Evening star., 1909-03-04
WEATHER PROPHET WRONG
Ardor of Participants and Spectator:
Dampened by Snow and Slush.
DISAPPOINTMENT FOR THRONG
"I Knew It Would Be a Cold Day
When I Became President"
Says New Executive.

Washington was swept by a blizzard
| early today.
Despite weater conditions the worst
of any inauguration day since Cleve-
land first took the oath of Office as
President of the United States, the COM
mittee having in charge the Inauguration
of William Howard Taft made no change
in the program of ceremonies in front of
the Capitol.
A wet, clinging snow. driven before a
singing northwest wind, fell throughout
the night and wrought havoc with tele-
phone and telegraph wires. completely
cutting off the Capital city from cammu-
nication with the remainder of the coun-
try for many hours. Snow and slush filled
the streets to the depth of foot or more
| in places.
The wind thrashed many Of the city
prettiest decorations to threads. The I'M
mense reviewing stands along the line OF
march were made well nigh uninhaoitanle
| by the swirling snow. Street car and
| railroad traffic was impeded to the extent
| Of seriously delaying the arrival of thou
| sands who had planned to attend the
| inaugural ceremonies.
Cold Day for MI. Taft.
President-elect and Mrs. Taft spent last
night at the White House as the guests
| of President and Mrs. Roosevelt.
IT always knew it would be cold day
when I was made President Of the United
States," was the laughing remark of Mr..
| Taft this morning, as he looked out OF
| the White House windows on one OF the
The wet snow, clinging to trees and
shrubbery. had transformed the White
House grounds into q veritable fairyland
Of dazzling white and fantastic forms
| It was 8 o'clock and Mr.. Taft had Just
| finished his breakfast He had spent the
earlier hours Of the morning going over
his inaugural address, eliminating para
graph after paragraph. which he intended
to omit in reading the document today.
The address for publication he allowed
Mr. Taft said that he had never felt bet
ter in his life. Personally the terrible
weather was not hardship to him. He
regretted exceedingly. however. the con-
militia and the marching clubs who had
| travelled so many miles to have part IN
the pageantry of the inaugural parade.
| President Roosevelt. who has always
| chosen stormy weather for his most
| strenuous riding and walking expeditions.
greeted his successor with rare good
humor as they met at breakfast. There
was much banter between the friends
| who play today such important roles In
| the newly written chapter Of American
history.
Weather Prophet Wrong.
With the break of day the weather bu-
reau's prophecy Of fair and somewhat
cooler was found to be but an empty
dream. The authorities In charge of the
actual ceremonies Of the taking OF Office
by the new President said that the cere-
mony could be held in the Senate cham
ber. II 1t finally became necessary. with
out making further arrangements than
those already agreed upon for the admin
istration of the oath of off1ce to Vice
President-elect Sherman.
The parade In the afternoon was cur
tailed. spelling what promised to be one
Of the most splendid spectacles of march
ing men ever seen on Pennsylvania ave-
nue..
Washington is filled with a record
breaking throng whose disappointment
today knows no bounds Owners of re-
viewing stand privileges and ticket specu-
lators will lose thousands Of dollars
Today's storm-the worst Washington
has known in ten years-follOwed weather
which for a time yesterday was sugges-
tive of late April. Fog was followed by
heavy showers and rising temperature.
Thunder and lightning played about the
city in the afternoon and then with the
coming night snow began to fall.
The weather bureau had sent out a
definite promise of fair weather for to-
Qdys however. AS the WlHQ ndO Sn1IIcu
from east to north and west, Washing
tonians were inclined to smile at the
snow as calculated simply to send cold
shivers down the backs Of the govern
ment's optimistic prophets.
At midnight, in spite of the continuous
fall of snow and the white covering Of
the streets, the weather bureau adhered
to its prediction and proclaimed anew that
the day of Mr.. Taft's Inauguration would
be IDEAL. Prof. Willis Moore, in charge
Of the weather service. sent message
to Mr.. Taft at the White House last
night assuring him through the vale of
binding snow that he would take office
under cloudless skies, with flood of
sunshine and temperature of about 40
degrees.
Visitors Keep Of Streets.
Downtown Washington was deserted
this morning during the hours which
in previous inaugural years have wit
messed the struggling of thousands for
places Of vantage along the sidewalks of
the route of the big parade Street car
traffic was so uncertain that few people
In the residential districts cared to ven
ture forth.
Hundreds who on yesterday had paid
fancy prices for grandstand seats re-
mained at home regardless Of their Pc
cuniary loss.
The street cleaning department prepared