The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-06-23
MISC ELLA N EOUS,
- tkV1'' ,.lU DuIIy NeWs
THE ICE-pCRST ON THE NEVA.
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From lie Daily News.

The crisis of the Baltic enterprise seems
near at hand. Under date of the Sd Of May
we hear of bitter east winds and thick-falling
snow; of the 4th, of Stockholm steamers
running, with crowds of citizens to see the
feet; ON the 5th, of fog SO thick that the
ships coald not stir. In Finland, meantime,
the season is mild, and vegetation is rapidly
advancing. rhc month of Moy is always the
season OF suspense at st. Petersburg-the
time when it is said the restless Czar, who
sleeps only by snatches, looks out, or goes
forth, almost before anybody else is stirring,
TO observe the aspect OF his watery realm,and
see which way the wind i;. The suspense
is about the windj and even now, in this
most solemn spring season OF all the fifty
seven he has known, the movements of the
wind are OF more consequence to Nicholas
than even those of the allies. A long con-
tnuance of strong east winds would do more
for him than all the preparations he can
make. A rush of west wind would ruin him
more speedily and thoroughly than all his
united enemies could without its help. The
suspense is about this. The fog is the token
that the crisis is AT hand. The tog precedes
it will be succeeded by those singular twilight
nights, of unequaled beauty, which are the
only charm of the desolate region in which
st. Petersburg stands. While the fog lasts
The seutinels on the watch-towers in the city
look out in vain, some towards Lake Ladoga,
some up the Neva, some toward the sea. They
can hear something, but see nothing. So it
is with the Czur, listening in his balcony;
and with the commandments at Sweaborg and
at Cronstadt; and perhaps with our "Charey"
walking the deck, and talking to himself
What he is listening for is the arrival of the
French squadron, which will enable him to
proceed to his work when the iog-curtain
rises. What the Russians are listening for
is, first, the wind. To some it comes Sighing
over the peaty plains which stretch to the
margin of the gulf, whence they look like 4
mere drift upon the waters. Over that barren
bleak expanse the wind comes signing through
the rushes, with an occasional bark of the
wolf, or bursts of the din Of the waterfowl
in the pools which are already melted. To
others the wind comes vibrating like mourn
ful music through the pine forests, which,
surrounding the capital with their black belt
nowhere further off than 20 miles, approach
much nearer in some directions.
There are sounds which come to the ear
Oh May nights when the wind is from any
point of the compass for there are swamps
and pine forests everywhere 1t is the voice
of the waters that the watchers listen fo
with hearts that stand still. As long as the
hollow moaning goes on, the meaning Of tht
imprisoned winds below the ice, the suspens,
is complete. Sooner or later comes tht
crack, which tells that the hour Of crisis ha
come. The cracks Of the ice are natural,
the most impressive and sound the loudest il
the night. The Car and his sentries ar
already on the watch; but nSw the citizen
rise, and look out in vain through the fog
Some dress and go to the wharves, though
is much too soon to conjecture how high tn
oynters will rise. Next comes the crash @
the ice, driven up in heaps in the river, O
AGAINST the wharves; and then the NOR
anxious sound-'th the swash of the driven wa
ters. The thing most desired is a moderat
east wind-and this is what usually happens
A violent east wind brings down the inlan
ice and food too fast; and every inch tha
I'D the waters rise above the iron rings in tn
granite embankment is SO much danger Blu
the fearful thing is a strong west wind, turn
ing back the food on its way to the Gulf
Then it is less the swash of waters pourin
down than the roar Of the sea coming up;
when the tides meet the consequence is whu
the world saw in 1924. The vessels tina
were not capsized by the meeting OF tn
floods were carrie! over the wharves, an
stranded on the sands which were arabl
fields the day before. The nine rivers an
seven canals on which st. Petersburg
seated all overfowed at once, and the foo
poured into the upper chambers Of the bes
houses in The capital. At Cronstadt larg
vessel was driited into the main street OF tn
town, and left there. Every successive yea
adds to the peril o. such chance; Tor ever
vear does ST. Petersburg settle lower in tn
swaap. AIpidthe stagnant silence ma!ntslr