The New York herald., 1872-12-28
THE MISSISSIPPI ICE-GOlGr.
Great Destruction Of Steamboat Property and
Freight on the Great National Water
Route-The Coal Supply Of Memphis Sub
merged-The Losses About $3.50, 900

MEMPHIS, Dec. u. IsT2
Last night the leo gorged at "Hen and Chickens"
just above the city, aud at two O'Clock the gorge
broke and the ice came down With terrific force,
sweeping or the dry docks. then cutting down ten
barges Of coal belonging to Brown & Jones' and
finally steamer after steamer from the wharf, unth
IL was Thought that not single one OF the large
number there could be saved. The following Ia 3
list OF the boats carried off,
Laura, Belle Pike, 5. d. Walt, Undne, West Wind
and City OF Augusta The towboat Nellie Thomas
Is in critical condition, and It Is doubtful whether
she can be saved. the ice Is running very heavily
The West Wind and s. u. Wait are loaded with
cotton.
The buns Ia front OF the city ana the levee are
lined with people watching the strange spectacle
of the destruction by the ice Of the boats IN tho
river.
Just above the foot OF Jefferson streSe lies the B.
d. walt, crowded on shore and broken in two.
Above her il the Belle Pike, sunk to her guards
and supported by empty barges.
Just below lies the Laura, badly broken Crewt
are busiy engaged In wreckng the steamers II
order to save all possible before the Ice changes
their condition.
Just at the water gauge lies tho West Wind.
driven on the bow of the White star whanbeat.
her upper works complete wreck, but her hult
jured.
Just astern and crowded in the outer guard 0fthe
wharboat lies the Andy Baum, with her upper
works badly damaged and the boat IN precariou4
condition. The wharlboat IL but little Injured
At Its stern the Arlington, Glasgow and St.
Francis are lying with their guards and upper
owing to the confusion and strenuous efforts Of
the crews to save everything possible and guard
against further danger IT Is isl Impossible a to Obtain
| Elliott Brothers. OF Memphis, who are now en-
gagged IN wrecking her and saving all the cotton
The Laura will be a total loss. She Is owned by
| Captain James, her commander.
The Belle Pike will prove almost total loss, to.
| gether with her cargo of cotton She Ia owned By
the st. Louis and Naples Packet Company. She 10
The dry docks, after being driven down to tho
| foot OF Exchange street, were secured and win
pG ave ,ey cyonon
| the Nellie Thomas, whose upper works are crushed.
| The West Wind, belonging to Massingdaie Bow.
man, OF Nashville Is In great peril-hayng beog
stripped Of her upper works and forced against
the wharf boat with such power as to break her
shafts.
The Undine and Helen have broke, and the
Summer kOon has sunk out OF sight.
OF Presidents Island. ana wlll'prove total loss.
Brown Jones have lost about ~ one one hundred ana
three days supplies in the hands OF dealers il
Memphis The gasworks which ci supply the city ara
great suffering among the poor.
When the breakup occurred and the Andy Baum
was driven down on the wharfboat, Taylor Wells,
one OF her pilots, attempted TO jump from the hur'
rlcane deck to the wharfboat, but fell into the
rescued with great diniculty John clinton and
! the barkeeper both made leaps, but were badly
! bruised. The James Howard arrived from below
about ten O'clock ana made several inenectual ef
forts to pull the City OF Augusta out. without being
| able to move her.
The river is still rising having risen three and .
| half feet since last evening.
gorge formed at Randolph again to-day, bus
! broke In the afternoon.
The ice at six O'Clock was running heavier than
ever. The James Howard succeeded In saving the
Undne, Helen Brooke and City OF Augusta. The
work Of wreckinE the X. p. Walt, Belle Pike and
West Wind Is being pushed with great energy.
The total loss by the disasters will not fall short
OF quarter OF million dollars. All the steam.
ers at the landing have steam up, anticipating
greater danger tonight The short supply OF coat
Is the all-abs0rbing topic, and the question ix
asked whether the gas companies can supply their
customers.