Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1856-03-08
Great Destruction Of Steamboat Prop
city at ST. Louis.
We sul,jom The following extract froT

The long dreaded event Of the breaking
up Of the ice, which for two months gor-
ged the Mis- ;.sSippi, and all its tributary
streams, as come al last, and brought
with :. destruction of our marine inter
es...s far lranscening anything that was
anticipated. Twenty hours since our
levee was crowded with steamers-now
not perfect hull remains. All have
been swept down that lay opposite the
central part of the city, crushed into
common ruin by the overwhelming mas
ses of accumulated ice. Broken cables,
chains with their links drawn 10 threads,
few shattered spars alone remain 10 tell
the story of stately vessels tina, were just
ly esteemed the pride'of the Western wa
tiers.
At few moments after two O'Clock
yesterday the alarm was given that the
gorge had commenced to break, and slow
ly, at first, and msjestically the floating
fields began to move; then gathering force
and rushing in upon the boats /, lifted
some GU upon the bank, while thirteen
others we're carried below and stranded
upon the bars, where they were rapidly
cut into ribbons. A few Of them that
drifted into the bend If the river, although
strained in every timber. fortunately eS-
capped further damage. For some time
the ice continued 10 float off, but after
few hours again gorged, causing addition
al destruction 10 those steamers that still
lay at the shore. Anxious suspense shen
ensued. The Mississippi was raising
rapidly, and ii was we'll known that The
next breakup would be even mere terrific
Than the preceding one. Alta quarter be-
fore eight, The tolling of the bells and !he
confused shouts that burst upon the still
ness of the night, told that the ice was
again 10 motion. Ten vessels, including
amongst them two wharf boats that had
been sheltered from the violence, were
TORN from their fastenings, hurled one up
on another, and sent crashing and drifting
along the front of the evce.
The scene was truly appalling 10 those
who were merely spectators, while the he
role exerIions Of the commanders and Of
ficers who stood TO their decks amid the
falling of timbers and the sinking of YES
sells. doing all that men could do 10 save
them, was thrilling exhibition Of mos,
true courage in the moment OF extreme
peril. A dark night and a beating rain
that ensued added dismalness and drcar-
ness to the occasion, and left those who
nigh! struggle with the elements almost
hopeless task before them. The addi-
,ional boats that W ere thus wrcstcd from
the shore, and jammed amid the heaped
up flakes that hurried them along, met
like fate with the steamers that had been
carried of in the afternoon.
Frequently as ST. Louis has eXperlen-
ced great reverses Of fortune, by fire, and
flood, and pesGlence, and marvellous as
has been It's rise after each reverse, we
must yet consider this as one of the most
disastrous that has be.falen it. All the
business interests of the city were looking
forward TO the opening of navigation, with
confidence and cheer rarely felt before (;
and now, Just at tie moment when our
rivers would have been covered with mer-
chandise, large part of the vessels that
were to have fyeighted it have been blolted
out in single day.
TO our insurance companies alo the
disaster will prove heavy blow, and de-
tract much from their means, although we
do not fear thatit will impair their credit.
The losses will be very large, but what
they will amount 10 in the aggregate, or
upon whom they will fall, cannot yet be
aScertalned.