THE GREAT FOG IN ENGLAND.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10518, 14 December 1901, Page 1

THE GREAT FOG IN ENGLAND.

A fog such as Great Britain has nol experienced for years enveloped London and- half of the United Kingdom on November 4, blocking shipping, deranging railways, and throwing business 'ir London and in Birmingham, and othei provincial cities into confusion. So dense was it that -a walk into the streets was_an adventure. The fog descended upon the metropolis and the suburbs so thickly that between fouj and five o'clock in the afternoon the principal avenues of traffic resembled the steam room of a Turkish bath. Hundreds of thousands of London's gulV.rban population vainly endeavoured to grope their way to the-rail-way «tationa. The few who succeeded found the trains all stalled. „ ■ > Around Trafalgar Square and the Houses of Parliament scenes unparalleled for years were witnessed. Hundreds of* omnibuses; cabs, carts, and waggons formed an inextricable and immovable mass. The mounted police, in trying to clear away the jamb, got lost themselves. Many vehicles were in collision. The drivers, not knowing where they "were, stood at the heads of their horses patiently awaiting the lifting of the premature darkness. Lanterns were at a premium. Newsboys transformed their papers into temporary torches. Highwaymen pursued their avocation. Casualties were ire?uent, and even hardened Londoners rcely expressed a dread of a continuation of- such fogs. Tho fog lifted somewhat toward night, or serious inconvenience would ha ?e been experienced by residents in tha subnrbs in finding accommodation in the inner parts of the city. Among, children and old people the deleterious effect of such a continuous and exceptional fog can scarcely be estimated. Several theatres were obliged to close for the evening- on account of the fop. Two express trains had narrow esscapes from serious collision. ° ' -\. Although the streets of London could be traversed on* the following day without the aid of lamps, tho coasts were still fog'-boiuTd, and railroad and other traffic is much impeded. The crossChaimol steamers navo^he utmost difficult; in making their ports, in epite , of the fact that fog guns are being continually fired. Traffic on the Clydo has been blocked for 24 hours, and steamers bound for Ireland have been unable to leave port. A number of foreign steamers bound for .Glasgow have taken 20 hours to traverse the. 24 miles of river. On the Humber all 'traffic was suspended. . There were railroad collisions at various points, and minor wrecks were reported along the coasts. , On the Thames traffic was almost at a standstill. ' ' ' The 'hospitals of the metropolis reported that there were about 100 cases pf accident treated during the night. sThe mercury hovered at about freez-ing-point. • ' . Continental reports show that Calais, Ostcnd,' and Lyons were among the points foff-bonnd. , '

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