The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-02-05

THE RIVER AT ATPIrrsBURGH.

Particulars OF the Breaking OF the
Ice on Saturday Afternoon Last
Scenes, Accidents and Incidents OF
From De Gazette Of yesterday.
The two or three days of warmth and
rain which We have had have wrought
their results in breaking up of the riv-
ers and their tributaries. Yesterday
morning II seemed as though the ca
lamlty which may have expected as the
result OF the long continued and steady
cold, and the unusual amount OF snow
which has fallen this winter, was about
to be visited upon US in the shape OF
heavy floods and wrecked vessels.
On Saturday evening the Allegheny
broke up at Freeport, and during the
night and yesterday the river here was
running full of the fragments. The
water was at high stage, and coutinu-
ed rising slowly until last evening. No
serious damage resulted from the break
up, either here or above. The steam
boat men here had taken the precau-
ton, during Saturday, TO saw the ice
free from most of the boats lying at the
wharf, SO that the peril 10 the moored
crafts was very materially lessened.
Three or four nats were STAYED in, but
the local damage was principally con-
fined to this. Further up the river the
damage was not great. Several oil
fats were seen to come down with the
ice- One bulk boat, full of oil, struck
pier of the Hand street bridge and
was broken asunder amidships, the oil
flooding the river and producing on the
ice the finest possible 'tsurface indica-
uons-W At latest AdViceS from Freeport
the river was falling, and the Kiskimin-
tits running out ice very heavily. .
The principal apprehension of dan
ger along the upper Allegheny, in case
nfxa Fra haY Ia Fo, . la, ENa- VL.,k
has been got out during the winter. 1t
is estimated that the amount got out is
fully double what il has been during
any previous season. This is piled
along the river, awaiting shipment in
RATS. The average depth of snow in
that region is about eighteen inches,
and if it goes of suddenly the freshet
resulting will cause an incalculable
amount of loss.
Al two O'Clock Saturday morning, the
ice in the Monongahela broke up and
commenced running down.
AT Greensboro il had raised twelve
feet at noon, and was rising fast, with
no ice running. At Brownsville it had
raised i've and half feet, and was
rising slowly with nine feet in the
channel.
at one o'clock. Saturday afternoon,
the ice broke at Brownsville. At
Greensboro the ice was gorged from
dDONG DdN4NsOA 10 Inc
Cheat river.
At three o'clock and thirty-five min
utes, yesterday afternoon, the gorge at
Greensboro gave away with thirty feet
Of water, and the tremendous volume
of ice and water rushed forward, sweep
ing everything before it. Barges, fences,
fats, skiffs, lumber, all were hurled
along the stream, with the destroying
ice. At tive o'clock the flood reached
Rice's Landing, and shortly after seven
O'Clock. 1t was at Brownsville. At Nc
heesPort the tow boat Arab was run
into by the ice and sunk. We heard of
several other accidents to boats, but the
accounts were mere rumors.
On the ConnelIsville Railroad the
bridge over Jacobs Creek, eighteen
miles from Connellsyille, was carried
completely away. At Sewickley Sta
ton, two miles west of West Newton,
the iron bridge over Sewickley Creek
was lifted entirely out of its seat, and
supported by the ice. 1t was hoped
that when the ice left, the bridge would
sink into It's place without material
damage. The gorge at this place is de-
Scrlbed in our dispatches as tremendous
and threatening great damage when
the break up should come. At Brin-
ton Station one of the trusses of the
Irestle work was moved out of place
but no great damage done. Some 9TH
er slight injuries were sustained but of
no great importance.
At three O'Clock, on Friday afternoon,
the CHARTERS creek overdowed its
banks, breaking up the ice and carry
ing in it heavy masses down the stream.
II gorged short distance above Mans
field, and inundated the greater part OF
the town, doing an immense amount of
damage. The farm of Robert Bell
suffered considerably. His loss will
reach something in the neighborhood
of 800. The gorge being very firm,
the creek forced channel over neck
of land belonging TO Mr.. Ewing,
sweeping away fences, shrubbery, and
everything in its course. Mr.. Ewing's
loss will amount to about 5000. NIr.John
Mcclellan also suffered 10 the amount
of about one hundred dollars. The
principal sufferer was Mr.. I. Thorn
burg, whose farm lies along the right
shore of the creek. The gorge forced
the water across Mr.. ThornbuTg's farm,
and channel of great width about
three feet deep is cut across the land.
About seventy acres of Mr.. T-'s farm
are covered to the depth of ten feet
with ice and debris. VIM, Burroughs,
the tenant occupying Mr.. Thornburg's
land, suffered severely. His house was
inundated, his furniture badly dam
aged. considerable damage done to
corn which was still in the shock. Mr..
Thornburg's loss will amount to be-
tween 8, COO and 81 500. Roddy Pater-
son, Esq, whose land joins Mr.. rs,
suffered slightly