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


The River Dlecked---Strects
flowed.
n FyoOe6mg Wreck VITA
Nce sM1eSs s4eo0s.d.
rmEln ESCAPE.
Great Exeitement...-Tho
City out en- masse 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 irresistab 10 force behind. The
river between wss filled with ice, thrown
up in every imaginable shape and form.
About FIVE o'clock yesterday the two chissl
boats that were lodged above the bridge
came floating down with IN immense force
Of Joe. 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 il free passage, but they
were not quick enough. and the boat. 1.-The
FIRST Of the season." with neither captain.
crew or pilot to guide.or cheek it,s.suck the
half open draw, Mr.. Fox and Mr.. Hope who
were working the capstsn. we're laid out in
different directions, one being struck across
the back and the other across the stomach
By the beans Of tho windlass. The force Of
the collision WAS such a. to spring the
simbsrs 50 that on attempting to close the
draw the rails lacked about foot Of con-
Meeting. Alta quarter past seven the dam
age vas repaired and the bridge train cros-
ssd. The beats foated down and lodged
In The gorge between this city and Rock
Island. The entire loss to Aessrs. Gaze L
&C., viii not fall short Of e25, 900.
About 8 o'clock last evening tho surgisg
sounds from the river drew quite number
Of citizens 70 The lsvee. Many clanbcrsd
upon The huge piles Of ice to witness the
conmetion, - 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 anything moro imposing. Early in the
evening the heavy pressure in the msia
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 force behind, pressed il
up the lsvcc, it rolled mass Of earth and
rock along in front Of il. Huge masses
would break of the front from time to time
A. the pressure increased, and we're heavsd
up in every conceivable shape and 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, where it hung by the 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 hinge mass had been serv-
ed from the main body. A very swift cur.
rent swept down through the slough. Great.
Ing the fear that tbs Moline 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 the levee. The wreck Of the fapidi
boats occupied the Same place it did the
nj ht 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 unbroken. Several hundred people
assembled on the levee to witness the NOV
ing masses IS they went crow ling by. Consid
cradle anxiety on account Of the voysgsr,
on the wreck Was manifested BY the crowd
and there was some speculation ~ TO whs'
would come of their ride, mono seemed Il
envey them any pleasure they might DE-
rive from ii. On they doated, watching theii
chances to land. They were more sn1ioul
to save themselves than the wreck, - they
saw themselves: floating into the jam. Thsy
camo to q stop and the ice commenced t.
pile up. They left and started for the low,
side, on large tract Of ice, dragging anal
skif with them, but fearing they would no
gain terra tirma they put back. BY this
time a large crowd had gathered on tn,
point bslow Rock Island TO aiIerd them
whatever assistance vas in THEN power.-
Our -lsves was lined with people. all watch
ing their psriloss situation and shs Roatisl
river. The buildings along the levse, - vel
- many On the blvfs, were covered viii
men With glasses observing their movements
They gaiaed the wreck, bst he lee cam,
csewding on to it with sush force that theJ
were obliged to leave and take to the riveI
again. The ice piled about che wreck q
that it could not be seen from this sids.---
"She Sinks" was the exclamation Of many
Tho i've men were seen cls0besine over thu
huge piles towards the shore. Three o.
them wsrs seen climbing the last blccka
that separated them from the shore, while
the other two we're farther down the rive,
bravsly making their way to land. Thsy
finally gained The bank. and We think. viii
not again try such ride. go
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
The large tract Of unbroksn ice in III,
middle Of the river struck the head Of the
island bslow the city, and stopping Ii,
whole floating msss. The gorge was con
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 shors notios-thisty minutes
taking such things Of valus. furniture
clothing.as they could get held Of iirat and