The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-18

The man whose business kept him out
of doors yesterday was, to use a slang
phrase, 'out of luck" The weather was
so bitterly cold that business was prac-
tically at a standstill The person who
was not strenuous i'm his activity while
out of doors was either equipped with buff
falo overcoat was stimulated by liquids
sufficiently potent to keep out biting
cold. The street-car service was bad
and most Of the cars were running
without regard to schedules. The incom-
ing and outgoing trains from the Union
Station were all more or less late in ar
irving and leaving and all railroads re-
ported that their time cards were tenn
porarily turned to the wall. The teIe-
phone and telegraph companies were en-
barrassed with wire grief'' and il was
with much trouble that important mes
sages for the East and West were got out
Of the city, In short, all of the incon-
veniences experienced before with cold
weather recurred with unusual vigor
yesterday.
RECORD-BREAKING COLD.
Yesterday was the coolest day for this
time of the year experienced in Indian
apolis for thirty-two years. The lowest
temperature registered during the day was
at 8 O'Clock yesterday morning. when the
official thermometer at the signal station
OF the Weather Bureau. on the roof of the
Majestic building. registered SO degrees be-
low zero. During the day the temperature
reached maximum temperature of l de-
gree above zero for short time during
the afternoon, but at o'clock last night
ii had again dropped to zero. with indi-
cations OF greater descent before MORN
ing.
To add to the frigidity a biting wind
blew at a rate of more than twenty miles
an hour. The unusual drop i'm the tenn
perature began at o'clock Monday night
and il gradually grew colder until yester-
day morning, when, with the full force OF
its severity, il greeted the early riser. At
at o'clock. below. and at o'clock IL
made record with SO degrees below zero.
The cold weather of Feb. 3. lSsS-S de-
grees below zero; the IA degrees or ctdd be-
low fe1 zero % on Feb. IA, 1875. and the same
temperature recorded yesterday OF Feb.
IL, 1885, are the only days that compete
with yesterday for the distinction Of be-
ing the phenomenal days of history for
cold weather in February. For the first
time I'm thirty-two years the temperature
of 9 degrees below zero was found in
Marion county during the latter half OF the
month of February.
The usual suffering among the poor was
noticeable yesterday and last night
Families of unfortunates, who, either
through improvidence or misfortune. were
unable to keep their stoves aglow with
heat, suffered greatly and many instances
of misery were reported TO the police and
charity organizations Secretary Grout, OF
the Associated Charities, saw that much
coal was distributed gratis TO poor people
yesterday and the Friendly Inn did much
to assist the poor.
OUT OF THE COLD.
The lettering places of the city were
crowded during the day. The courtrooms
and Iounging places down town were filled.
and the galleries of the two chambers OF
the Legislature were comfortable spots In
much demand.
The cold day was boon 10 some busi-
nesses and a frost for others. A statis-
tician estimated last night that Ss7 gallons
of Tom and Jerry and hot toddy were con-
suned during the day by the male popu-
lation of the city, and street-car con-
ductor estimated. by taking his a
basis for the calculation. that 4.o2s half
consumed cigars were thrown away by pas
sengers who refused to stand on the back
platform and smoke Carrying out the
estimates, a messenger boy figured last
zero and nineteen brooks from the Journal
Office TO the telegraph office, instead OF two
blocks, as has been generally believed here
tofore. He also said that IL was his per-
sonal opinion that more urgent requests for
messenger boys to the square inch existed
in Indianapolis yesterday and last night
than ever before in the memory of the most
aged of the inhabitants of the city.
The indications for better weather are
good Last night intensely cold
period. but to-day and tomorrow VIII see a
slow but steady rise I'm the temperature
About 10 O'Clock last night the intense cold
keen and a slight dusty snowfall indicated
that the temperature was slowly rising