Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-03-10
OPENING OF NAVIGATION
A TREMENDOUS ICE GORGE.
The River Dlocked----Streets
Flowed.


flowed.
n F7o0stmg Wreck VITA
Nce sJ1ese sAbo0s.d.
rmEnR ESCAPE.
Great Excitement....Tho
City out en- Emasse 10
see the Sights.
Late last evening the river presented .
scene Of the widest confusion. Huge ram
parts ofirreguiar ice blocks were thrown up
on both banks, and crowded far upon the
levss by the irresstab le force behind. The
river between was flied With ice, thrown
up in every imaginable shape and form.
About five o'clock yestssday the two chissl
boats that were lodged above tho bridge
came floating down with an immense force
of ice. One passed the bridge in salty,
while the other being in the main channel.
struck The draw with fearful force. The
bridge tenders had commenced swinging
the draw to give ii free passage, but they
were not quick en- oush. and the boat, "the
FIRST Of the season." with neither captain.
crew OF pilot to guide,or check it,s,ruck the
half open draw, Mr.. Fox and Mr.. Hope who
were working the capstan. were laid out in
different directions, one being struck across
the back aud the other across the stomach
by tho beans Of tho windlsss. The force Of
the collision was such 40 to spring the
timbsrs SO that on attempting to close the
draw the rails lacked about foot Of con-
Meeting. Ata quarter past seven the dam
age vas repsired and the bridge train cros-
| sed. The boats foated down and lodged
in the gorge between this city and Rock
Island The entire loss to Nessrs. Care l.
Oc., will not fall short Of e25 900.
About 8 o'clock last evening tho surgipg
sounds from the river drew quite number
Of citizens 70 the lsvee. Many clanbersd
upon The huge piles of ice to witness the
conmotion, - each succeeding float Of ice
mingled in the gorge. There Was sufficient
light 70 make the old river lock gloomy and
grand Is it struggled with ito ice burden.
On tho Rock Island side the sight WAS
il fanything moro imposing. Early in the
evening tho heavy pressure in the main
channel had forced upon the lsves ledge
Of ice several hundred yards in extent and
from two TO two and half feet thick and
IS the irresistible forca behind, prssse ID it
up the levcc, it rolled a mass Of earth and
rock along in front Of il. Huge masses
would break off tho front from time to time
A. the pressure increased, and we're heavsd
up in every conceivable shape aud thrown
out across The Coal Valley Railroad track
into the middle Of tho street.
The piles supporting about eighty feet Of
the island wagon bridge were swept away,
and the bridge dropped partly into the VA
ter, whero it hung by tho broken timbsrs,
looking towards this city, the scene was
Wild and fearful. The waters were sssth-
ing and rushing amid the broken fragments
Of ice, while at intervals crash, announc-
cd that another huge mass had been serv-
ed from the main body. A very swift cur.
rent swept down through the slough. Great.
Ing the fear that ths Moliae dam had given
way.
Until late At night, the crowds kept thsil
position in order not to miss the sight when
the ice should take its final leave.
The river continued to rise rapidly du
ring the night and this morning completely
flooded tho levee. The wreck Of the fapidi
boats occupied the same place it did the
night before. Five men made their way Il
it over tho jagged ice, to try to bring il
ashore when the ice started.
At about nine o'clock it commenced 4
move, having two channels. one near eael
bank of the river, while the centre remain
ed almost unbrokcn. Several hundred peopl,
assembled on the levee to witness the NOV.
ing masses IS they went crow ling by. Consit
erable anxiety on account Of the voyagsr'
on the wreck was manifested BY the crowd
aud there was some speculation 40 to wha
would come of their ride, mono seemed I,
envey them any pleasure they might De
rive from il. On they foated, watching theil
chances to land. They were more an1iou
to save themselves than the wreck, % ths]
saw themselves. floating into the jam. TheJ
camo to a stop and the ice commenced 4
pile up. They left and started for the low,
side, on large tract OF ice, drag . smal
skif with them, but fearing they would no
gain terra .tirma they put back. BY thi
time large crowd had gathered on tn
point below Rock Island 10 alIerd then
whatever assistance vas in their power.--
Our .lsves was lined with people. all watch
ing their periloss situation and the Hcasin1
river. The buildings along the levee, % vel
- many on the bluFs, were covered will
men With glasses observing their movements
They gsised the wreck, bat he ies cam
csswding on to il with such foree that thel
were obliged to leave and take to the rive
again. The ice piled about the wreck .,
that it could not be seen from this side.-
"She sinks" was the exclamation Of many
The Eve men were seen claubsrine over th
huge piles towards the shore. Three 0
them were seen climbing the lsst block
that separated them from the shore, Will
the other two were farther down the rive
, bravsly making their way to land. They
finally gained the bank. and We think. vii
nol again try such . ride.
FURTHER PAnflcuLAss.
The large tract Of unbroken ice in tn
middle Of the river struck the head Of the
island below the city, and stopping th
, whole floating msss. The gorge wss com
plsts, the whole river seemed damned.
rose rapidly, the lsves was flooded. and still
the water rose, the people living in th
houses left on short notics-thisty minuts
taking such things Of value, furniture
clothing,as they could get hold Of Frat an
| ..x...>I - ..u~1i .ksHs kn~ Ah~ k.ls~ca =