The Washington times., 1903-02-19
Much Suffering Occasioned
Yesterday and Today by
the Biting Temperature,
But No Deaths So Far.
Associated Charities and
Salvation Army Kept Busy
Alleviating the Distress of
the Poor.

The bottom of the cold WAVE has been
reached in this city. From now on the
temperature will moderate until the
balmy spring time breezes wipe the
snowy covering from the ground and
bring forth buds and flowers. This was
promised today by the Weather Bureau
after careful study OF the reports of the
thousands Of observers throughout the
country.
While as low a temperature has not
been recorded today as yesterday. the
day has been practically colder and the
suffering accordingly greater. Yesterday
a minimum temperature OF 3 degrees
above zero was reached at $50 o'clock,
but It rapidly grew warmer. and by the
time the people were compelled to leave
their warm homes for their places of
business the temperature was more than
10 degrees above that point. This morn
ing the mercury did not go below the
degree mark, but there IL fingered for
some hours. and at 10 o'clock had only
climbed to degrees. 1t was but little
warmer at noon and with the winds that
prevailed the cold penetrated even heavy
clothing as it did not succeed in doing
yesterday.
Firemen Had Hard Time.
Among the fremen the situation was
several times critical. and throughout
the day practically the entire depart
ment was kept busy fighting the spread
OF hames The five alarms for the
Moses warehouse fire left only four
companies in quarters, the Anacostia
engine. the engine company in the
northeastern section OF the city, and
the trucks in Mount Pleasant and
GEORGETOWN. These companies were
moved into the houses in the more cen
trail sections OF the city. vacated by the
other companies. But only a portion
of the companies BAD returned from the
first FIRE when two alarms for the FIRE
on G Street practically emptied the en-
gine houses OF the city. Several local
alarms also came in during the day, ne
cessitating the sending of companies 10
different parts OF the city, and had an
additional large hre started, the depart
rnent would have been unable to cope
with IL.
The suffering among the firemen was
intense, and increased as the day OF
hard work progressed. and they became
10 a greater or less degree exhausted
The wind that prevailed made the situa-
tion especially critical. Frozen plugs
also occasioned no end OF trouble, and
DELAYED the placing Of streams of water.
Pedestrians who sought shelter within
the sIow-moving cars of the traction
companies found but little comfort The
powerhouses are worked to their ca
pacity under normal conditions. and at
the very time that heat was most need
ed in them 1t was found necessary TO
shut of the heaters in the cars to sup
ply power to move the cars. Disregarding
this condition the Ninth Street and
other lines persisted in hauling the open
trailers over the streets. although pas
senEers refused to ride in them. and
hacked into the box cars TO the limit of
endurance.
But Little Sleighing-
II was remarked that few sleighs
were seen in the streets. although the
opportunity was most inviting. On the
downtown streets the merry Jingle OF
the bells appears to De almost a thing
OF the past, and even in the suburbs
there is a marked diminution in the
number that were wont to be seen in
times past. The irrepressible youngsteT
with his sled has taken possession OF
the hills for coasting. and every avail
able space was crowded to its utmost
capacity.
Despite the enormous increase in the
consumption of fuel in the city. there
is as yet an abundance for all imme-
diato needs. and the promise OF the
weather Bureau gives little ground for
uneasiness on this score. Several of the
dealers who have a supply Of coal or
hand which they bought at high prices