Evening star., 1943-02-16
Little Relief
In Sight From
SevereCo|d
Drop to 10 Degrees
Tonight Forecast;
Eust's Death Toll 29

Little relief was In sight from the
years severest cold wave which al
ready has resulted in the death Of
% persons in the East, and the
Weather Bureau warned that the
temperature here would drop again
tonight to around 13 degrees.
Not since Saturday night has the
mercury risen above the freezing
point, and the bureau could give no
assurance today that the cold wave
would be broken by tomorrow. The
low this morning was 9 degrees.
Meanwhile certificates of death by
natural causes, with the cold as
chief contributory factor" were is
sued by the coroner's Office last
night in the death of two persons
here Sunday. The victims were Mrs
Birdie Prediger, AZ, formerly of 1910
N street NV, found in the rear of
Northeast service station, and Will
liam P. Barham, 40, of East Pines,
Nd, discovered in shack on
Bladensburg road N. E.
This mornings low of 9 degrees
occurred at 7:20 m, for the cold
est February Is in 13 years. The
low of 6 above yesterday was the
coldest February IS in 27 years.
Man Treated for Exposure.
A man about IS years old was
treated at Garfield Hospital last
night for exposure after being found
in garage at Thirteenth and
Irving streets, Arlington.
Jefferson High School and annex
in Alexandria closed yesterday when
a heating pipe froze. Fourth and
fifth grade pupils at Corcoran
School, Twenty eighth and M streets
NV, were sent home in the fore
noon when the janitor was unable
70 raise the temperature to the
proper level in some classrooms.
Frozen and broken water pipes In
homes gave local plumbers a busy
day yesterday and they reported a
food of emergency calls this morn
ing.
In view of the continued cold,
petroleum experts of the District
confessed increased alarm over the
fuel Oil situation. More oil was eX-
Iected to arrive in the Washington
area today but they feared even
this would not relieve a situation
they said hinges on the heating
period system improviSed in con-
nection with the rationing program
by the Office of Price Administra-
ton.
Deliveries Crucial Problem.
The crucial problem appears at
present to be deliveries. Experts,
recalling that the No 3 coupon ex-
pires at midnight tonight, pointed
cut that many of the consumers
low out of fuel still have few No
Z coupons left, but not enough for
q sizable delivery.
Dealers, meanwhile, reported that
they were doing all within their
power to distribute, oil even TO those
entitled to small amounts. I
Many consumers have availed
themselves of the OPA regulation
emitting them to single 50-gallon
cushion in case of emergency, but,
in this instance also, the problem
vas delivery. Petroleum experts have
repeated their plea, it was reported,
for the OPA to advance the validity
date of No. coupons from March 7,
and to extend the expiration date on
No. coupons.
RI Deaths Elsewhere.
Elsewhere in the East the cold
wave was responsible for at least 27
deaths, according to an Associated
Press tabulation. Record breaking
mercury readings were recorded in
many States, with the lowest tenn
perature so below.
In New England a toll of II dead
vas reported with thousands of
cases of ,frostbite, vital war work
delayed, transportation slowed and
many schools closed.
Eight persons were dead in New
York State. where temperatures
climbed higher today in some
places. There were five deaths re-
ported in Pennsylvania and two in
New Jersey as a result of the cold.
Most deaths were caused by ex-
losure.
Early today Boston and numerous
otner new England cues ana Towns
PASSED the 24-hour mark of sub
zero temperatures A fuel oil short
age and biting wind added to the
discomfort
The Arctic atmosphere played
i-avoc with outdoor work in ship
wards, and in New Bedford, Mass,
piermen were unable to unload nine
fishing vessels carrying $4,000 pounds
Of fish. Hundreds of night-shift
workers at a Lowell (Mass) war
Giant were unable to reach their
benches as a result of bus trans
rortation breakdown. Trains were
reported as much as IL hours late.
Warrensburg, N. Y, had record
low temperature for the East of SO
degrees below. On Mount Wash
ington, N. H, the mercury regis
tered az below