The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-12-29
PREDICT MILD WINTER.
WEATHER PROPHETS GEEER-
 ALLY AGREE

Ground Hog, Squirrel and GOOsebone
 Bases of Calculation Which All Point
 One way-Sea Captain Approves
 Horace Johnson Fails.
 Since Thanksgiving the Connecticut weather prophets have been having their innings in the newspapers with predictions as to the probabilities of cold winterd, such as we have had for two years past, or one of a more moderate and comfortable kind.
 These worthy men, who get only faint praise if wrong, have various ways of reaching their conclusions, some sticking to the old-time ground hog basis, and others offering new methods. For some reasons, however, no one of them, so far as noted in the papers, have observed whether the squirrels have laid away more than the usual supply of nuts. Many old farmers regard the unusual industry of the squirrels in this line as indicat- ing a cold winter and long one.
 The goosebone prophet is heard from this time at Clinton. His name is Billy James, and Clinton people seek him on all occasions when it is desired to determine what sort of a day the next one may turn out to be, in regard o rain or snow. He will aslo predict storms, tell when evtra low tides are coming, etc. "When goosebone shows scarlet" he says, that's good sign for 8 soft winter. I've seen that this fall. If it had been purple 1t would have meant hard winter. If long cloud streamers appear in the sky most likely they spell Tom ana Jerry or shot toddies.' Anyway it would be @ good time to get close to the fire"
 The ground hog prophet was an old farmer who came from Great Hill into Derby the othe rday and told re- porter that he had seen a ground hog 20 into winter quarters early in Mo- yenlber, expecting to stay until spring. But the warm weather tempted the Grea Hill ona to come out and look around. He found some snow on the ground, but saw his shadow and went back Into his hole for another six months sleep. The farmer thinks that this indicates we are to have about
  then the winter will be over. He ad- rnits that the ground hog may have lost count, vut says that he has heard bluejays singing in his orchards and seen robins hopping around the barn yard, and he infers from this that peo- pie will be able to save soal this win tier. .....A..
 Fred Laribee, farmer living in Marion village in Southington, backs the hogs melt against the goosebone or anything else, as the snrest weather indicator. He butchers hogs as side line, and from observations of the rnilts, thus far, he concludes: "Decem- Der is to have moderate temperature up to the last week. January will be open, cold, followed by a mild period up to about the 2Oth. From then to the 30th you will need to pile on the wood to keep warm. February will be the coldest month, and it will be very cold. The spring will be late, but when winter does let up, spring will come in with a rush"
 Captain J. w. Tyron, a sea captain down New Haven way, has hada gaad chance to study the weather during his many years at sea. His prediction is that this will be moderate winter, with occasional cold snaps, but noth- ing to be compared to the long. cold spells of 8 year ago.
 "A South Manchester observer calls attention to the fact that all the storms are clearing off warm. This indicates, in his judgment, that the winter will be an open one.
 Horace Johnson, who predicted the heaviest snowstorm of the season slipped up--New London Day.