MERCURY IN THE BULB AND BIG FIRE IN SYRACUSE

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, January 26, 1897.

MERCURY IN THE BULB.

Cold Wave Spreads Over a Large Area.

FAIR WEATHER IS PROMISED.

New York City Visited by a Fierce, Biting Wind—Poor Apply For Relief

In Large Numbers—Blizzard Throughout the West.

   NEW YORK, Jan. 26.—The threatening antics of the weather for some time past culminated in the most severe cold throughout the state of New York experienced this season.

   In New York city the mercury got down to the record point of the year and in the upper part of the state it succeeded in disappearing almost entirely.

   Reports from Canada indicate an even more rigorous condition of affairs, but it was in the large cities of this state that the direful effects of the cold wave were the most painfully apparent.

   The poor of this city suffered terribly, for they had not alone to contend against the low temperature, but against a biting wind that opened up the crevices and cut its way through the broken windows and under the doors.

   The weather forecaster here reported that the cold wave had spread over a great section of the country and that not only in its extent, but in its severity as well, it was quite up to the record of previous years.

   Worse than this, he declares, that for this section of the country at least, there is no relief in sight. Fair weather is promised.

Fifty Below at Winnipeg.

   WINNIPEG, Man., Jan. 26.—The temperature went to the lowest point in this country recorded for years. Fifty below zero was generally reported from the Red river to Banff in the mountains. The weather is now moderating.

Coldest Day In Chicago.

   CHICAGO, Jan. 26.—Whistles of distress began to sound from the Sixty-eight street crib and a tug was sent out at once. The crib is about four miles out in the lake and had run out of coal. Six men were there at work and four of them were brought back to the city. They had a severe struggle to keep from freezing throughout Sunday night, but by burning up everything that was not nailed down they managed to get enough fire to generate the steam for the whistle.

   With a minimum of 20 degrees below zero and a maximum of 10 below it was the coldest day in the history of Chicago. The mercury hung at the 20 mark with a persistency worthy a better cause. Only one time do the records of the weather bureau show that the thermometer reached a lower point. That was on Dec. 24, 1872, but it lasted only for the briefest time.

Kitchen Range Blew Up.

   MALONE, N. Y., Jan. 26.—Soon after the fire was started in the range at the home of N. W. Porter and while a nephew of Mr. Porter's, 12 years old, was sitting in front of the stove, a terrific explosion occurred, caused by the freezing of the water pipes connecting with the boiler. The boy's face was badly burned and frightfully injured by fragments of the stove which struck him. His jaw was broken and one side of his face cut open. His condition is serious.

Mississippi River Frozen Over.

   QUINCY, Ills., Jan. 26.—The Mississippi river is frozen over solid above the city bridge.

New York Central steam locomotive...through a tunnel of snow on the St. Lawrence division.

THE STORM AT OSWEGO.

Railroads and Streets Blocked—Schools Closed—Mercury 15 Below Zero.

   OSWEGO, N. Y., Jan. 26.—The storm raged here with fearful fury all night and there is little sign of abatement to-day. The wind reached a velocity of forty-two miles an hour during the night and the thermometer was 15 degrees below zero. Many of the city streets are impassable and all roads leading to the city are blocked. Trains west on the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg railroad and trains on the New York, Ontario and Western railroad are abandoned. Trains on other roads are running with great difficulty, much belated. Public schools are abandoned for the day, neither teachers nor pupils being able to reach the school buildings.

Railroad Blocked Up.

   WATERTOWN, N. Y., Jan. 26.—A blizzard has been raging here during the past fifteen hours which has blocked the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg railroad along its entire system. A train which should have reached here at 9 o'clock last evening from the south is stalled east of Richland having been on the road all night and covered less than one third its route. No train has reached Watertown from any direction since last evening. This is the first time the road has been blocked this winter.

HORSES IN A DRIFT.

Remained All Night, Thoroughly Chilled, Shoveled Out in the Morning.

   Michael Burns is a farmer who lives on the Calkins farm west of the village. He was in town last night and for some reason seemed to forget all about his team or about going home. The horses were attached to a pair of bobs and, after staying as long as they thought best, they started for home. The road is drifted badly on Tompkins-st near the McLean crossroad and when the horses reached that point they got entangled in the drifts and fell down.

   Mr. Curtis R. Harmon lives at that corner and he said the team passed his house last night at about 9 o'clock bound for home. When Mr. Harmon went out of the house this morning at about daylight he discovered the team in the drift. With a shovel he went over to dig them out. John Brooks, the milkman, came along at about that time and assisted in the task. The poor animals were so chilled and benumbed by the cold, that they could scarcely stand when dug out and helped up, and they seemed to have hardly strength enough to draw the empty sleigh over to Mr. Harmon's barn. It is needless to say that when they reached the barn they received the best of attention.

   Mr. Brooks came on to Cortland with his milk. When at the Lehigh Valley crossing of Tompkins-st. he met Burns apparently going home. They passed the time of day, but Burns made no inquiries about his team and took the railroad track for a short cut home.

BIG FIRE IN SYRACUSE.

Nothing Like It In Six Years in the City. Loss Over $250,000.

   The Dillaye and Vann blocks and other adjoining property at the corner of South Salina and Fayette-sts. were destroyed by fire last evening and the loss will reach $250,000. The New York Cloak house, Palmer's millinery store, the Kimball Piano Co., Leiter Brothers' Jewelry and music store and others were destroyed. It was a wild night for fire and it seemed as though it could not be controlled. The fire started at 7:05 P. M. and lasted nearly all night. The whole of the city's [fire] department was employed in extinguishing the flames. At one time a call was sent to Oswego for help, but this was countermanded when the Oswego companies were just ready to leave as it was thought then that the flames could be subdued.

Coal hod or scuttle.

SENTENCE SUSPENDED

In the Case of Orrin Mosier Charged With Stealing a Coal Hod.

   Orrin Mosier of 127 Port Watson-st. was arrested this morning by Chief Linderman on a warrant sworn out by M. W. Giles, manager of Stowell's Bargain House, charging his with larceny in stealing a coal hod from a stand in front of the store one evening last week. The evidence was said to be conclusive against him, as he was said to have been seen carrying the hod away from the store in a suspicious manner, and that subsequently his house was visited by Chief Linderman and Mr. Giles armed with a search warrant, the hod found and identified by Mr. Giles.

   This morning Mosier pleaded guilty to the charge and sentence was suspended. Mosier is a one-armed veteran of the late war.

BREVITIES.

   —The Adlake club will meet in Empire hall to-morrow evening at 7:30.

   —Dr. L. T. White is now to be found at his office at 58 Port Watson-st.

   —At the board of governor's meeting at the Cortland Athletic association last evening thirty-seven new members were elected.

   —The cloning exercises of the intermediate department of the Normal [School] will be held in Normal hall to-morrow afternoon at 2 o'clock.

   —One tramp giving his name as John Standsfield and his home as Pennsylvania enjoyed the hospitalities at the police station last night.

   —New advertisements to-day are—G. O. Whitcomb Co., groceries, etc., page 6; F. Daehler, at cost, page 5; Warren, Tanner & Co., exquisite styles, page 8.

   —Three degrees were worked by Vesta lodge, I. O. O. F., last night. Several visitors were present from Preble and after the business of the meeting light refreshments were served.

   —The twenty-first annual public exercises of the Gamma Sigma fraternity will be held in Normal hall to-morrow night at 8 o'clock. An admission fee of ten cents will be charged.

    —The town board held a special meeting this morning and among other things authorized Town Clerk E. C. Alger to make all the necessary arrangements for the approaching town election on Feb. 1.

   —To-day is the last day of recitations in the present term at the Normal. Tomorrow the teachers will prepare and present their reports and on Thursday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock the standing will be read.

   —Mr. John White of Park-st. lost a valuable horse Sunday evening from what was thought to be heart trouble. He drove the horse up to church in the morning and after returning home the horse was taken sick and died at 6 o'clock.

   —The sixth annual public exercises of the Corlonor fraternity at the Normal will be held in Normal hall this evening at 8 o'clock. An attractive program has been prepared and the exercises will no doubt fully sustain the excellent reputation of this society upon such occasions,

   —On Sunday morning Dr. G. Parsons Nichols, pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Binghamton, asked his people for a collection of $1,500 and at once a collection was taken up which exceeded $2,500. Of this sum $1,500 will be used to support the smaller Presbyterian churches in that city and $1,000 will be sent to the home mission field in the West.

   —Invitations are out for the wedding of Mr. Fred P. Barney of Groton and Miss Lizzie E. Burnham of Cortland, which will occur at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Burnham in Cortland at 1 o'clock P. M. on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1897. The bride and groom will be at home after Feb. 15.

   —The funeral of Attorney L. B. Kern will be held at his late home in DeRuyter to-morrow afternoon at 1 o'clock and will be conducted by the Masonic fraternity of which the deceased was a member. All Masons are invited to be present and participate in the service. Many will go from Portland on the 9:48 train to-morrow morning, and will return at 7:31 in the evening.