The New York herald., 1871-02-12
AN IcE BRIDGE.
The Grand Structure Over the
East River Anticipated.
Pedestrian Communication Between New York
and Brooklyn-Hundreds Of People Crossing
on the Ice-Narrow Escapes from Drown
ing-Scenes and Incidents on the River.
win the East river bridge ever be puiltY

This was the exclamation Of hundreds Of thou.
sands Of people yesterday Again had the Ice King
proved victorious over steam. and loc0moton on the
waters around New York was past The North and
East rivers were one mass OF noatlng ice-a minia.
tnre Arctic Sea- Cakes from six to eight inches
thick overlapped each other, in some cases forming
small lcebergs and ioating glacial Islands. Crys-
tallzed blocks and snowy heaps came with thud,
thud against the wheels Of the ferryboats which
struggled along crunching and groaning through
the gittering barriers, and causing CONSERVATION
among the passengers, especially the female portion
OF them. For seats in the ladies' found
few occupants. Every window was filled with peer
ing, anxious faces. On the prov and stern or the
Doats knots Of men crowded
STUDYING THE SITUATION
longlngly and learuy. IL was Saturday afternoon;
marketing had to be done; money had to be COL
lected to tide them over the coming week. With
many two hours delay might be simply unconi-
Portable; to sthers IL might be ruin. At about one
O'Clock The Hood tide, which had brought these
large sheets OF Ice up the East from the lower
bay, had eliminated ITS Efforts One immense block,
extending half way across the river which, welding
3ogether With the detached pieces around the pers
formed
AN IMPENETRABLE MASS.
The natural bridge was formed; the river was
blocked and the ferryboat Arizona was fast in
the frozen element. Around tho Brooklyn piers
and In the fegry slips thousands Of people
were watching the scene. On the New York
side every wharf was crowded At last,
from the Brooklyn side, man more
venturesome than the rest was seen TO slip
down on the ice from dock near Fulton street and
start for New York. From both sides OF the river
and from the ferryboat shout was raised that must
have sent thrill TO his heart. He did not heed it,
m 1rp1 nf
others who were waiting for the first blow TO be
struck followed. They streamed across The river
from both sides, and US they met in the centre shook
hands, congratulang each other on the success Of
their miniature arctic voyage. Ii Is estimated that
number three women, crossed between the aours of
one and three O'Clock. About half-paSt two some
four hundred VINO had left Brooklyn. AMI VINO had
nearly reached this side were warned by signs from
Tiit ICE WAS MOVING.
There was scamperiDg to and fro. Some rushed
back lor BROOKLYN; Others more daring Kept right
on tor New York and reached 1t IN safety. The
OF them made for The Arizona, which was pretty
near them at the tlme and by means Of ropes and
ladders about three hundred climbed up the side Of
the IelrybGat. me passengers and the walkists at
once mingled In conversation, asking how 1t felt ?
II they were frightened much 2 would they ever try
1t again. &c.
much; he crossed the river n 1882 and III 1851 when
the river was blocked lor two days lie remem-
bered 1t well. There were over twenty thousand
people crossed That ume men, women and children.
There were some OF Them got
CAUGHT IN A SNAP,
though, the second day, and were carried down near
Governors Island before they were rescued. Two
or three men were almost ilOZen 10 death. Ii was
colder weather than this, the thermometer being
down among the zeros AT the mention OF ths
circumstance visions OF the dire rerils they had es
capped IRON seemed to pass through the minds OF the
three hundred, and they internally thanked Provl-
dence once more tDat they had dry footing, though
ii was not yet Terra frTla.
About three O'Clock the tide turned and the ice
broke up. AT this time there were about
sixty BOYS ON ONE CAKE,
winch commenced to noat down the stream. They
were speedily rescued by a tugboar which was N.Y.
ing near Market street wharf
When Lhe Arizona reached her destination the
crowd that met the travellers from Brooklyn was
fearful. The ferry house was a mass OF human be-
ings: Men and women surged and pushed and
crushed against each other In terrible coniuson
market baskets Jammed against ones ribs, and
bundles and packages were lost, never TO be
svercoat had his back covered and adorned with
the contents OF mutllated and dessicated cream
slowed upon him.
In tulton street trucks carts and vehicles Of every
description were Ill battalion anu ntusse
THE CALCULATIONS AND OBJuRGATIOHs
that passed among the drivers thereof fright
full for Christian TO hear They had been standing
naturally irritable tempers had not been molline,l
by the circumstance In all the saloons
ice blockade formed the chief topic OF conversation
ana the keepers OF the places would not mind
blockade once week II It would always have such
talk about the bridge. The necessity was felt too
keenly. IL struck home TO every business man that
this thing should have been prov lded against years
ago. and five years seemed long tune to wait for
the fulnlment OF their ardent anticipatons
ON THE NORTH RIVER
1t nearly as bad though on account OF the width
OF the stream 1t was never completely blocked. The
HobOken boats were nearly an hour III crossing.
during the morning one OF them ran into a large
field OF ce where she was fastened for an hour and
half boat that lett Twenly-third street for
PavOna was three hours reaching her destination.
The coal barge William J. Thompson was crushed
and sunk by the ice at pier TO- East river ycstcr.
day afternoon. Her captain and crew were rescued
by Ohicer Sullivan of the Second precinct.