Evening journal., 1902-12-13
CITY ICE MEN
PUT To BLUSH
Not a Circumstance to Old
Fellow Who Coated Streets
and Trees
.NOT MUCH DAMAGE DONE

Trains Have Been Delayed and Trolley
Men and Shoppers Inconvenience
and Pedestrians Nurse Bruises, But
No Real Damage
The Ice King had been longing to
get out for months but fall fingered so
long in the lap of winter that he did
not venture forth from his cave, fear
ing that he would fall victim TO one
or the other of his old enemies, Sol or
Jupiter PluviuG. But yesterday, being
cold and cloudy, suited him to a nicety,
and be came out to see what prepara-
tions had been made for Christmas.
Then he started In on such a revel
as mere humans never dreamed of. but
the effects Of which they did not ex-
perience any difficulty I'm realizing.
His feet touched the sidewalks and inn
mediately they became covered with
Ice He blew his breath upon telegraph
and telephone wires. and they took on
an icy covering. He was in a more
frolicsome mood than when he made
his visitatione TO This city last Febru-
ary and March, therefore not so much
damage is TO be reported.
Walking last night and this morn
ing was a dangerous feat, and as a con-
sequence the street car lines did a
rushing business. Such people as were
Obliged to walk, took to the middle of
the street. Nevertheless hundreds OF
Wilmington people are nursing bruised
limbs and maybe heads, sustained by
unpremeditated contact with the ice
clad pavements.
The day was particularly hard upon
the market people and housewives. AS
a matter Of fact the markets we're
ilght, and correspondingly high prices
prevailed. However. the demand was
hot heaYy, as consumers preferred to
order their provisions by telephone
irom their grocers rather than venture
OUT at risk Of life and limb.
Railroad Men Suffer
Railroad men suffered severely nm
account of the stor1nn The sbiftine
crews and freight brakemen who were
forced to be out, say last might was one
or the worst they ever experienced.
Ihe cars were covered with sleet and
While several falls were had. no
serious accidents were the result.
The railroad yards about the city
were tied up on account OF the switches
being frozen Coming as it did. at this
time with the yards filed with cars
the storm was very inopportune. as
practically nothing was done last
night, and very little today. In the
switch frogs the ice ferns. filing them
to the level of The track. A force of
section men is kept busy cutting IL ont
with picks and shovels. as several acci-
dents have been caused by cars run
ming upon the ice and being derailed.
salt is being sprinkled constantly on
the switches to thaw them out. hut
they freeze almost as fast as they are
thawed.
All trains are running late. and the
trOileys have been seriously interfered
with. Cars were run all night over the
line from this city TO Darby
The telephone and telegraph compan-
les, while not having had their SER
vice seriously interfered with, have
been caused much trouble by the los
forming on their wires and causing
them to sag and come in contact with
other wires.
Several times this morning they be-
came entangled with the fire alarm
wires, and had the fire companies run
ming on wild goose chases several
times.
Police Circuit Out
The sleet put the first circuit Of the
police reporting system out of business.
II will not be in working order today.
A few of the other wires were reported
down, but the falling was not attended
with any serious results
Storm Did Not Extend Down State
Very little damage was done down
tho State by the storm, the sleet not
much farther down than
Middletown. but a heavy rain fall all
yesterday and last night in the lower
counties.