The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-11
PORT DEPOSIT.
subsiding Of the Water from the Streets of the
Town-Not in Immediate Danger Of
Being Swept Away-A Grand and
Awful scene on the River.
PORT DEPOSIT, Nd, Feb. 10, 1873.

PORT DEPOSIT, Nd, Feb. 10, 1873.
Port Deposit is not In any immediate danger the
sensational dispatches of the past few days 10 the
contrary Notwithstanding The ice gorge remains
just tight 1t did two weeks ago, and there is
less water in the river to-day than there was at
that time The ice Is in places piled up to great
height, but the streets free from water. 1t is
reported that the river has risen at Columbia i've
feet. The water was forced back into Octorara
Creek, Ave miles above here, to-day, and the rolling
mill at ROwlandsville was forced to stop work. Tie
water that came into this place yesterday was but
three or four Ieet in depth and quickly
subsidized. 1t seems to be the impress
sion of the inhabitants that nothing but
lOng-cOntinued rain or thaw will cause this place
further damage, and can well believe that the ice
gorge will remain all Winter. 1t is piled up solidly
in front Of Port Deposit and as for as the eye can
reach up and down the river. In some places 1t is
over twenty feet In height above the usual water
level
GRAND SPECTACLE.
The scene is desolate indeed, aud were IL not for
the possibility of future damage 1t might be con-
sidered magnificent. But it is 1t is terrible in
Its reality Large pieces of timber that have been
caught in the crushing ice remain standing end,
as they were left when the ice stopped moving,
aud there are thousands Of bits of lumber and
shingles scattered broadcast the icy ruin. In
front OF the railroad station where am writing
this despatch, the ice is piled up twelve feet high,
and thirty-nve feet from the building 1t is forty
feet in depth. All the wharves are still covered
with ice, and the railroad track above
THE DEPOT IS STILL SUBMERGED.
and all the back yards Of the houses in this imme-
date neighbOrhO0d are submerged 1t is estimated
that the damage already done will reach 100000.
Various plans have been suggested to get rid OF
the gorge and the New York press generally has
asked why nothing is dOnep II your readers could
be here and sec with their own eyes the reality
they would certainly the futility of attempting
to force the ice of. The gorge extends from Wat
sons Island, near Havre dc Grace, to ROwlands-
vile, o distance Of nine miles. The ice is abso-
lutely solid, and in some places fifty feet thick.
This is no fancy picture, but an absolute fact. Be-
low the gorge there Is new-made ice six inches in
thickness, extending out into Chesapeake Bay.
WHY POWDER WOULD BE USELESS.
Suppose the gorge was lOosened at its lower end
by blasting with powder, or duaine or nitr0-glyc-
crime, where would 1t goP II there were no Ice
below the gorge there is not enough water in the
river to move the ice of. The foundation Of all
damage to arise to this place s III sudden rise
above this point. The water, having no natural
outlet by reason Of the gorge, seeks and finds one
along the banks. Port Deposit, being situated at
the base OF Granite Hills, is one of the first places
to suffer. There Ia no immediate danger to Port
Deposit