Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-26
BLIZZARD WEAT HER.
Washington in the Track OF
Severe Storm.
RELIEF PROMISED
MODERATING TEMPERATURES
PREDICTED FOR TOMORROW.
Quito Door Labor in the District at
Stand Still-Demands
on Charities.

Washington awoke this morning to find
itself in the embrace of blizzard tempera-
ture Of degrees above zero, with a north
wind that was both searching and severe.
The prediction made for The Star yester-
day by Prof. Edward B. Garriott of the
weather bureau that the snow and storm
clouds would pass away during the night,
leaving fair and cold weather in their wake.
was verified.
The lowest Washington temperature"
said Professor Garriott today, was 5 de-
grees above the zero mark, which was reg
lstered by our thermometer between and
O'Clock this morning. There will be no ap-
preciable rise of the temperature today OF
tonight. but 1t will begin moderating slowly
tomorrow
The cold wave has been sweeping one,"
continued the weather prophet land away
down on the gulf coast the mercury went
GOWN TO point Is degrees above Zero In
florlda the unusually low temperatures
nave brought about a rather serious condi-
tlon The thermometer at Jacksonville reg
lstered at last report about Is degrees above,
~hlch may mean great damage to tropical
trees, growths and fruit. Should this Flor
foa temperature continue tonight it will
make the conditions there acute. No tele-
graphic report was received from Jackson
vile this morning, the belief being that the
wires 10 that city were down.
1t is cold everywhere" was Prof Gar
RIOTS suggestive remark, but is beginning
10 moderate Slightly in the west. There is
no definite storm in sight in the west now
Gaies were reported from the New England
coast, where the icy north winds last night
oleW at velocities ranging from sixty to
seventy miles an hour
Labor Handicapped.
Outdoor labor in the District has been
practically suspended owing to the prev
alence of the intensely cold wave, which
has been described by a weather bureau Of
fetal as "a Junior blizzard. This serious
condition for the workingmen of Washing
ton who toll in the open was developed to-
day by many inquiries made by Star re-
porters at the several points of employ
ment. An approximate estimate of the
number of toilers who are temporarily de-
pr1ved of means of livelihood for them
selves and their families was this morning
placed at nearly 1,OO0 men.
About 200 men employed at the filtration
plant and on other outside work by the
Brennan Construction Company have been
laid off, as 1t was found to be impossible
to continue the work during the continue
ance of this blizzard temperature
Al of our outside work Is tied up
said Capt. Sewell of the United States En-
greer Corps who is in charge of the con-
neer buildings at the Washington barracks.
This means the loss of employment dur
ing the prevalence of the cold wave by
fully 100 men. most of them breadwinners
for their families.
The outside work of the District parking
commission has been suspended, it was
stated at the Office of the commission to-
day, necessitating the laying off of the WIN
ter force of fifteen men, Other suspensions
occurred at the navy yard and other places
where it was found impossible to continue
outdoor work owing to the frigid weather
conditions.
Owing to the low wages received by this
class of workmen but few of them have
been able to save any of their earnings for
such emergencies as the present, it is said,
ana there is much consequent suffering
among them.
Work of the Charities
The agents of the Associated Charities,
the st. Vincent de Paul Society and other
charitable organizations have been kept
busy alleviating the suffering in the homes
of the poor. One family in Southeast Wash
ingtor was reported to Secretary Weller os
the Associated Charities to be without
heat of any kind in their home. Several
coal-oil heaters are kept hand by that
organization for just such emergencies,
and one of these was taken to the home,
the atmosphere of which was much like
that of cold-storage plant. The coal-oil
heater was installed to furnish temporary
Eeat until a better stove could be supplied
or other arrangements made.
Driven to cover by the marrow-chilling
blasts from the north, many homeless way
farers sought shelter at the municipal lods-
ing house on 18th street, at the Central
Union Mission and the several missions CT
the Homeward Bound system.
This weather would drive man to des-
peration and cause him to break into JAIL,
said warmly bundled-up policeman on
rar,ia act 10Th ho IL.
rected a shivering tramp to one of the mis-
sion lodging places.
The blizzard of last night the police say,
will be remembered by Eugene Jones for
many years to come Jones came within a
very narrow margin of being frozen to
death in Georgetown. Policeman Corn
we'll found him huddled in doorway about
11:20 o'clock last night, when the cold wave
was at its height. The icy blasts of wind
had heaped the scurrying snow over Jones,
who had become unconscious from the in
tense cold. 1t was stated that while wan
derng about in the blizzard Jones had
fallen into the doorway near SD and NJ
streets His hands were blue and frozen.
His feet had also Jared badly and his ears
were rigid. Had Policeman Cornwell been
delayed 5 minutes on his dreary rounds,
the physicians stated, Jones would have
been dead man. Almost as stiff and cold
as an icicle, the badly frozen man was
placed in the patrol wagon and rushed TO
the Georgetown University Hospital, where
prompt WOrK ana lHe dppllCdtioH VI iciuC-
dies will probably result in his recovery.
Jones lives at 1647 K street northwest.
Another man who came near being frozen
to death last night because of exposure to
the arctic weather was Charles B. McPher-
son, thirty-five years old, who was found in
an unconscious condition this morning
about 2 o'clock near 18th and H streets
northeast The police took him to the
Casualty Hospital. where the surgeons
found that his being out in the cold at such
an unusual hour was his own fault. He
vas in a serious condition, however, but
soon recovered and was able to go home
today.
Accidents Noted.
Several accidents were also recorded by
the police and at the hospitals as result
of the treacherous condition of the side
walks Thomas Wood. thirty-five years
| old, living at Belair. Alexandria county,
| Va fell on the slippery sidewalk near the
gas plant in Southeast Washington last
| night and sustained a fracture of his left
| leg The injured man, who is employed at
| the gas plant, was taken to Providence
Hospital for treatment.
l Pm he