Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-02-07
More Grounding Weather.

We resume our serial story concerning
the weather this week. We hope our
readers may not Be bored, but we feel
impelled to record the details for the
information of future generations, so that
years hence, when the Youngsters OF the
present time have become the oldest
inhabitants and refer back to the remark
able winter of 19l7-lS, they may have
the files OF the Register TO substantiate
their stories. Besides, quite a number of
our subscribers in other places are COM
mending us for keeping then informed
concerning the weather back home.
Last Saturday was grounding Jay.
Thin clouds yelled the sky all day, though
now and then the sun smiled through in
sickly sort of way. II was scarcely
bright enough to make reflection, and
there was dispute as 10 whether or not
the grounding could see his shadow.
Some said that he did and some said that
he did not. In the light of subsequent
events we have no hesitation in declaring
that he did. Sunday was dull and cold
and cherries. Sunday night strong
wind came out of the north and grew
fiercer as the hours passed, until by Mon
day night il was fearful gale.
II brought with II an icy atmosphere
that penetrated everywhere and made
folks SILVER in their beds, and there was
deal Of discomfort Tuesday morning
the mercury was way down, the Their
mometers in various sections OF the town
ranging from three 10 ten degrees below.
Although the mercury had been lower,
according to the thermometer, II seemed
in reality 10 be the coolest night OF the
winter. One evidence OF this was the
freezing over Of the town run, which had
heavy coating OF ice upon it-a very
rare occurrence. One lady who doesn't
mind admitting that she can remember
back that far, says it has been fifty years
since the swift-flowing stream has been
frozen as tightly as it was Monday night,
and we agree with her.
The fierce winds dritted the snow that
had fallen the previous week in an I'M
usual manner. They picked il up and
carried il along andthe literally pounded
it down, packing II so tightly that it
would bear the weight even OF horse
Almost all Of the roads leading 10 town
were blocked by solid drifts, and men
are still dt work opening up ways through
the snowy banks. The roads running
north and south were The worst, and in
many cases were packed with snow as
high as the fences Our rural mail car
riers, Benjamin HarlzeIl ana John Skinner,
had 10 walk their routes for several days,
forever horseback riding was impossible.
much less vehicles and automobiles.
The Norfolk & Western Railway was
badly blocked at this end OF the Shenan-
doah Valley division. Train No 4, due
here Monday night at s "a, bucked its
first bad DRIFT at Ripon, and pulled into
Shepherdstown at about II O'Clock. II
spent the balance OF the night between
here and HagerStown, battling with drifts
that packed in the cuts almost as fast as
they could be shoveled out, and finally
reached Hagerstown al about 7 o'clock.
No 2, due here at SO a. M, passed at
9 a. m, three engines having all they
could do 10 move the cars. The south
bound trains were correspondingIy late.
A number OF trains on the Cumberland
Valley line were annulled, that road and
the Pennsylvania being almost complete
ly blocked
Today, after e. days Of unbfoken win
ter. the weather makes a charge. AS
we 90 TO press the sun is shining brightly
and there is warm air from the south
that is causing the snow TO melt a good
bit.