Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-01-13

ate at Washington yesterday, and after short
debate was passed.
Capt. Sam Parker has purchased the shaft
of the old Silver Spray. He will have it sent
down, and the Sam Parker ready TO resume
her trip. as soon as the Ohio river is free Of ice.
The Ohio is reported clear Of ice from Par
kersburg to Cincinnati.
The snag-boat DeRussey has been laid up at
Mound City until further appropriations are
made for carrying on the work of clearing the
rivers of distractions. Frem the time the De-
Russey left Mound City, July %. 1870. until
she returned, December %, 1870. she pulled
$50 snags in the Mississippi, Missouri, White
and Arkansas rivers, and cut down ll64 trees,
and run 247O miles. One snag pulled by the
DeRussey near the St. Francis river was a
cottonwood measuring in length no feet, cir
conference at butt IS feet. circumference at
top Is feet, diameter ofroot 26 feet.
The Commercial was sold at auction on
Wednesday by the United States Marshal for
$500. Capt. Charles e. Marsh was the pur-
chaser.
The wharf at Little Rock is to be extended
and paved.
The George w. Cheek got $3.50 for fourteen
hours work at the I. L. McGill, and 500 for
assisting a barge. A pretty fair days work.
James McFadin, late clerk Of the Mary
Miller, is lying seriously ill of pneumonia at
Evansville. Serious doubts Of his recovery
are entertained.
We clip the following from the st. Louis
Democrat Of Thursday:
Mild weather and southern wind resulted in
partly rotting and partly submerging the ice
in the river. There was a movement la the
ice field below Chouteau avenue yesterday, at
half-past 10 a. m. Result. a screaming of
steamboat whistles and a rush Of people to
the wharf. Believing their time had arrived,
the iee-bOund ferry boats Mullikin and Belle
Vile broke out a passage from the leyee, and
at once attacked the ice fields, directing their
bows nOrthward. The Mullikin rammed her
self into the CONCEALED mass hundred feet.
The bold BelleYille struck the mass at another
point and went in two hundred feet; and
both continued this operation, breaking of
masses of fifty to three hundred feet IN length.
There was movement OF the ice above the
bridge at a qua-ter-past IL. The ferry boats
running at the foot Of Vine street were alarm
ed and their whistles startled the shores into
wild echoes. The movement above the bridge
ceased. and by this times the Mulliki in and
Belleville had sought safety at the bank, as IL
WAS supposed the gOrges generally were break
ing loose. Superintendent Creveling, of the
ferry company, was on the new transfer
steamer Lewis v. BOgy, accompanied by
some boatmen and other friends. She
started out from about the. foot Of Almepd
street to try her mettle as an ice smasher. She
behaved wonderfully we'll. Creveling again
and again pierced the ice field, breaking it
into fragments. At length be let her out, and
she walked gaily through The gorge, gaining
the open ferrying space safely. She was fol-
lowed by ferry boats, and there were six run
ming last evening. This is one of the best
things that could have been recommended or
desired. Business between the shores is greatly
expedited. 1t is probable the river is open TO
Cairo. Steamboatmen were active yesterday,
anticipating at once a resumption Of naYiga
ton hence southwark Crews of bOatmen have
gone TO Cairo TO bring up their boats; TO Sui
phur Springs, to Grand Tower, Cape Girar
deau. etc. A boat is loading here for New
Orleans, to leave on Saturday. Other will be
announced to-day for New Orleans, Arkansas.
Red river. Memphis, Grand Tower, etc. One
leaves this evening for Memphis. Rates 10
Memphis to-day are placed at -four zoe and
pork 81 per Dbl, and bacon S5c per 100 pounds.
The river fell fast yesterday afternoon, show
that gerges below have given way. The gOrges
in the Mississippi as far as keOkuk. and in
the Missouri, will speedily break up with the
pregent mild weather.