Evening star., 1914-12-29
MODERAT|NG WEATHER |
STAYS SKATING FETE
Plans for "Firefy Evening" on the
Tidal Basin Tonight Upset -,
by Thaw. !
Local Bureau Reports, However,
Cold Wave on the Way From
Northwest for Another Freeze.

Winter today declared a moratorium.
and there was very little skating on the
tidal basin. the duck pond at the Zoo
and other places where people congre-
gate when they want to zip around
over the ice runners.
Plans for the "6rehy evening" tonight
were knocked out by the muggy. rainy
weather that began last night and
continued throughout today. The fire
flies would have to be waterbugs IL
the fete were to be held. asserted those
in charge of preparations for the event,
The fog and the slight drizzls of rain
that fell during the very early morning
hours softened the surface OF the Ice
until it was covered with water. Tho
weather bureau this morning declared
that still warmer weather was in stors
for this part Of the country; also thas
rain was to be expected some time dur
ing the day and tonight.
Predict Cold Wave Tomorrow.
But skaters, take heart. The mors1
torium above referred to Is to continue
only about twenty-four hours, and then
things are going to freeze up again
just as solidly as ever. because a cold
wave is on its way from the northwest,
where they specialize in cold waves,
and it is due to arrive here and heres
abouts tomorrow afternoon or early to-
morrow night.
The weather bureau has sent out
warnings of the impending drop in
temperature. saying the cold is to ex-
tend over the middle and north Atlantic
coast states, and as far west as Illinois,
Missouri. Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska.
South Dakota, Minnesota and Wiscon-
sin.
That the drop in temperature is to be
accompanied by serious disturbances is
evidenced by the fact that the weather
| bureau today ordered that storm warn
ings are to be displayed along the gulf
coast all the way from Galveston, Tex.
| to Pensacola, Fla.
Skating Day After Tomorrow.
Provided the cold wave doesn't
swerve from the path predicted for it
| by the weather bureau, skating may
be resumed about day after tomorrow.
It Is not considered likely the thaw-
ing weather Of last night and today
| will wholly disintegrate the ice on the
| tidal basin and the various ponds TO
| such an extent as to clear it all away
| freeze arrives.
Should the lower temperatures be un-
| accompanied by high winds. SO that
| the new ice which forms may have
| chance to freeze smoothly, the new
skating surfaces may be expected to be
| better than the ones that melted last
night and today. However, the weather
bureau expects brisk winds along
with the receding mercury.
At any rate. for the present, skating
may be considered to be merely defer
| red, at least until 1t shall be seen what
is coming along with, the predicted
cold wave.
Fog Honeycombs Potomac Ice.
With twenty-four hours of foggy
weather like that prevailing today. the
ice that now covers the river for many
miles will soon disappear and naviga.
tion can be resumed.
It is stated along the river front
| that foggy weather will cause ice to
| disintergrate and disappear even more
quickly that will sunshine. and the
| rivermen are always glad to see fog
| when ice Is on the river, for. as gen.
eral thing, 1t means the quick OPEN
| ing of the river to navigation. The
fog seems to cause the ice to honey
watermen assert, it will quickly sink.
Old rivermen declare that they have
known heavy ice to leave the river
inside Of twenty-four hours.
Only High-Powered Craft Moving.
Conditions along the river today show
no change from those of yesterday. The
big steamers and tugboats are the only
vessels moving. With two oil-laden
barges in tow, tug No. IL of the Stand
ard Oil Company feet is on her way
here from Baltimore, and will arrive
u some time today. The steamer Three
Rivers is also on her way here from
Baltimore and landings In the mouth OF
the Potomac. and 1t is thought prob
able, under present weather conditions.
she may succeed in getting through and
reaching here in the morning.
The big steamer OF the Norfolk line
arrived here practically on time TINS
morning, and will leave thfs evening
for Old Point and Norfolk. She will be
the only commercial steamboat to leave
here today. .-.
Falls Send Five to Hospitals.
Mrs Charles Krause. 1913 North
Capitol street, fell on the pavement in
front of 1913 Oregon avenue north
west last night and received an injury
to her forehead. She was taken to
Emergency Hospital -
Aloysius Z. Thorue.. I'll 18th street
southeast, was treated att Emergency
Hospital last night for AN la}ury to his
back. He fell on the slippery steps
In 'front.' OF oZU II SLfeGL npItnWeSt.
Effie Henderson, colofed, -115 Guethler
court southeast, fell at 9Th and q
il streets southeast Last highland cut
her head. She was taken to Casualty
Hospital ~
John Moncrief. .-2os& 18th street
southwest, fell on the pavement at 18th
land F streets northwest this morning
and injured his left arm. He was taken
II Lessie Cooper, colored; 2021 Sth
street northwest. fell on the sidewalk
at 9Th and u streets northwest this
morning and was slightly injured. She
i was taken to aFreedmea.s Hospital.
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