Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-01-13
Mercury Drops to 4 Below
at s O'clock This Morning
--NoW lowering Above.
COAL DEALERS RUSHED
Staten Island Sound Frozen
Over from Shore to Shore
--Boats Make Passage.
WATER PIPES BURSTING
Hot Coffee for Trolley Crews
--Good Sleighing- MANY
Suffer from Exposure.
TEMPERATURE TO-DAY.

For the first time In five years,
Perth Amboy is suffering under
zero weather, with every Indication
pointing to continuation of the
cold snap for few days, at least.
Not since January "a, 1907, have
the thermometers In this city reg
istered at the zero mark. but at four
o'clock this morning the mercury
stopped In Its downward fight at
four below" where 1t rested. The
Staten Island Sound was frozen over
this morning-th first time, 1t ie
said, since the memorable blizzard
OF 1855 and Perth Anboy IL COM
pletely surrounded on every side by
miles and miles OF Ice, save In the
western direction.
Storm Ceased Last Night.
As the storm ceased at 1900
o'clock last night. no further trou-
portatton companies In maintaining
schedules. The wind abated during
the early evening, also, and stopped
/. the annoyance and likely damage
from the drifting snow. The snow
fall, In some unsheltered sections.
was enormous and has blocked more
than one country road But the
warm sun of today and probably to-
morrow is expected to work havoc
with tho drifts and, Incidentally.
the sIeigAing The trolley cars and
the passen ger lines on the railroads
are running on time, but little ham,
pered BY the baby blizzard,
Ferryboat Breaks Ice.
The ferryboal Perth Amboy"
broke the Ice this morning ON Its
FIRST trip aeross. at $40 o'clock. 1t
was the first time In twenty-four
years. according to old residents
that the sound had been frozen and
demonstrates the intense cold along
the water front. The channel il
now clear, as the steamer Sants
Clara" was taken out at nine
o'clock this morning by Captain
Van Albert, local pilot. The ferry
boat In the blizzard of '88 sunk In
the slip on the Tottenville shore,
foot OF Main street. The boat was
OF smaller proportions and named,
sthe Maid of Perth"
Sleighing Is Excellent.
Sleighing is now excellent In the
city and country districts. A num-
Der of sleighing parties have been
arranged for over the week -end
and, from the indicc ton OF today,
the livery stables can expect rush
over Sunday. Automobiles, how
ever, are In continual use and pres
ent no obvious difficulty In break
Ing through the roads. sfauy Of
the sidewalks have been cleared OF
snow, while the janitors OF the fre
department have swept the ground
clear In front of the houses at q COM
siderable distance. Considerable
trouble has been experienced with
water In private homes. much dam
age been reported by burEted pipes,
etc. The fire plugs have been thaw-
ed out by bonfres and everything
Is In readiness among the firemen
for emergency.
Suffer From Exposure
While no deaths have been re-
ported during the early hourc to-
day. score or more OF cases of
minor exposure were noted, and
several accidents were caused by
the intense cold and binding snow
that heraIded the approach Of the
cold wave and the first real touch
OF Inter The zero temperature
has made. the situation serious for
the many destitute. The poor Of the
city are especially In need cloth
ing, etc, as their threadbare gar
ms ITS have placed them In pitifuI
condition to Withstand the piercing
cold, which gives every indication
OF continued siege.
The foregoing table OF tempera-
fures was obtained from Seaman's
pharmacy
Ccsl Dealers Eu=-.ss
Coal dealers report an Increase of
twenty fve per cent. In orders dur
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