The Paducah evening sun., 1909-12-29
COLDEST WEATHER
IN MANY YEARS
RECORDED TODAY
Two Degrees Above Zero
This Morning by Govern.
ment Reading.
New Ice Forms First Time in
Paducah Harbor.
POOR PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.
Two degrees above zero.

A cold wind from the north that
sent the thermometer down to 2 de-
grees above zero swooped down on
Paducah last night. making the cold
est weather of the season. Since
daylight Old Sol has been gaining
steadily in his fight against Old Man
Crimp and the weather moderated
considerably.
Solid acres OF ice that formed Just
above Paducah drifted down with the
Ohio rivers current today and nav
igation. with the exception of the
running of the ferryboat Bette Owen
came to a standstill. A continued
cold wave will close navigation here
Paducah was thrown in Old Man
Crimp's clutches last night and he
held forth up until O'Clock this
morning, when the suns rays began
to offer resistance. During the morn
ing the thermometer climbed until
II reached 33 degrees above zero,
the highest temperature for the day.
The weather man does not mention
any change in the temperature and
predicts fair weather for tonight and
tomorrow. Increasing coldness to-
night probably viii send the mercury
below zero. as indications point to
continued cold weather.
This is the coolest weather in fve
years. and the cold spell of the last
two weeks breaks many seasons
record for endurance.
Ice accumulated today in excess of
yesterday in the river and rivermen
fear a blockade just below here.
Solid and heavy fioes continue form
ling around the local harbor and in
some places IT was possible to cross
the river on foot out from shore A
freeze over IL not likely. however, at
the present stage of the river which
marked G.5 feet this, morning. The
river is now falling and should a
gorge form below here il might oc-
cur The mouth of the Cumberland
river is gorged near Smithland and
navigation from Pittsburgh to Cairo.
| H., is closed down. The George
Cowiing succeeded in making her
trip to Paducah from Metropolis this
morning, but fear of venturing for
a return trip resulted in her being
tied up here for the day and nigh.
The ferryboat Bette Owen, guarded
with boiler iron, defied the ice and
made her regular trips, although she
lost much time lodging the Dig foes
OF ice. As every indication favors
a continuation of cold weather the
prospects are that the ferryboat will
have to tie up tomorrow or next day.
The outlook has never been quite so
good for a clogged stream.
Ice has not forced the Illinois Cen
trail transfer boat DeKoven to tie up
and the regular trains between here
and Brookport are being ferried
across.
Plumbers Busy.
Plumbers in the city had their
hands full today making repairs to
water pipes that froze and burst last
night. Hydrants had to be thawed
out. Usual trouble was experienced
with boilers. but no serious accl-
dents were reported
Charity Importuned.
Appeals from the poor of the city
to the Charity club were numerous
and deserving. All the coal received
from Bernheim Bros. at Louisville,
has arrived and is being distributed
among the unfortunate families.
Good skating.
Ice eight inches in thickness af-
fords safe skating today. In fact,
skating has been good for several
days, but the freeze last night made
the ice of sufficient strength to hold
the heavyweights. At the park lake
employees cleaned off the. snow today,
and gooi skating is afforded.
No Coal shortage.
No difficulty will be experienced in
Paducah over a coal shortage, as all
of the dealers have plenty of the
black diamond. and should no more
coal be received, 1t is said. the sup
ply now on hand would last a week
The retail dealers are flooded with
orders for the delivery of coal. and
they are being filled as rapidly as the
wagons can be used. No advance In
price is expected as since the holiday
-ush the railroads have been able to
upply the dealers with coal as fast
as needed. while the mines are run
ming full blast.
Owing to navigation being blocked
on the Ohio river the price of Pitts
burgh coal increased so cents on the
J ton. but 1t has not become effectiv'
here. Most of the coal used II
| Kentucky mines on the Louisville
Idivision of the Illinois Central rail
lroad.