The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-02-04
Qne9ntatfgenreas
MONDAY MORNING, FEB f.

TD---Grand Spectacle HttneHseu -
Thousands OF Our CItizens---t'E
Destruction of steamboat Ipe..,
TVo Roar. On TheIr Way Down
- xr,,hout CIearnnees---
Cheap Fare to CfneIHhati anu
Ports .,,,
-,ru,s breaking Up OF the river was the
all absorbing topic OF Saturday. Not
yyithstaudinE the inclemency OF the
weather, large numbers OF people
fingered about the landing all day as
If determined that the great event
should not take place without their be-
ing witnesses of it. At last between
three and four o'clock the news
that the ice had begun to move spread
like wiId-tire through the city ana
soon from the Suspension bridge 10
Ritchietown, thousands OF people
gathered on the banks TO witness the
Grand spectacle. For several days the
steamboat owners had been endeavor-
ing to prepare for the event, and had a
large force of men working with might
and main endeavoring to cut away the
leo from about the boats, they were
however, only partially successful.
ON the river side ofthe Hillman and the
Eagle doth side-wheel boats,
the ice was found 10 be clinging in en-
ormous masses, many feet thicker than
the ice on the surface OF the river, and
it was found impossible to remove it
before the river began to break. The
boats lying at the landing were the
wharf-boat of Messrs. Booth, Battelle
* Co. and which lay nearest the head
of the wharf; the Concert, a small craft
belonging in Pittsburgh; the Eagle, be-
longing to the Parkersburg Packet Co.;
the HIllman, belonging to Capt. Sam.
Mason; the New State belonging to
Capt. John Mcclure and others. Not
withstauding the ice clinging to her
wheel, the owners OF the Eagle had sue
ceeded in clearing considerable space
on the land side OF her and hauling her
pretty near shore. When theice moved
it was in vast fields, reaching entirely
across the river, and it soon became evil
dent that there was no resisting the ire
mendous forces which nature was bring
ing into action.
The Eagle was the first to part her
chains and hawsers, but having a sup
ply of new lines was soon made fast
again. Shortly after the Hillman part
ed her chains, and all her lines snapped
like threads, and she started out into
The great flood of ice. She had steam
up in her donkey engine, but could not
turn II wheel on account of the masses
of ice clingins to them. The New
State. which had been wedged between
the Hillman and the shore, next parted
all her lines and was driven into the
eddy ut the mouth of the creek, and a
line was run out and made fast, her
stern being up the river. The ice at this
time being much broken she was
thought to be safe; but soon large
field OF ice-with II great beak like a
government ram, was discovered bear
ing directly upon her. The
stern was quickly swung round,
and only just in time to save them
from instant and complete destruction.
The huge mass struck the shore lust
above her stern, and shivering its great
point against the bank, rushed on with
unresistible force, and the lines which
held the boats proved as little able TO
cope with it as the green withes with
the strength of Sampson, and she went
on brOadside to the stream, and was
soon below the point and out of sight.
1t had been thought that the Eagle
which had held on TO her moorinps 40
bravely, against the immense fields
which had already passed her, would
be able to ride the danger out in safety.
y number of new lines had been made
fast, and it seemed ii their was any
good in cordage, she must hold, but a
new source of danger now made itself
manifest.
The wharf boat, which had the heav-
lest chain cable on the Upper Ohio.
parted it on dead pull. She also
dragged the massive Stone and rims,
bolt, to which her other lines were fiIs.
tened, from its bed into the river. and
was borne down against the Eagle.
For "A few moments she sustained the
tremendous pressure, but it soon became
evident that nothing but the eternal
hills could endure such pressure. One
after another of her old lines parted
and the new ones We're strained until
they sung like II fiddle string Her
caPstan and bits gave way with a ter
ritic crash, stripping her. head as clean
ms the head of the ancient mariner.
She was then driven with great force
-.
Hubbard. Everything crushed MS If
the whole side of the boat was being
stove in. She, however, rode over II
safely, and, with the wharf boat dashed
TO her, passed down the stream.
Fortunately the ice drove her into
the shore by the Washington Mills,
her lines were again made fast and the
wharf boat being cut loose from her.
her lines held and vast Quantities OF
broken ice plling around her, literally
raising her out of the wnter, she lies
high and dry, and is thought to be rer-
iectiy safe from further damage. The
Hillman, in passing Benwood, tore
away the transport flats belonging to
the baltimore and Ohio Railroad, from
Their moorings. and all went together.
Al TINS point Captain Mason abandon
ed the hhlmnn, leaving her in charge
OF tho mate and number OF hands
She was provided with u full suDply OF
coal, and il she passed over the niS,6t IN,
safety, il is thought her wheels IyrnIii
be sufficiently clear OF ice to enable
those IN charge TO use her engines. Tho
New State had three men oniy, on
board, George Peppers, Thos. Glass.
cock and Downs, who viii stick to her
as long as there is plank left. All the
boats lying at Sweeuey's landing and
the wHterw orl<s escaped without injury.
The steamer Hudson, lying below the
cinder bank OF the Belmont Mills. mari
ed her iron cable, but having steam an
and her wheel in good working order,
run up to her mooriug again ana made
fast Yesterday she was found to he
last for about one-fourth OF her length
10 n large mass of ice which was high
on shore All her efforts to pull of
We're futile, until Capt. Harrison, of the
h. Il q, X H. machine shops, came 10
her aid with y locomotive Two lines
mt -.