10 



ward. At 8 a.m. of the 17th the thermometer stood some 

 30° or 40° lower than twelve hours previous, — a striking 

 evidence of the versatility which enables our New England 

 climate to go at one jump from midsummer temperature to 

 autumnal chill. 



The highest point of the mercury during daylight of the 

 17th was less than 55°, and the wind blew a furious gale all 

 day. Low morning temperatures were the rule onward to 

 the close of the month, and after the 19th the day tempera- 

 tures ranged below 60°. 



The coast sections were visited on the 21st by a tropical 

 hurricane. On the land the accompanying north-east gale 

 was not severe, and the full significance of the storm could 

 not be realized. It is positively known that in the more 

 exposed localities off shore the storm was one of unusual 

 severity, and several vessels were driven ashore. Even in 

 Boston harbor the seas were so tremendous and the outlook 

 so hazardous that all coastwise steamers abandoned regular 

 sailings. 



In respect to sunshine and cloudiness the record of the 

 month is a remarkable one. Of the first ten days, seven 

 were either absolutely or nearly clear, and the 11th was the 

 first cloudy day since the 24th of September. The second 

 decade of the month (10th to 20th inclusive) gave but three 

 cloudy days and two that were partially cloudy. The third 

 decade was more prolific in cloudiness, giving an average of 

 six days that were entirely overcast. On seven days of the 

 month the percentage of possible sunshine was 100, and 

 eleven other days gave more than three-fourths of the hours 

 of possible sunshine. The only days absolutely without sun- 

 shine were the 11th and 12th, the 21st and 28th. Consider- 

 ing that October is generally regarded as a stormy month, 

 such a record is seldom equalled. The average daily excess 

 in temperature for the month as a whole was 3°, and the 

 days with the greatest excesses were the 1st, 12th, 13th, 15th 

 and 16th. The month closes with an accumulated deficiency 

 in precipitation of more than three and one-half inches, or a 

 daily deficiency of a trifle more than one-tenth of an inch. 



