editor +. p. Corrick or
| Cozad found a burrow OF some kind down
near the Platte river bridge and built an
awning over 1t so the beast upon making
his debut couldn't see his shadow, thereby
insuring an early spring. But the animal
came out inopportunely. and Editor Cor
rick had to bury his clothes. Down near
Elm Creek there was a rift in the clouds
about / o'clock yesterday afternoon and the
sun shone for eight minutes. II his porclne
majesty came out during that interval Elm
Greek will be harvesting ice while Kearney
and Gibbon are hoeing early vegetables.
MIR. welsh nm IconocIast.
But Weather Observer Welsh gives Il out
officially that there IS nothing in this
fetichism OF the dark ages. The govern
ment bureau which he represents, he says,
doesn't include the grounding among It's
means Of foretelling climatic conditions.
! Otto Schultz, however who sells ground
hog at 10 cents per link. and who ought to
! know, says he can foretell the future by
| this Porcine method: II his sales for the
month are good. he says. it is a sure sign
he will be able TO meet his store rent.
year ago yesterday the weather was
| clear in Omaha and the grounding saw his
| shadow. There were some cold snaps dsr-
ing the remainder Of the month, the mer-
| curry at one time dropping TO below zero
The first two weeks OF March were com
parativey warm, but on March 16 the day
following that upon which the six weeks OF
grounding weather" closed, the thermom.
eter registered below zero, the coldest OF
| the month.