Cambridge, Mass.
1899.
February.
(No. 3).
  Pine Warblers and Blue birds were decimated as I have seen
none since the blizzard. Thousands of Woodcock were shot by
would-be sportsmen. One man sent to Charleston market 200 
pairs that he shot in a few hours. I skinned a good many that
I found frozen. It will take 20 years for these birds to es-
tablish themselves under the most favorable conditions. It
was a most heart-rending and pathetic scene which I can never
forget. When the Fox Sparrows were so benumbed with cold that
they could not move, Boat-tailed Grackles and Black birds
would peck at their heads - kill them - and eat them. The
stronger Fox Sparrows would also eat the remains of their com-
panions. It was simply awful. A great many mules, horses,
and cows were frozen to death on this plantation".
  At Raleigh, North Carolina, according to C.S. Brimley,
(cf. letter Feb. 23rd, 1899) the storm began "at about 1 P.M.,
Feb. 11th and it continued snowing without intermission till
about 6 P.M., Feb. 13th. In all 18 inches (official) of snow
fell. The lowest temperature was 2.3 below zero, Fahr.[Fahrenheit], on 
Feb 14th, A.M.  Feb 14th & and 15th were bright and the snow
thawed rapidly. On Feb. 16th 1.24 inches of rain fell on the
snow, converting it into slush. Since then it has melted
very rapidly and is all gone now. The minimum of -2.3 and
the depth of snow, 18 inches, are records for this locality.
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