The sun., 1872-12-28
ANrCE GoRGE IN THE mIss1ssIppI.
Wholesale Destruction st Memphis - DRY
Docks, Barges, aud Steamers Swept
Away-st30,00 600 Worth Of Coal sank.

Docks, Barges, aud Steamers swept
Away-stS0,00O Worth Of Coal sunk.
MEMPHIS, Dec. 27.-Last night the ice
gorged at Hen and Chickens" Just above the
city, and at o'clock the gorge broke and the Ice
came down with terrific force, sweeping on the
dry docks, then cutting down ten barges OF coal
belonging to Brown & Jones' and finally steamer
after steamer from the wharf, until II was
thought that not single one Of the large num-
Der lying there could be saved. The boats car
rled on are the Laura, Belle Pike, g. d. Walt,
Undlne, West Wind, and City Of Augusta. The
bluffs In front OF the city and the levee wera
lined with people watching the strange spocta-
cles of the destruction Of the boats by the ice.
. just above the foot OF Jefferson street lay the
Above her was the Belle Pike, sunk TO her gu ards
and supported by empty barees. just below lay
engaged IN wreekins the steamers in L order to
save all possible before the ice changed their
Cw2ndiiwlon, wn., lon, Just at the water gauge Lax the
piete wreck but her hull, with $50 bales
Of cotton, comparatively uninJured. Just
of the wharf-hoat lay the Andy Baum, with her
upper works badly damaged, and the boat in a
pfecarious condition. The wharf boat was but
little injured: At It's stern the Arlington. Glas-
gov. and s.. Francis lay;g their guards and
cured and the Andy Baum wns driven down
on the wharf boat Taylor Wells, one Of her pl-
on to the Wharf boat but fei into the river and and
was badly crushed by the ice. He was rescued
with great difficulty.
John clinton and the barkeeper both made
leaps, but were badly bruised.
Owing to the confusion and strenuous efforts
OF the crows TO save everything possible and to
guard AGAINST further danger, Il Is impossible to
obtain reliable data as to losses. Tho Walt will
be ,,, almost m total loss but her cargo 81 cotton
She Il owned by Capt. James, her commander.
The Belle pike will prove almost total loss, to-
s.T "a
by the st: Louis and Naples Packet Company.
The dry docks after being driven down to the
probably be saved, though they and
critical condition, llkswise the Nellie
west Wind, belonging to MsssngaIe & Bow
man, OF Nashville, is In great peril having been
the wharf boat With such power as TO break her
shafts. The Undino and Helen have broken,
TSo srsr nss HsS ors % the 'ss
Of Presidents Island, and will prove total loss.
brown and Jones have lost about $4,000
In the hands OF dealers In Memphis. The gas
works which supply the city are without day =
81 per barrel, which will cause great suffering
The .riycris still rising, having risen 81 feet
A gorge formed at Randolph again to-day, but
broke In the afternoon. The i.e az o'clock
was running heavier than ever. The James
Howard succeeded in saving the Undine, Helen
Brooke, and CITY Of Augusta. The work, OF
wrecking the II. p. Walt. Belle Pike, and West
Wind Is being pushed with great energy. The
total loss by the disaster will not fall short OF n
quarter Of a million dollars All the steamers at
the landing have steam up, anticipating greater
danger tonight Tie short supply of coal IL the
all-absorbing topic, and the question Is asked
whether the gas companies can supply their
customers.
Ats o'clock tonight the river is falling, which
Is considered an indication that IL IL gorged
again. At Randolph tho steamboat men are all
on the alert Tor another crash OF Ice. The James
Howard, after extricating the City of Augusta,
has got line ashore at the foot of Jefferson
street, hut IL unable to get into the shore.
The II. p. Walt is considered to he lost. She
Is owned by Elliott Brothers of this city. Is
valued at $jd,Ol1. and Is insured for S2hnD. Her
cabin furniture has all been removed The cot
ton that she had on board WAS saved. The
Belle Pike Is total lose She Is valued at
thus far does not exceed $200.0O0. The II. T..
lerger lies against the bar on tine Arksnsas
shore unharmed.