Evening star., 1924-12-22
Cold Wave Grips East and
New EngIand-Mercury
Rises Here.
LOW TEMPERATURE DUE
IN CITY BY WEDNESDAY
One Dead in New York-Hundreds
Seek Refuge in Mis-
sions Here.

Sleet and light snow tonight and
tomorrow probably will follow the
gradual but temporary rise of the
mercury today from the seasons low
mark of IA degrees above zero, es-
tablished in the early hours before
daylight, 1t was announced at the
Weather Bureau today.
The warming-up process will be of
short duration, Forecaster Mitchell
believes, and tomorrow and Wednes
day the- city Will again be In the
throes of a cold wave, such as last
night, which froze automobile radia-
tors, elevated milk bottle tops and
sent many destitute men and women
to charitable places of shelter.
Break Reported I'm West.
While the East was beginning to
feel the grip of the cold wave tighten
today, the West was experiencing its
first break from subncrmal tempera-
lures and violent storms. From Chi
cago and throughout the Middle West
came reports of SHOWS, warmer tenn
peratures or promises of relief In
meantime the New England States be-
gan reporting record low marks for
the season, and ocean traffic was be-
ginning to feel the teeth of the storm.
Already the cold wave has claimed
one victim in the East a yagrant
who was found dead in a New York
bowery basement. The giant liner
Leviathan arrived at New York "a
hours late as a result of battling
against terrific gales. another ship
sent out distress signals off the New
England coast on Lake Ontario, a
ferry boat grounded in the midst of a
storm and two tugs were captured in
five inches of ice.
Snow to he Light.
The snow predicted for Washington
tomorrow and Wednesday will not be
heavy, according to the present out
look. Conditions are not right for an
honest-to-g goodness sleigh-siding sort
90 - sa<--y m f--Aa,-4-srs< rorcoef5ccr f,orrae-
out. Many weather disturbances are
in prospect in the next Sc hours, how
ever, and by tomorrow the bureau
expects to be able to give a more
definite idea of whether Washington
will experience a real white Christ
mas next Thursday.
Last nights frigid wave drove
many unfortunate. persons from the
streets to the warmth of missions
and charitable homes. Two hundred
beds were not enough to accommo-
cutters" who sought lodging at the
Gospel Mission, on John Marshall
place. and approximately 80 men,
ranging in age from II to 60 years
gratefully seized the opportunity of
bunking in the lower hallway. News
papers served as improvised mat
tresses and caps or other articles of
clothing as pillows. while their own
coats took the place of blankets
NuniPina1
crowded, as was the Salvation Army
Social Center at First and streets.
other charitable organizations aided
the destitute.
FIremen Kept Busy.
In an effort to cope with changed
weather conditions yesterday and to-
day it became necessary, for house
holders to greatly reduce the size of
their coal piles, and in Numerous in
stances overheated stoves, furnaces
and stovepipes resulted in starting
additional fires that meant work for
the Fire Department. More than 40
calls were received by the Fire De-
partment.
NJ. S. Bond, 81, Apartment %, 1929
Sixteenth street, received burns to his
hands and neck while e&tinguishing &
a fire in his apartment about 5
fire from a lighted cigarette, and the
fire was extinguished before more
than IS damage had been done.
George Jackson, colored, AZ, 81
New York avenue, sustained painful
burns to his left hand early yester-
day morning while fighting a fire in
his home. Origin of the fire was not
determined, police reported, and the
damage amounted to $500.
Gas House Blaze Small.
Sounding Of an alarm at the plant of
the Washington Gas blight Company.
foot of G street, gave f1remen a thrill,
older members of the department re-
calling trouble experienced at fires there
years ago. This mornings scare was
caused by blazing tar in pit, and the
blaze was extinguished before any dam
age had resulted.
Fire Of undetermined origin started
on the lower floor of the home of Mrs.
Helen Porter, 1909 Vermont avenue,
about Q o'clock this morning, doing dam
age estimated at $500.
An overheated furnace caused a fire
scare in the home Of David Lawrence.
1929 Nebraska avenue, about O'Clock
CONTINUED on Page 2. Column A.