Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-01-26
WAS ALMOST ZERO WEATHER
COUNTRY IN GRIP OF THE
SNOW KING.
The Roads In Bad Condition And
The Wind Blowsa Gale
A Cold Night

With the thermometer making brave
efforts to play tag with the zero
mark, with the wind taking short cuts
across the face of nature and the snow
piling fence high, the residents of
Annapolis and the county shivered in
their misery last night. Such a night
as last night was never before exper-
fenced by the oldest inhabitant
Other nights may have been colder,
but it has been years and years since
the combination of snow, cold and
wind did their best to overcome the
etfors of man. 1t was the coldest night
of the year or winter, the mercury
dropping to 8 degrees above zero. 1t
was argued by some that the thermom.
eter would have dropped to a lower
point had it not been for the fact that
the wind carried the cold away while
others claim the cold was more appar-
en- than the mercury would seem TO
Indicate solely by reason of the wind.
No matter what argument is adj
vanced with reference to the matter
the fact remains that it was cold, bit
terly cold, and that the storm was in
the nature of a blizzard. All night
the wind blowed in sweeping gusts
that threatened TO tear things loose
from their fastenings. Many chin
neys were blown down, old shingles
we're loosened and carried far away
and poorly constructed houses rocked
on their foundations as though taking
passage on storm bound ship. Most
of the county roads were blockaded,
but the milkmen managed to get in
with their daily supply of the lacteal
fluid.
In spite of sthis fact, however, the
milk supply for Annapolis fell off to
a wonderful extent as the cold had a
very depressing effect on the milk
producing ability of the bovines.
Bottles of milk left on doorsteps froze
solid before it was taken in by the
hoseholders and many hydrants were
put out of commission. The steam
roads were running practically on
time and little difficlty was exper-
fenced in the deep cuts. Whenever
heavy drift was encountered the en-
glnes would crowd ON steam and lunge
through. A sudden sIackening of the
speed was noticed, but the momentum
was sufficient to carry the train along
until a partially clear track was
reached.
So cold did it become in many houses
last night that receptacles in which
liquids were placed, froze hard and
fast. Furnaces and stoves were worked
overtime and it is greatly surprising
that fires we're not started by reason
of overwroked heating apparatus. The
men who carry the mail to points in
the county were forced to go on horse
back. They had great difficulty in
getting through, in many places it be-
ing necessary to go into the fields to
get around particularly deep drifts.
The reports from all parts of the
country are to the effect that the
weather is of a most severe character,
and in many incidents of an unprece-
dented nature. How long the weather
will last is a matter OF conjecture,
but the Weather Bureau, which gave
timely warning through the Capital of
the coming storm, promises q sur
cease tomorrow. 1t will be fair and
cold tonight and considerably warmer
tomorrow.
Shipping is entirely at a standstill
and nothing is venturing out in the
face of the heavy sea and strong wind.
Already there is a strong indication
that in the very near future there will
be q decided shortage in oysters.