Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-02
GROUND HOG STAYS OUT;
WINTER OvEn--PEnHAPS
Yesterday Was Coolest of Winter
but Moderates for Weather
Prognosis Of Rodent.

noon-failed 20 see his shadow and
doubtless has set 10 work making his
spring and summer plans, and probably
refuSbjahing his homo after the long slocp
Of months. Being ; good housekeeper the
rodent will make the cleaning thorough
and begin gathering In his stores Of grsss
roots and other edibles that arc available
just ut this moment.
Tho fact that the ground hog awakens
and cmergee from his lair ON Candlemas
day. February 2, has bean established by
observers and natural scientists, md the
fact il generally accepted that . clear
CandlemAs day--with the sin shining
means six weeks of rough weather, ths
rversc aIso being tire. Whether this b.
fact or fiction Il has been borne, out In the
past three o. four years, and especially
was Il trse last year. So accepting the
ground hogs pronosticAtion We may re-
gard winter ~ practically a. an end.
Tho weather moderated in time 70
mako the rodents rcAppeAranoe more
comfortable than u would have koen had
nature forced him out prospecting into
tbs open yesterday.
Thoas who werr astir cASiv yesterday
morning wcrc surprised IN find that the
mercury had descended 10 tho lowest
mark Of The winter.
The Thermometer at Every Evening
of'ice Saturday night and yesterday morn
ing registered degrees above zero, which
was within l degree the lowest reached
this winter. At Gordon Heights, however,
the mercury recorded below, and in the
vicinity Of Brandywine Springs and Mar
shallton 2 below Was reported. This Is 2
dcgrces lower than previously recorded in
this section. The temperature rusc only
- degrees during the day, and during the
night IL dropped back 70 10, rising
AxAin to Is this morning.
The coolest previous day this winter
wAa December 1s. when tho mercury
registered degrees st this office, ADD
hplow at some Of the nearby cold spots.
The next day the cold had lost degrees
Of intensity. On December is the mer-
eury rcKistered II. The month wAs in
tenseiy cold for this i.'itude.
Tho coldost day in January was the
3D., when the mercury Registered 3. Two
weeks Of fntensely stormy weather with
SHOWS and rain that cnvered the country
and city with ice made January the
recent vinterr, and possibly il may nave
moniA erndemioa thst are prevailing over
4 large .ect,on of The country. but which
seem to have gwen Delaware The go bye. -"
roo cKoUrpHoo DEAD.
Those who went to the Too today to
keep an eye on the grpundho1 hole were
disappointed. The only animal of that
kind in the roo died last spring. These
denizens of the earth do not thrive in
captivity. II Ia said they seldom live
longer than year or two. This one died
Of the mango, supposed TO havo been CON-
tlact4d in the straw in which be had bis
buYYrow.
xNULArEp ny TIRE COMPANIES.
There are any plumber of poople who
swear by the grounding. and insist that
he makes no misleading prophecies. Others
ARE willing to give him the benefit of
doubt and TO let him have all tho credit
70 which he may be entitled il he has only
succeeded in soaring winter away.
And speaking Of groundhoes, there are
quite q number in Wilmington today
that have not yet ventured forth TO see
their shadows. These are the "oficiAl
groundhogs" of the local fire companies.
They have been elected precediIg the
advent Of grounding day, and are de-
creed TO remain prisoners until the sun
shall have set for the day. They are well
guarded, and every prccaution is taken to
seq that they do not come up, even for
"air !"
Yet Notwithstanding their alert guards,
and all the precautions taken to prevent
II. they sometimes manage TO escape.
Such was the happening this morning
about st the engine house Of the Liberty
Company, which had elected John F.
Kirk to the position of official ground
hog" by a majority of twenty-four over
Eugene Coleman. Kirk was ,equestered
IN the cellar before sunrise this morning.
and Coleman placed Is guard TO see that
he did not escape, However in some man
ner not known. Kirk eluded his guard
and returned to the cellar before he could
see his shadow. To make sure that he did
not get out again, Spike" Doogan was
him. There is said to be nothing in the
cellar, not even wood alcohol, 70 make
Time fy.
The Fame Company's representative in
its cellar is Patrick Joyce, he being select
ed over Lon Hurst by majority of
three. He rs keeping company with the
coal and gasoline in the cellar. The Nom
pareil Association Of the Fame Com
pany elected William j. Lutx over David
Crockett. He is being closely guarded,
but will be gwen a reception when the
sun goes down.
The Weccacoe Company elected Arthur
Mulherin over Zip" Hanley, and the
latter IS guarding his successful opponent.
Thomas Fshey is the representative of
the Reliance Company, aud is spending
the day in the coal bin. with Harry August
and Michael Brown as guards. II they
fail TO keep him there they will have to
stand tn at to the company. If they keep
him there Mr.. Fahcy will have to stand
the cost.
The Water Witch Company chose
Raymond Campbell, and thu report from
the headquarters Of the company today
is that they have him chained to the heater
IN the cellar, with Earl Hopkins and Paul
Doughtcry guarding him.
Paul Conner has been the official
grounding Of the Independence Company
for several years, and he was again honor
ed this year, sDd is locked in the coal
cellar today with n. Leuzea and L. DEM |
as guards. II is said that il Mr.. Conner |
makes his escape the agreement is that |
he will not have to work for ten years, |
the company taking care Of him during |
that time
Robert Bruce Clark is the ''hog" chosen |
by the Washington Company, being |
selected by unanimous vote. He Is being |
guarded by ''Toots" Hyland and James /
McGillon. When Old Sol has set for the |
lay, MIR. Clark will be given spread. |
The Brandywine Company chose |
lanes Men hop over Richard Crawford /