New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-28
ICE IN TEE MISSISSIPPI.
DISASTROUS BREAKING OF A GORGE AT
MEMPHIS.

NUMEROUS STEAMERS ANp BAIGEs WRECKED
THOUSANDS OF TUNs OF COAL Losr-VAH
STRUGGLES WITH A RELESTLEss ENEAf-
ANOTHER CRASH EXPECTED.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsRl
MxNpuIs. Dec. N-On Wednesday an immense
ice gorge Is feet high mile wide, and three miles
long formed in the Mississippi four miles above here
A portion broken off that day caught the steamer
Celeste and crushed and sunk her, with cargo Oh
corn and cotton worth $4,000 to 10000 the ohcers
crew and passengers having barely time to escape In
life.boats The steamer was worth $4,000, and was
not insured.
That night the whole gorge broke from the heavy
rse in the Ohio and came sweeping down eight feet
high against 20 boats at the landing here causing
million dollars of injury. Two hundred thousand
bushels of coal in barges was swept away and SUNK
in 10 minutes, the owners Brown 81 Jones, losing
$4,000. The Gas Company lost 10000 bushels anu
the city is now threatened with total darkness -
there is not 1900 bushels on hand and no means
.,ists Of getting it here. The boats sunk include
the steamers
Beue Pire. owned in 81. Louis, worth $4,000 and IN
sured for half the amount her were $50 Daiee OF
cotton owned in Boston, principally by W. d. T. Aiis
ball & Co., worth $4,000, and insured In BostoD'
RIP Walt owned here, worth 10000 insured Tor nan
the amount IN Cincinnati. Wheeling, and Plttsoursn'
West Wind crushed, worth 10000 owned In NasnVle'
uninsured.
Undne worth 10000, uninsured, swept down stream
two miles, turned completely over and crushed.
suumer Koon, worth 5000, owned mere uhihs"iou'
100000 feet OF lumber nogs was swept away VIII her'
worth $4,000 A.,
Glasgow, loaded with sugar ana molasses' from He"
Orleans 10 ST. Louis badly broken.
Arlington with 800 ses OF cotton; broke seven haw
GERS and was carried down. caught with the loss Oh
100 bales.
Over 30 barQes and hat-boats were also wrecked.
The crash came at midnight, when those On Doaru
the boats were asleep and had barely time TO escape
to the shore. Three on the steamer Andy baum
were injured One fell into the river. but got out on
the ice The boat is nearly crippled, but above wafer
vet The steamer Clipper, with four barges, was
carried down and is not yet heard FROM Another
ice-yave is expected tonight. ALI the boats are
securely fastened. but many must CO. as the ice is
strong enough to pull the ringbolts to which they
are fastened out of the landing Ice in such quant
ties was never known here before.
ANOTHER CORRESPONDENTS ACCOUNT OF TIE
DISASTER.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBuHEi
MEMPHIS. Dec 27.-Ice first commenced noatine
past here last Sunday evening, and has since stead
ilv increased in quantity. The intense cold weather
had caused it to mass in large quantities along inc
shore and it had formed solid BODY along the
shore. extending several hundred yards from the
river banks on either side. completely fastening AL
steamers where they laid. and leaving only narrow
space near the center of the river for the floating ice
Between dark and midnight, last night, the river
rose about ~ inches causing the shore ice to break
loose and in about two hours after midnight some
| "a steamers barges, and other craft were either
| crushed to atoms OF badly damaged.
Living near the mouth of Wolf River were the
| floating dry docks, which were torn loose, swept
| down several hundred yards, and Iammed against
| the shore with no apparent damage except the
| breaking away of it's fastening. The steamer bene
Of Pike loaded with $50 bales Of cotton sndmiscel-
I laneous freight for points above, was swept do"n
| some distance crushed, and sunk.
She as valued at $4,000 and insured Tor S2oOoo.
| She belonged to the st. Louis and Naples Packet
Company, and win be a total loss. A large number
of coal boats, lying near the mouth of Wolf River,
were sunk. Brown & Jones lose 80 coal boats and
| loads, involving loss of $l25Oo
The City Gas Works saved one boat with 1900
| bushels of coal The stock of coal left for public
use is less than $1,000 bushels, and prices have ad
yanced and much suffering is feared among the
poor in consequence of this disaster.
| The steamer Pat Cleburne and ferry-boat Excel
sior, lying at the foot of Westinghouse were
crowded ont OF the bank but appear to De unhurt--
! The Nettie Thomas small ferry-boat, en- route to-
Little Rock had her upper works smashed; her nun
| ia thought to be uninjured. The Helen BROOKS, q
small iron steamer still floats, but her hull is badly
| bent though not leaking.
! The r. P. Walt was struck by coal barge, crush
| ing in the entire arboard side Of her hull forcing
her boilers overheard and forcing the steamer OUT
| on the bank. whore she now lies crushed out OF
shape. Tho City of Augusta. which was lying along
side the Walt, Is yet but little damaged. but ID
! dangerous position.
| The small steamer Summer Koon is broken down,
but still floats and may be saved. The little steamer
Laura, worth probably 5000 was broken up and
sunk. The Undine, another small craft was crushed
and swept away to the head of Priests Island, where
| she sunk. The Andy Baum was torn loose and car
| RED against the West Wind, crushing the upper
works of the latter boat; her huh is as yet safe
| The Baum was damaged in her upper works to Ae
extent of s. 900.
The Arlington was crowded against the s. Francis
| and Glasgow, damaging them slightly
Anumber Of boats, fortunately lying at tue lower
| wharf, are uninjured. The steamer Celeste while
trying TO land at the foot of Island No. 2 Tuesday
morning was struck by a OF floating ice and
split into fragments. Her crew and passengers
walked 60 miles across the country TO Brownsville,
suffering intensely from cold aud exhaustion.
STILL ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
lGTSERAL PRESS DIsPATCHl
MrvpuI; Dec 21-The ice Coroed ~ " Hen