Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-01-26
how'lng Nor'westerly Storm
Brought Ice and Binding
Fall of Fine Snow.
MLRCUkY TOOK SUDDEN DROP
Vessels Remained in i4arbor for shei.
ter and Some Fared Badly Even
While Riding at Anchor-Barae
Went Adrift and Caused Excitement.
Steamers and Street Cars.

1lcks-hc Of the !ong-range fore
casting fraternity-lays the blame on
Mercury The enterprising young
man who handles the weather for Un.
Gle Sam in this section ayers that it
was an injudiciouS admlXture Of
highs and lows leaving jack and
the game entirely out OF consideration.
Which OF those veracious and highly
versatile gentlemen is right this lie.
Donent saith not, especially in view of
the fact that Mercury was not acces-
sible last night and there is no de-
sire TO pose as an authority on the
points involved in game almost as
popular as that which recently has
been forced into the nuisance class
Began Early and Made Day Of It,
1t began yeste1,a;:: morning in the
wee sma hours" ere the merry milk
man began his festive rounds. and
was Still bowling and suffering when
the FOUNDERS wendell their weary way
honewartl this morning. At IL o'clock
Tuesday night there was a steady
downpour OF rain. Almost impercept.
IDLY the wind shifted to the southwest
and tho rain gradually turne; into
snow. Further around toward the
TO gather increased strength as il
went. On the crest Of the storm came
cold wave, and the rnsophis,icated
citizen, who was gently lullad TO sleep
beneath one blanket by the drowSy
splash OF the rain drops. dreamed OF
k!ondlkc temperature. ice gOrsas and
billiards.. until he awoke With a sillv.
erlng start and began still hun, for
another comforter. Then when he
arose this morning and Scll:ldad before
the chilly blasts to the center Of the
city and noticed that tine thermometer
registered in the neiShborhood Of 25
degrees Fahrenheit. he rubbed his eyes
and took second look
Wind Held High Carnival.
All day long the gale howled over
head and swept the Slight snowfall into
small. singing cd;lies of concentrated
irigidiy. Few persons braved the
storm save those who We're forced 10
DO SO. and even those who Rugged
stoves and CRATES found it difficult to
escape the blasts which so assiduous-
ly sought out the weak spots in every
building III the city
Out in the harbOr angry, white
capped waves dashed furiously toward
the shore line, making tugs and small
=
The regular steamers made their
trips. but had Il hard time While tho.
ZINE Beach was cnueavoring to make
Il landing at Scw&l!'S Point last night
she was exposed to tho full fury or the
storm. It took several minutes 10 :.
cure the vessel 10 the pier and even
then she was hurled against the piles
with sufficient force 10 make those
aboard uneasy On this side Of the
ltnads there was less trouble.
he Old Dominion steamer Luray.
from Norfolk TO SntEtie,, had a hard
time making a landing at pier A yes
tclday morning and snapped three
hawstrs before she succeeded in tying
Excitement in the Harbor.
Great excitement was created among
the shippers and crews of the twenty
three storm bound barges and schoon-
ers III port yesterday afternoon, when
the barge Ohio broke from her anchor.
age ana driven by the gale began 10
noat rapidly down James river
through the big fleet of vessels.
Two Chesapeake 4 Ohio tugs set out
in chase OF the runaway barge and
captured her after she had been
blown several hunnred Yards II is
reported that the barge narrowly es-
capel collision with several vessels
riding at anchor in the harbor, but for
tunately no damage was done to any
vessel The Ohio after being captured
was taken III tow by a tug and again
anchored in the harbor.
Street Cars Had Time.
The stree car companiea had a rough
time and through cars We're running
behind schedule time all night
The gale seemed to reach its height
last night about O'Clock and for sey.
cral hours it is believed that the wind
reached velocity OF at least fifty
miles an hour. All shipping had been
warned, however, and it is not likely
that there have heen any disasters
TO shipping i'll this immediate section.
The weather man promises contin.
ned cold, with high northwest winds
Tor today. but puts in saving clause
hy declaring that j. will not be so
cold tomorrow Incidentally, it may be
a matter Of encouragement 10 those
VINO believe in the Hicks school OF
prophets TO learn that the st. Louis
prophet believes that this Mercury
disturbance" is liable to be the worst
storm Of the winter
Sunar Cana Hro,nero IL co~.: