The Washington times., 1902-02-03

The Ground Hog said to his Ground Hog wife
II look like that you can bet your life
| That back TO the hole I'll go.''
Mr.. Ground Hog emerged from his sub
terranean retreat yesterday, poked hi
nose into The sunlight which cast a few
faint shadows on the snow -covere,
and hurried back.
lie probably knew that the Weather
| Bureau would predict a cold wave for to
| day. which it did late last night after
Prof. Henry had thrust his head from
| Weather Bureau window to feel the colo
blasts which whirled through the Capita
from the northwest
Forty days of mighty rank weather's
coming" said the forecast official. as he
issued the following ong-looked-for bull
| letin:
Will BE Much Colder.
For the District of Columbia. fair and
much colder, with cold wave Monday
| Tuesday fair and cold; brisk northwestern
| ly winds, diminishing"
The bad weather is over" said the
Official 1T is going to be cold. brac-
| lngly cold. But storms-neyer,"
The views of the Weather Bureau and
Mr. Ground Hog do not coincide entirely.
| and as a result of the disagreement
Wsshingtonans with sporting proclivi-
ties are now placing money on the back
ers of the various predictions, with odds
| about 5 to in favor of the little burrow-
ing animal.
News n Trine Late.
The Bureaus announcement nf an an
preaching cold wave was a trife late in
coming out. Everybody in Washington
knew all about 1t early yesterday, when
the brisk Winds as the forecasters say,
or little hurricanes" to be correct. be-
gan to whistle through the slippery
streets, tapping awnings, tearing down
signs. and leaving pathway of shivering
humanity tightly clutching its outer gar
ments in their wake
1t was a very disa greeable windstorm
which entered the city out Rock Creek
way. 1t had fashion OF making per-
son walk as though he were a disabled
sailboat with broken rudder For some
little time il roared through the slushy
thoroughfares at a thirty x-mile- per-
hour speed, and under its frigid influence
it hardened the muddy snow and held
forth promises of sleighrides for today,
lasts.
Property Meets Dnmnge.
Some little damage to detachable prop
erty was done by the brisk winds" and
many were the amusing occurrences re-
sulting. In front of one of the downtown
Pennsylvania Avenue hotels there stood a
theatrical sign board. composed of a
wooden frame, with a gay picture, paint
OF san str nod it
tall, dignified man, walking along
with small woman who threatened to
blow away, was made ridiculous by the
sign when it suddenly blew away, coming
into violent contact with his head The
black silk hat crashed through the ilimsy
material Of the tbeatrical poster
Ia view of the fact that the storm is
and has been general throughout the
country 1t is regarded as surprising that
but comparatively little damage has been
done to the telegraph wires. The Western
Union reports only little annoyance, while
the Postal is all right with the exception
of districts south of Richmond, where the
heavy sleetfall has broken down several
lines. There is only one line south from,
the Virginia capital. and the work is
about eight hours behindhand. North OF
New York trouble has also been eS-
perienced.
Plenty of Skating.
The promise of cold wave by the
Weather Bureau will mean skating for
those who enjoy the sport. Prof. Henry
says that the frigid weather will freeze
the slush in the streets and coat every
thing with ice. The poor of the city will
suffer, and the charitable organizations
will be busy during the next few days.
Mr AtrYtp
forty days Of bad, wintry
weather will be held in mind with anxious
forcbodings.
The gale seriously interfered with the |
police telephone and telegraph system. |
Almost every precinct station was with |
out communication by wire with the vari- !
Gus signal boxes scattered throughout the |
city while the Fire Department was on |
the alert throughout the night be |
cause of interference by the wind with |
alarm wires the city over. Reports of |
wires out of order came in continually |
all night.
Police Unable to Report
Policemen on duty were unable to re
port hourly to their respective stations,
as is required by the regulations. Only
when an arrest was made did an officer
ind his way to the station during his
hours of street duty.
Frequently it was not possible to sum
non the patrol wagon 10 convey the pris-
,ner to the station. and the officer making
he arrest was compelled to leave his
1eat and 20 to the station with the man
lie had in charge.
Several accidents OF a minor nature were
.eported Aliens saloon, i2G Tenth Street
northwest, now has a broken show win
low because Of the force OF the wind.
The awning before the saloon was also
'wept away The damage is estimated at
40.
The showcase in front Of the store Of II.
3. Darling, 43i Ninth Street. was broken
~ the wind. and so damage was done.
Eilletts cigar store. in the Atlantic
is without the sign which hung
n front of the place. The wind caught
[ last night and carried it down f Street
ome distance. The sign is worth $40, and
I viii have to be repaired.
ON To the Coast.
Mr.. and Mrs. John G. Hcsse have lef,
he city on an extended trip to California
nd the Pacific Coast. They expect to re
lain away a month. Mr. Hesse is an