The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-12-30
WRITER IN TEE WEST.
Brcaikang UP or an xcc- Gorge An the
Haa&kiSAfslln5. - 80.

mississippi.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. December q .-- Last night
| she Ice gorged at the Hen-and- Chickens, just
| ABOVE the city, and at 9 O'Clock the gorge
broke and the Ice came down with terrific
| force, sweeping of the dry-docks. then cut.
| ting down ten largcs Of COIL belonging to
Brown Jones, aud firalty steamer after
| steamer from the wharf, until 1t was thought
tnat not single one of the large number
tylnG there could he saved. The following
IS IS. 'fst OF the boats carried off: Laura, Bell.
fikep ;. ID. Walt, Undine, Wcstwind, and
Guy 81 Augusta. The towboat Nellie Thomas
lying in critical condition, and it is
aouofiut whether she can DC saved, MS the
Ice Is running very heavily. The Westwipd
ana :. ID Walt are loaded with cotton.
!; rBE SCENE OF DESTRUCTION.
Ilip bluffs In front Of the city and the levec
are lined with people watching the strange
spectacle Of destruction by ice Of the boats In
the river. just about the foot OF jefferson
street lies the K. 7. Walt, crowded on shore
and broken in two. Above her is the Belle
Pike, sunk to the guards and supported BY
empty barges. Just below lies the Laura,
badly broken. The crews arc busiiy engaged
i'll wrccking the steamers, in order to save
all that Is possible before the ice changes
their condition. Just at the watcr-gauge lies
the Wcstwind, driven OH the bow Of the
White Star, wharf. boat. Her upper works
are a complete wreck. hut her hull, with $50
bales OF cotton, is comparatively uninjured.
Just astcrn, and crowded in the outer guard
of the whar.-boat, lies the Andy Baum, with
her upper works badly damaged and the boat
in pTccarious condition. The wharfboat
Is but little injured. Atits stern the Airing
tpp nd l,.;,,
their guards aud upper works smashed.
THE LOSSES.
Owing to the confusion and tie strenuous
efforts Of the crews 10 save everything roSsi-
Die. and guard against further danger, It is
impossible to obtain reliable data as to the
losses. The Walt is owned by Elliott Bro
Tiers, OF Memphis, who are now engaged in
wrecking her and saying all tic cotton pos
sibc.
The Laura will be total loss. She is
owned 10y Captain james, her commander.
The Pike will prove All almost total loss,
together with her cargo Of cotton. She is
owned by the st. Louis and Naples Packet
Company. and is being wrecked.
The dry docks, alter being driven down TO
the foot Of Exchange street, were secured.
and will probably be saved, though they and
the steamer Pat. Clehnrne are III critical
condition, likewise the Nellie Thomas, whose
upper works are cruz he'd.
The Yves wind. belonging to Massingal &
Bowman, Of Nashville. is in great peril,
having been stripped Of her upper works
and forced against the whari-boat with such
powcraS to break her shaft.
The Cndiuc and Helen have broken, and
the Summer koon has sunk out Of sight.
The Clipper, towboat, was driven to the
head Of Presidents island, and will prove a
total loss.
INCIDENTS.
When the break-up occurred, and the
Andy Baum was driven down on the wharf
boat, Taylor Wells, one IF the pilots, at
tempted TO Jump from The hurricane root OH
IL tile Wharl-JoHt, but fell into tie river and
was badly crushed by the ice. He was res
cucd with great difficulty.
john Clinton aud Il bar-kccpcr both made
leaps and were badly bruised.
HE james Howard arrived from below
about ~ O'Clock and made several incncc-
tu:l efforts to pull the City Of Augusta out
without being able to move her.
I'!tc river j. still rising, having risen three
and hall feet since last evening.
ESTIMATED TOTAL LOSS.
MEMPHIS, December 21.-A gorge formed
| at Randolph again tr.dd;, but broke in the
afternoon. The ice ut Il p. VI. WIS runnin.
| heavier than ever. The james Howard sue
cccdcd in saving the Undine. Helen Brooke,
| and City Of Augusta. The work of wreck
| in: the Il. 7. Walt, Belle Pike. and Vest
| wind is being pushed with great energy.
| Mrs>r>. Brown and Jones lost 10000 bush
| els # coal and sixty coa-3oatS and !'arScS.
| Their cuire loss Is $4,000. on which there
i, no Insurance. The total loss hy the disa>-
Ter is S2J1 $50. All the steamers III tie land
Ing have steam up, anticipating greater dam
age tonight.
the Snort supply Of coal is the all-absori;-
ing topic. The question is asked whether
| the gGts companies can supply their custom
crS.