The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-28
SEVERE SNOWSTORM
ENVELOPS CITY
Traffic Little Hindered, But the
Severe Cold is Keenly Felt
By the Poor.
BY the Poor.

After week ~ warm. sptiit5 weather,
vfen tile representations OF tho gronna-
hog seemed To have proved ~ fa'iit.
WINTER suddenly resumed again an nn-
disputed SWAY. and. clothed IN MS whi,e
mantle. paid A. days visit to the city
again.
The storn which vlsitcd Richn1ond yer
to-day was central yesterday morning
IN North Carolina. whence IL moved east
ward, attended with rain thronshou.
the Southern states. and with snow III
Virginia and as far northward MS the
Grent Lakes. The storm struck this city
early yesterday morning. and COON COW
cred the streets with fall or snow two
or three inches In depth.
Fair weather closely followed tho storm,
and foI. to-day the prediction ls for
weather fair and cool
The great stress of the storm was
probably felt on the coast. on accoun,
OF the driving gales and the binding,
heavy snow. Yesterday afternoon the
center of the storm moved to about two
hundred miles out at sea, where 1t is
probable that the storm was felt In its
worst severity, and where 1t IL likely that
all the smaller craft were in no little
peril. But at 2 o'clock the high pressure
began rising. aud the storm was getting
pretty we'll by.
In the city the snow began coming
down early in the morning in driving
binding mist, and ere noon the streets
were covered with 4 soft. filmy mass that
was anything but comfortable for the
foot passengers. The pavements soon
became dangerously slippery, and though
there were no serious accidents reported.
there was much sliding and tumbling.
High, Cold Wind.
With the fall OF night the snow de-
creased. but the wind grew more bitter
and shrill. and by such or those whose
business kept them on the streets later
in the night. the cold, piercing wind wa.
the more keenly felt. On the street cor
ners the poor beggars and blind mendi-
cants shivered as with the ague in their
thin covering of rags and tatters For
the blind. the crippled and the helpless.
the day was particularly harsh. and many
n poor Grant wnnderer was driven to
find such shelter as he could. From Pill
lar TO post the shivering mendtcar,ts were
driven by the bowling wind and the blind
ing, freezing snow, until they werc forced
to seek refuge in the mission homes or In
the police stations.
Both the Ballard Neighborhood House
and the Methodist Institute were COM
pletely filed by nightfall, and in the
sleep on a shake-down In lieu OF more
comfortable bed. But the refugees We're
glad for anything that would afford
them shelter and 81 bite to eat on such "a
bitter night. At least fifty men and
women found their way to these homes
for the destitute and starving. and with
plnched noses and blue. tear-wet cheeks
begged for shelter from the dark, snowy
night and for few morsels Of food to
duell the pangs of an acute, biting hunger.
I, AT the Ballard House twenty-three men
| and TWO women were given Christian
| refuge Superintendent Buchanan lei
down the bars to all who applied for re-
| lief. Whatever their condition. their posi-
ton or their history. On such a night
he said that he could turn none away.
So the rooms were lit and warmed with
, glowing fires. a little food was spread
on the tables and the gaunt. hunger
| stricken crowd were given all the warmth
and cheer that a Christian. charitable
humanity could demand. Besides the feed
ing of these wanderers, Mr.. Buchanan
| had several calls from the, outside for
food and fuel.
Poor Caught Unawares.
Many families. deluded with the idea
that spring was at hand. were caught
| with very few of the neccssaries of life,
and they all had to be supplied. Even
with the work of the two city missions,
1t is highly probable that many a poor
child and woman went to bed with ach-
ing hearts and empty mouths.
| AT the Methodist Institute the same
| conditions confronted Superintendent
| Sharp. All through the cold. wintry
| day there poured IN the doors of the
mission an unceasing tide of human
| misery and want, and when at last the