The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-12-26
Weather Over
World Brings
Havoc, Death
Hundreds of Lives Snuffed
Out, Damage lncalcul-
able During 1884
By JOSEPH H. GRIGG, JR.
United Press Staff Correspondent
Convriqbt. 1884, by u. p.

Copyright, 1884, by -. r.
LONDON, Dec. 26.-(UP).-
Torrential rains, fierce gales,
fogs worse than usual and the
greatest drouth this country has
known since before the American
revolution struck the British Isles
in 1884. The upheavals were
typical Of world weather in the
year just closing.
These freaks Of nature turned
the people into sun worshlppers,
water savers and a nation seek
inc shelter from storms which
ripped through the islands, as
though to tear them to pieces
and throw them against the
shores Of Europe. =,
The greatest drouth England
has known since 1743 was re-
sponsible for dried-up rivers and
reservoirs, damaged crops, parch-
ed lawns and tennis courts. and
.unwashed automobiles. Between
June and September, the rainfall
in the south Of England was 4O
per cent below normal, while the
mean temperature for these four
months. 63.2 degrees fahrenheit,
has only been exceeded seven
times since 1871.
As a result of the prolonged
hot weather, the summer of 1884
will 60 down in history as the
season when staid traffic cops
were allowed. to open their col
lars on duty. and even judges on
the bench removed their wigs. 1t
was the greatest sum- bathing sum-
mer in living memory.
Also, there. was an almost UNI
precedented winter drouth last
ing from January II to February
25. Another drouth set in on
Nav II and lasted until June Z,
while a third followed in July.
By the middle of July, the flow
of the River Thames near Lon
don was reduced from its normal
1000 million gallons a day to
only 270 million gallons, or less
than q Ihlrd.
Drastic restrictions were placed
on the use of water throughout
Great Britain and prayers for
rain were offered in the churches.
The three burning, almost bone
! dry months of May, June and
July were followed by torrential
transforms which deluged the
country, flooding houses, rail
roads and highways lust at the
| time when water restrictions were
imposed. August was damp and
shivery in most parts Of Britain.
much to, the disgruntlement of
millions on vacation - through
the rain, even so, was not suffi-
cient to ease the water shortage
iceably.
Despite heavy rainfall in Octo-
Der, the flow of water in the
Thames at the beginning of No
vember still was only 270 million
gallons a day, and experts pre-
dicted even more drastic water
rationing for the coming year run-
less the present winter is one OF
the wettest on record. The re-
strictions on washing automobiles
and hosing lawns were not re-
moved until the beginning of Oc-
tober. -
The rainfall for the year was
eide.
Among the others who died
here during the year there were
Douglas Fairbanks sister-in-law,
Mrs. Margaret Fairbanks; Harry
A. Pollard, veteran director; Sam
Allen who spent 81 years on stage
and screen: Isidore Braggiotti,
singing master, who gave seven
children to the entertainment
world; Suzanne Wood, veteran
British actress; and Andrew J.
Callaghan who deserted his Chi
cago law practice to become vice
president and general manager of
Technicolor Motion Pictures cor
., poration.