Evening journal., 1902-02-03
DID The GROUNDHOG
SEE HIS SHADOW?
Only the MarmOt Can Answer
the Question
His Day Presented a Variety Of Weather.
Cold Wave Brings o ClOHdIosS
Sky

Only the grounding can answerI
whether he saw his shadow yesterday.
According TO the time h0nOred traditiOn
he was out and he probably was dis
gusted with the weather and turned inI
for another brief nap, the six weeks
snOOze that means that much more of
winter II he was "A little late with his
toilet and breakfast and happened toI
emerge from secluson during i0-minuteI
period between . and 10 o'clock he found
the sunshining and his terrifying shadow
right on hand for business. At was only
brief burst of sunlight through the
Clouds and II is hoped he missed it,
Again in the afternoon about 2.SO O'Clock
the sun shining and his terrifying shadow
cleaned brightly for nearly one and a
half hours, but that should not have
counted with the grounding.
IL can be seen that the little chaps may
easily hedge on his ability as a weather
prognosticaior, no matter what the elc-
ments may be doing during the next six
weeks.
GREAT VARIETY OF WEATHER.
Judging from the variety of weather
experienced in Wilmington yesterday,
the grounding must have happened to be
out mt a moment when its shadow ap-
peared with startling distinctness on the
snow. Seemingly the woodchuck was so
mustered by the grotesQue distortion Of
It's form as 10 bolt back and close the
door of its habitation with a bang The
developments Of the day along the mete-
geological line were of a character to
arouse some apprehension with regard to
the climatic conditions during the period
in which the influence of the grounding
is said TO make itself felt.
In the morning there was rain OF a
cold, driving kind, which furnished many
professedy conscientious citizens with an
excuse for not going to church. This was
followed by a slight clearing up and then
by more rain, which i'm turn was succeed
ed by a clear sky and a biting wind that
at j. m. reached a velocity OF thirty
three miles an hour.
lt was fortunate for pedestrians that
the nigh, cold winds were accompanied
by decrease IN humidity and tended to
dry OF rather than cover the pavements
with sheets Of ice, but at that walking
was not n favorite pastime today. The
rain of the morning falling on the deep
snow already on the ground, made the
streets a waste of slush and the cutters
small rivers OF icewater. which, being Ia
many cases covered with a thin layer Of
snow, were yeritable traps for the feet
of the unwary, and sore thrOats from wet
feet was a popular complaint today.
The wind was sufficient to do a good
/ deal of damage in the way Of blowing
/ down small signs and tearing awnings 20
pieces, to say nothing OF the windows
which We're broken by the violent slam
ming OF shutters and the hats which took
sudden trips down the street in front Of
/ profane owners and were to be stopped
only 10y jumping on them with both feet
or 10y shifting them smartly with a cane
IN an effort 20 stop their wild careers.
The indications from a look at the
weather map are that the cold wave pre-.
dicted in the Weather Bureau will force
the mercury down and be accompanied
hy considerable wind until some time TO
morrow, but beyond that no one can say
SPENT DAY IN CELLAR.
Two organizations carried out a Gu
tom peculiar to groundhog day Tb e
We're the Phoenix Fire Company nj
the North End Athletic Club. Unde
: the custom an election was held fo
grounding, and the successful ina.
was compelled to remain in the cflla
lall day. The Phoenix member VIII
won this distinction was Francis S;che
land the North End man was Sils & Nc
Bride They took the election grace
iully, and each remained in the base
lment for the allotted time.
SOME MlSHAPS OF THE rlAY.
A horse driven by Thomas N.cEvill,
newsdealer, became entanglesl in
wire at Front and French streets earl
yesterday morning. but fortunately. tn
current was cut OF at that time. an
the horse was uninjured.
g A live wire OF the Wilmir .gton Ele,
I, trio Company fell at Lover ing avenu
(, and Scott street last nigh /, and wa
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