Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-02-01
River News.


see one or two more mild days at pres
ent, which will do much towards soften
ing and rotting the ice
Tie river Is yet full Of floating ice,
and when one sees it at close range, it
is not 80 light and brittle as it appears
at distance.
The X K. Dunkerson came down
from her ice harbor yesterday after
noon, and with some difficulty made her
landing. She will leave this evening
for Bowling Green and all way points,
if the weather holds mild and nayiga-
ton does not become more difficult
Capt. Drinkwater will take her through
II it lies within the range Of possibility.
Anxious to see just how navigation
is, We accepted an invitation to seeom'
pany Capt J. V. Throop, yesterday, 10
the ice barbor below the city, to see the
armada come up through the gorge,
and We shall never regret the expert
ence.
Col. Hornbrook sent Us down by bis
fast express, and we found the Darling.
Tacony, Armada, Glendale, Linnie
Drown, and the gunboat Lue Eaves
snugly ensconced under willow point,
where they lay perfectly secure from
danger
The Tacony had steam up, and had
been engaged from early dawn in cut
ting herself out, and about halfpast
four o'clock she rounded out and took
her way with the floating ice down
stream She has a fine Government
trip, and will no doubt get through
safely
The Glendale was getting up steam
and designed to try the contest last
evening, though It was unfortunate for
her that she could not or did not follow
in the wake Of the Armada.
This little pet Of the Evansville line,
got up steam, and about 5 0 clock cast
loose and like az old veteran breasted
the storm OF battle with the ice, and she
was no sooner in the stream than the
contest began.
Tie river from shore to shore was
crowded with heavy ice, sometimes
floating in small cakes that offered no
resistance whatever to her onward
course, bat more frequently with vast
zelda Of corrugated ice stretching al
most from shore 70 shore into which
the gallant little craft dashed like a col
umn Of veterans led TO an assault.
Cleaving her way for a while like knife
through the frigid obstruction, at length
she would waver for moment and then
be born back BY the densely floating
riass. Then falling back in good order
she would with fresh strength rush
to the attack, and, with an impesuosty
that delied resistance, would plough her
way through the massive fields. A faint
seam could be- seen to open, but the gal
liant yet grand Armada would be borne
back for time, when presently reeov.
ering herself, with desperate effort
she would. break through the barrier.
and for short distance run through
comparatively smooth water, only again
to encounter heavy foe
Alex. Howell, the prince Of pilots
WAS at the wheel, and took advantage o.
every opening that presented itself
while Johnny Moore, assisted by John
Foulks at the engines answered the
bells with promptness and alaeritl
that deserves the highest commentator
and steadily she fought her way.
For an hour gallantly she breaste'
che heavy columns of the approaching
ice, aud every now aud then we though
We were almost at the goal, a streak o
clear water skirting the Kentucky shore
but another overwhelming mass woul
obstruct our progress, and bear us bach
After frequent attacks and frequent re
pulses the gallant Armada finally tri
umphed, aud shot clear Of the ice int
clear water.
Like sentient being, she SCENE
aware Of her triumph, and almost LEAF
ed out Of the water, and dashed IL
spray proudly from her prov Cap
Josh stood calmly on the hurricane, d
recting every movement as with ma
ter mind, aud when we struck smooth
sailing, We descended to the boiler dee
where we met Frank Collins with q
abundance OF sanitary stores, and wei
refreshed
30. After getting upder the lee Of q
point we had fair. sailing, aud landed
Halls wharf boat at seven o'clock, aft
enc of the most exciting contests '
have witnessed for many a day.
Ii IS due to Ad. Graham, the earpe
ter OF the Armada, TO say that he h
everything pertaining to his departing
in the best condition, and Mr. Tuck,
the mate, watched with vigilent e
for the slightest sign of disast
proving himself an invaluable eficer.
We got through the last Zoe just
time, as the pumps had got filed "
slush ice and it was necessary TO stop
clean them. Had our steam given
vhiis we were IN the heavy pack
would have been borne back and Ct
PEELED to abandon the effort
The Armada will leave for Cairo q
o'clock this afternoon.
We rather incline to she opinion /
the Glendale viii not try the peril
trip at present, but win lie to until
ice grows lighter.
We may expect boats from above
day.
We had the pleasure of meeting
,iNra. crf-~l Da,s w Pc IA