Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-28
RELIEF IS IN SIGHT
AS MERCURY HALTS
D0WNWARDPLUNCE
Rising Temperatures by
Wednesday Forecast
for Capital.
ID ABOVE is PREDICTED
AS LOW MARK TONIGHT
Firemen Busy-Bread Line Start
ed-Skating in Season-Many
Cars Frozen.

Repenting somewhat for the sudden
wave of frigidity which he sent scud-
ding over the country as belated
Christmas present TO Washington and
vicinity, the Old Man of the North to-
DAY mixed in a few warmer currents
that succeeded in halting the mercury
in its downward plunge and caused
the Weather Bureau to hold out hope
for an upward reaction in the next
few days.
Little change in prevailing conditions
IS expected by Forecaster Mitchell for
tonight and tomorrow. but by Wednes-
day, he believes, the more halny
breezes from the lake region Will be
gin to make headway against the
blasts that have kept the city liter
ally frozen Of late
After hitting a low mark of l3
degrees above zero shortly before
midnight, while humans fought off
chills and automobiles, water pipes
and heating plants fell victims of the
cold, the temperature began to rise
again early today until, at O'Clock
this morning, the official thermometer
already had gone eight points above
yesterdays high mark OF 16 degrees
Forecast II Above Tonight.
The mercury will drop again to-
night. however, perhaps as low as -
degrees. and Will remain in StIte
OF general depression tomorrow niSht,
but after that things will be looking
up in the opinion of the weather eN-
pertS at TWenty-fourth and NJ
The chill winds brought with them
mixed emotions There was suffering
last night and today, and there vas
feStivity. While needy families hud-
died about meas ger fires and Scanty
tables or sought assistance from
charitable organizations. groups OF
merry makers filled the air with
laughter in the vicinity of the Dis
trict's iceskating haunts.
The biting, blistery winds left III
their wake a trail of cracked water
Jackets, broken radiators and dead
batteries, to say nothing OF bursted
water pipes and disabled heating
plants.
Chimneys rebelled against the un-
usual strain of roaring flames from
the highly combustible anthracite
substitutes so prevalent and com
munlCated their troubles TO adjoining
rafters and shingles. with the result
that the Clty's fire companies found
but little respite from frequent dashes
the firemen had been called upon TO
fight approximately so blazes. the ma
Jorlty OF them originating from Chin
ney defects. The men suffered con
slderably from the cold. which fro2e
water TO the hose and to their cloth
ing, but no serious injuries were re-
ported
Hospitals found little TO do in an
emergency way, no cases of accidents
or exposure being registered that
could be attributed to the weather.
Bread Line in City.
a bread line. reminiscent Of way
time and pre-war Winters, gave nour-
ishment and warmth to scores in the
downtown mission district, and free
lodging places We're filled 10 capacity
of men seeking shelter from the
chilling breath of the night.
The hope for tempering breezes
nurSed by the Weather Bureau with
respect to the National Capital did
not apply 10 the so-Called Sunny
South, however. Residents who have
fled TO Florida and other Southern
points found themselves followed
closely 10y weather almost as cold as
that which engulfed Washington
The temperature is below the freez-
Ing point in northern Mexico and
northern Florida. Mr.. Mitchell said
today. Brownsville, Tex, and Jack
SonVille. Fla, experienced a minimum
of "a degrees, while Mobile, Ala, and
Pensacola. Fla, reported s degrees.
With the lowered temperature the
thickness of the ice covering the Lin
coin Memorial rejecting pool in
creased until a strong coating of from
3 to inches was reported by the park
police. The pool, accordingly, was
thrown open this morning to skaters,
and as the news spread during the day
the crowds of men, women and chill
dren, with skates thrown over their
shoulders, wended their way toward
Potomac Park.
Bonf1res Allowed.
Lieut. Carron's men joined whole.
heartedly into the spirit of merriment,
and turned their backs from such
fragrant violations of Government
park regulations as bonfires, the while
keeping their fingers toasted in a high
L. illegal way. No casualties were re
corded during the day, save a few
spectacular spills that bruised knees.
knuckles or noses and helped to make
strap-hanging popular in half-tilled
street cars and buSSeS.
Virtually every small stream and
lake within miles of the city had its
quota of youngsters and its blazing
fire on the banks. Even the most
turbulent tributary appeared to have
succumbed to the icy blasts and be
come frigidly rigid.
The headquarters Of the Salvation
Army, the Gospel Mission, the Cen
tral Union Mission and similar places
of refuge for needy men and women
were the mecca of hundreds of under
privileged citizens, some of whom
were provided with clothing to shield
them from the bitter winds, and others
with hot coffee and food to fill empty
stomachs and warm shivering bodies.
Fortunately for these sufferers there
seemed to be no dearth Of accommo
dations at the missions, such as has
been the case at various times in the
past, and none was turned away.
Relief for Motorists.
The Gospel Mission established a
bread line last night in pursuance of
the request of several local bakeries
and provision merchants who donated
large quantities of bread, doughnuts
and meat for that specific purpose.
Scores of shabbily dressed men, most
ly bent and gray, took prompt advan-
tage of the treat. Steaming coffee
was supplied with the food.
The emergency force of the A. A. A