Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-03-05
Extreme Cold Weather of
Year That Are Past

were covered with hard and solid ice;
the fruit trees even in Languedoc
were killed by the frost.
In 1894, the weather was so severe
that the Rhine and the Scheldt were
frozen. and even the sea at Venice.
The year 1908 was uncommonly
cold, and snow lay at immense depth
even at Padua.-Wheat rose in the
Windsor market from Sc to 56 shil-
lings a quarter.
In 1921 and 1922, all the rivers OF
Europe were frozen, and even the
Zuider Zee. A sheet or ice covered
the Hellespont; and the Venetian fleet
was choked up in the lagoons Of the
Adriatic.
In 1855, the winter was very severe
especially in Sweden. The excessive
quantities of snow and rain which
fell did great injury in Scotland.
The winters of 1858, 1859 and 1860
were intensely cold The rivers in
Italy bore heavy carriages; and so
much snow had not fallen at Rome
for several centuries. It was in 1858.
that Charles X. of Sweden crossed
the Little Belt over the ice from Hol-
stein to Denmark, with his whole
army foot and horse, followed by the
train of baggage and artillery. During
these years the price of grain was
nearly doubled in England; a circum-
stance which contributed, among
other causes, to the Restoration.
In 1870 the frost was most intense
in England and Denmark, both the
Little and the Great Belt being frozen.
In 1854, the winter was excessively
cold-Forcst trees, and even the
oaks in England. were split by the
frost. Most Of the hoInes were killed
Coaches drove on the Thames which
was covered with ice II inches thick
Almost all the birds persisted.
In 1851, the cold was so excessive
that the famishcd wolves entered
Vienna. and attacked the cattle, a0I
even men
The winter Of 1895, was extremely
severe and protracted The frost il
Germany began in October, and CON
tinued till April; and many people
were frozen to death.
The years 1897 and 1899 were nearly
as bad. In England the price OF
wheat, which in proceeding years had
seldom reached to 80 shilIings a quar-
ter, now mounted to 713
In 1909 occurred that famous win
ter. callel by distinction the cold win
ter. All the rivers ana lakes wera
frozen, and even the seas. to the dis
lance of several miles from the shore
The frost is said to have penetrated
three yards into the ground. Birds
and wild beasts we're strewed dead in
the fields, and men persisted by thon-
sands in their houses. The moro
tender shrubs and vegetables in Eng
and were killed; and wheat rose in
its price from two to four pounds
quarter In the south of France, tn
olive plantations were almost entirely
destroyed; nor have they yet rocov-
cred from that fatal disaster The
Adriatic Sea was quite frozen ovcr.
and even the coast of the Mediterran-
can about Genoa and The citron ana
orange groves suffered extremely io
the finest parts OF Italy.
In l71G, the winter was very cold.
On the Thames booths were erected
and fairs held. The printers ana
booksellers pursued their professions
upon its surface.
1926, the winter, was so intense that
people Travelled in sleds across tn
strait from Copenhagen TO the pro
vince of Scandal in Sweden,
In 1929, much injury was done by
the frost, which lasted from October
till May. In Scotland muItitudes Of
cattle and sheep were buried in the
snow; and many of the forest trees
in other parts Of Europe were killed.
The successive winters of 1871 and
1892 were likewise extremely cod
The cold of 1740 was scarceIy in
ferior to that of 1909 The snow lay
eight and ten feet deep in Spain ami
Portugal The Zuider Zee was frozen
over, and many thousand persons