New-York tribune., 1868-03-16
THE GREIT ICE GORGE IN THE NISSIS-
SIPPI

/ Prom Our Special Correspondent
DAVENPORT, Iowa March IL, 1868
The excitement in this place, and on the OppO-
site shore for the last "a hours has been intense and per-
vadinS among all classes OF citizens good deal OF IN
teres is always shown by the people in this vicinity in
the grand breaking up OF the ice in the Mississippi
count OF certain freaks OF the at such tines but this
and verv extensive one Never within the memory
Of the oldest nhabant" has the Father OF Waters"
so sublime in his majestic efforts himself from the
thra of Winter He has got loose at last; but the effect
OF his fury will not soon be efaced nor forgotten.
This locality most favorable for extraordinary ice
gorges the breaking up of the river For about fifteen
Mississippi flows with great swiftness that Of
ice started I'm the current are borne along with i'm
mense force just ut the foot OF these rapids on the
Iowa shore situated the city Of Davenport stretching
for more than miles along the river ON the opposite
side il the city Of Rock Island mostly built level
plateau fifteen feet above the surface or the water
In the river between rather little above, these two
citie famous Island OF Rock Island he seat Of the
United states Arsenal aud extensive Government
works. extending about three miles long and averaging
onethird OF mile wide opposite me upper end OF the
Island. the Illinois shore, is the hourishng town
by three brdges-One az the great dam at Moline and
two at the city Of Rock Island. w. the Government
Railroad which OF course passes over the main chan
mel 10 the Iowa side at Davenport The width OF the
Mississippi below the island Is half mile while above
the island IL Is at least mile. Keeping IN mind the
length OF the Rapids and the obstruction that Rock Island
Offers the movement Of the lee masses, and the TACT
that several other islands stud the river below Dayen
port 1t will be easily soen that with sufficient quantities
the stream huge would be almost certain
10 occur What took place yesterday, however.
paraeed 10y anything Of the kind ON record IN TINS VI
The suddenness with which the ice begins to move s
markable This Away. feature Of our breaking up
/ On the afternoon OF Mon,ay, the 9th. the news flew
rapidly the place that the frozen mass had began
TO move From all quarters people gathered 10 the levee
10 watch the phenomena which, even TO those who are
familiar with II, has peculiar fascination WIN nnat.
ected interest watch the scene. Slowly the great
fields of lee move on. II mpelled by some gigantic
force pushing the lesser blocks aside or crushing them
small fragments, now and then grinding against each
other and breaking OF huge masses Ia the nerce en-.
, into more congenia cline for whle the Steady.
but grand movement OF thousands OF acres OF ice hed l
all shapes and sizes continues deghting the eye of each
beholder, and filling his mind with pleasing awe But
now IL stops suddenly as started The lee has begun
temporary dam Soon the tremendous pressure OF me
accumulated current forces vast ice neds along as
lJown near the islands below these great
masses press above another sliding up aud breaking
ridges thirty and forty feet high formed, dripping
with water and hashng n the spray dashed up b the
and along tho shore according. apparently 10 some
heaps Not the xperienccd observer the
most accurate mathematician, could calculate with
anty where these great deposits would be made; or to
what extent the volume OF water would be impeded by
them. Sometimes they would be run far mp the shore;
sometimes strike building and break as II were an
egg shell sometimes throw out into the current RATS
sometimes pause just as II seemed about denolishng
some factory or dwelling leaving It's gigantic mass
almost against the windows and doors On Tuesday
afternoon the scene became alarming The gorge below
evidently very firm For some hours the chahhel
/ seemed
lly both I'm Davenport and Rock Island The front
flooded, cellars hed and the lower stories
stopped People began to move from their houses IN
boats general excitement peryaded the lower parts OF
gorge fad taken place above the railroad bridge.
mOnstrous field OF ice lay obquely against one of me
piers aud about this other masses had accumulated sun
tho great river kept pouring down us torrent Hood and
unable TO break It's way was rolled back hltnK ~h9t
cession Of terrific sounds like the explosion OF several
|
small arms and the dashlng OF cataract The gorge
above the railroad bridge had given way and the vast
heaps Of ice came crashing through the bridge
breaking. tumbng. roaring, plnnSing IN thelr
mad career against which the force Of man was
like straw. The brave old bridge, lately repaired
and OF massive strength was shaken twisted disocaed
and almost overhrown On the other side of the i'er
\ the great dam al Moline broken aud demolished
the Government bridge swept away and the mills ana
factories along the shore severely Injured the gorge
below still resisted the pressure OF course the water
kept rsng me sGr p % Os .are s s M ol mics thc te
for several rods ia width was piled IN miniature noun
talns that seemed solid enough 10 last through the Whole
The air resounded with the dashing 0 ne Tor
rent and the cracking and grinding OF the ice and there
flashed ont the misty darkness the street lamps ana
muudinots lanterns Of those carrying their friends 10
sao abodes aud securing their goods and watching their
nigt as the last knownbefore In Davenport
Rock Island Never the possibilities Of this great
river IN sprngtime so profoundly realized, aud never
was so much property here. In brief time destroyed
AT 10 O'Clock Tuesday p m the lower gorge gave way
aud in few hours tine rver had resumed It's natural
channel .,,....-t,
moderate have suffered much by the damage OF
their furniture provisions &C. well as by the incOn
venlence OF removal IL VIII cost much to put the brew
cries factories machine shops and grst mills along the
river working order again iMessis ase co.. contract
ors on the improvement Of the rapids lost two derrick
boats valued at $4,000. good many thousand dollars
viii b needed TO repair the railroad bridge. pier
"A broken down, span thrown out OF pace
and the draw badly bunged up. The Government
bridge TO the Island winch IA gone was an expensive
affair. The great dam ~ Moline an Immense losa vast
quantities OF logs aud lumber have been swept away or
lumber dealers. highly respected and enteipnslng
citizens French and Dawes. have suffered most II WAS
reported Yesterday that $4,000 would hardly cover
their loss hope this u exaggerated The firm OF John
Deere Sons celebrated plow manufacturers. o Moline
have lost largely The damage 10 dwellings and shops IN
Rock Island Is estmatei at o. 100000 The along
the river this morning 10 the very picture Of desoaton
What ii after such hood viii leave your readers 10
imagine The Mississippi ~ now clelr of ICE, but We
have enough along the shore, apded high n not dry 10
stock many ordinary rivers FOR a whole sets
pIrpsTING OF THE ICE GORGE IN TIE DEL,
AWARE RIVER
WATER GAP, Penn, March l5.-Ihe vast guam
tity OF In the Delaware which for the last 80 hours
has been accommodating at the Water Gap broke away
and was witnessed by thousands. Considerable damage
was done in the vicinity, butno lives were lost.
THE FREsHET AT ALBANY
Albany. March 15.-Owing to the tiaw and
rain the the piers here to-day Ihs even
inc the water feet hour but receded again
dIsappeared for a considerable distance. A general
break up Is expected tonight or tomorrow.
THE MOHAWK RIsING-sCHENECTAD PARTLY
INUNDATED.
SCHENECTADY, March l5.-The water in the
Mohawk at this point is 10 feet above lowwater mark,
and rising rapidly. The southwest portion OF the city s
partially inundated. The ice remains immoNaDe but u
banks are overlooked west of city and the locks arc
filled with water Serious damage IN sppfehenued nom