noon
-- _ `` Description of Philadelphia , '' Breitnal , 1729 . _ It was the first of March , 1782 , and over the city of Philadelphia a severe storm was raging . A stiff wind , that lashed the black waters of the Delaware into sullen fury and sent the snow whirling and eddying before it , blew savagely from the northeast . The snow , which had begun falling the day before , had continued all night with such rigorous , relentless persistence that by the noon hour the whole city was sheeted with a soft white blanket that spread abroad a solemn stillness . The rolling wheels of the few vehicles in the streets were noiseless , and the sharp ring and clatter of horses ' hoofs became a dull muffled tramp . High up overhead the snow settled on the church spires , clothing them in a garb of pure cold white , and drifted among the niches of the State House Tower , until the face of the great clock was hidden , and could scarce be told for what it was . Just across from the State House , in the midst of extensive grounds , stood a large double brick house which was taking its share of the storm .