The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1912-01-19
WESTMINSTER. MD.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, JAN. 70, 1912
THE WEATHER.

The extremely low temperature OF
tie past ten days OF more, f. excep-
tional fri this locality, and has pro-
duced much suffering. During most
OF the days Of this period, the ther-
mometer in Westminster has ranged
from A to IA degrees below zero, and
in some parts OF the county, much
lower. At New Windsor, seven
miles from Westminster, on Saturday
last, the 18th, inst the thermometer
registered 26 degrees below the zero
point.
The intense suffering attending this
cold snap has come from its persis-
tence. Day after day it kept on with
a temperature so low that it was
almost impossible to keep the best
houses warm and the inmates COM
Portable. Tit il safe to say that not
within the recollection OF any one
now living, have there been I'D many
frozen water pipes In Westminster
The services of the plumber have
been required in almost every house
in our town.
One of the compromising things In
connection with spell Of weather of
this sort, is the opportunity it affords,
to those who are benevolently inclin-
ed, to render help to the needy. And
to the credit of our citizens, we be-
Iieve this has been done to consid-
cradle extent.
"The Lend-a-Hand Club" is an or
ganization, embracing some Of the
most worthy ladies Of our town, and
il the agency through which large
part Or this charity has been dis
pensed. This Club IL To ID com
mended for the work 1T j. doing, and
should b. strongly upheld by our
people.
a. matter OF weather history, we
give below record, which shows
that we have had cold weather in
other years. A gentleman of our
town made the record at the time,
and has furnished 1t to the ADVO-
CATE.
"On Thursday, February 7th, 1895,
snow storm of unusual severity
swept over this region, and indeed
over great part Of the country. Tt
was remarkable for the low tempera-
ture which prevailed, and for the
great velocity Of the wind. Snow
commenced falling about nine o'clock
Oh the morning Of that day, and con
tinued for nearly twenty-four hours.
From the beginning the wind blew
a perfect hurricane, and continued
without material let up, day and
night for more than three days, with
a constant temperature not far above
zero and sometimes below it. The
weather was so intensely cold and the
snow was SO drifted that for three
days business was practically sus-
pended.
No mails were sent to or received
from Baltimore from Thursday eve
ming until Sunday, the blockade upon !
the Western Maryland Railroad being
10 great a. To prevent the moving OF
trains "a train with a number of pas
sengers was blockaded il the cut
near Avondale station, and was COM
PEELED to remain there for twenty
four hours. The passengers were
then taken to Mr.. James w. Beach
ANS, and afterwards brought to
Westminster. All the county and
other roads in every direction were
shut up and it required an unusual
amount of work to open them for
travel. Many of the snowdrifts in
the country were from 10 to Is feet
high.
Owing to the continued high wind
and low temperature, 1t was almost
impossible to keep the best protected
houses comfortably warm, and in
many places the suffering was very
great I'll is coceeded by ali to have
been the severest spell or weather
within their knowledge, the oldest
not remembering anything equal to
it.
Recorded for the comfort of the
shivering generations Of the future
who may suppose, in seasons Of ex-
treme weather, that their sufferings
are exceptional."