The New York herald., 1873-12-19
THE FoG.WRAPPED CITY.


How the Mists Yelled the Metropolis Yes
terday-scenes In tine streets and on tho
Rivers-Delay OF Ferryboats-The Un-
lucky Steamer WestfieId Aground.
The fog which enwrapped the metropolis all Of
Tuesday night, through Wednesday, and settled.
still heavy and dark with the nightfall, still urked
the city yesterday morning, though l0ath to
take the wings OF the wind and fly to more accus-
toned locations. On Wednesday. at midnight, the
heavy shroud OF mist held all the clty's smoke and
exhalations in heavy fetters, and the air chill
and raw with its unpleasant influence. Toward
two O'Clock yesterday morning light wind
prevailed, and it seemed as though the
great vapor bank taking its departure:
but between four and five o'clock it again settled
down with all its clammy unpleasantness, and as
daylight dawned it seemed as though the earth's
surface was steaming. When the sun arose there
appeared for a time indications tnat the mist was
soon to be dispersed by Its genial warmth, but for
more than an hour his ardent beams failed
10 pierce the arnfOr OF flimsy cloud that
had octopus-llke thrown its arms about the city
and held IL In its moist unwhoesome embrace.
Nevertheless the fog was not so extraordinarily
dense as on Wednesday morning, and it was espe-
cally noticeable that the stratum was deeper, or,
in other words, that it had assembled some what
ana was more rarifed. Looking up the streets
pleasing effect that was suggestive OF weird I'M
reality, the faint outlines OF massive buildings and
climbing spires being at times almost poetic in
their soft, dreamllke dImness There was not
enough of the fog, however, to seriously impede
business in the city to MAKE either
PEDEsTRIANIsM OR yEHIcULAR LoCOMOTION
hazardous; but down on the bay, the harbOr and
along the river surfaces there was great steamy
bank OF mist, ever changing, rising. falling,
dispensing and again gathering In close
mass that made the variety OF scene
as attractive panorama OF dissoving views.
Then there was the same clangor of noises as ON
the preceding day, the hoot OF giant whistles and
the soft, mufled clangor Of the bells. To stand on
one OF the piers and watch the phantom ships that
slowly stole into and out OF sight was occupa-
tiOn not by any means monotonous, but on the,
contrary, somewhat interesting. At one time
from the Battery esplanade there was singular
scene presented by the fact that the topmasts of
less than seven vessels were visible within an
arc OF 500 yards OF the observer. and thar not "a
vestige OF any other portion OF the ships to be
seen. The rigging ana ropes that ascended to and
supported the slender shafts readily discern.
ible in several or them and 1t seemed as though
they were poles planted in a bank Of intangible
cloud. Presently lighter loomed in sight, her
great square sail looking like black wall OF sheet
iron, lazy and somDre. few minutes later she
had passed, and as
struggling through the gloom, struck upen the
other side of the sail. the canvas stood up white
and fat, from the dim surroundings and back
ground. The ierryboats at this time felt
some difficulty in making their trips, hut
no collisions or serious accidents occurred owing
some hair breadth escapes and few vessels lust
graZed each other, but there no first class
smash, and as a consequences there was nothing OF
especial interest to record beyond the fact that the
boats did not run so frequently their trips is
the custom in fine weather. The result was OF
course that some delay was experienced by the
thousands who are required to be at their places
OF business early; but AL were, after time safely
log seemed TO cling with great perttnacity to belt
OF the central stfiace OF the rivers, even when
along the immediate
the vision was comparatively unobstructed for
hundred yards. These iog veins were extremely
stances. Towards ten O'Clock, however, light
wind sprung up and by eleven O'Clock the rivers
were so clear that ordinary prudence and watch
Iulness made it matter OF comparative ease to
navigate the harDor IL any direction From that
time throughout the day there was little or no in
convenience experienced, and, though it was gen.
orally believed the log would settle again at
down, Everybody was agreeably disappointed.
There was an intimation OF moisture in the air last
night. but the air was clear, and it looked as
though The visitation OF foggy weather had terml-
mated. Twenty-f -four hours OF frost would dispel IL
unquestionaby, and at midnight the indications
were that this morning would break bright and
clear.
THE ONLY NOTEWORTHY CASUALTY
OF the day the following The Staten Island
ferryboat West1eld, in consequence OF the heavy
fog Wednesday night did not make her usual trip
down at a quarter to twelve p. NJ but remained in
her dock until SIX O'Clock yesterday morning,
when, although the fog was still very thick, she
ventured out with q small number OF passengers.
The vessel was run at very slow rate OF speed,
from the. TACT that 1t was impossible to see
20 feet ahead. When the Westfeld was in what
Captain Vreeland supposed to be the neighbor-
hood OF the Robbins Reef Lighthouse he listened
attentively, but could hear no sound from tne fog
bell located there, and so, thinking he was mis-
taken in the locality, proceeded on hts way. He
had gone but short distance, however, when his
boat ran
HARD AND FAST ON THE BRIGHTON FLATS,
or, as 1t is generally called by boatmen.
Birds Point" The CONSERVATION among
the passengers wus at first very great as
thoughts OF the terrible explosion that occurred
some two years ago on the Westheld passed
through their brain, many of them thinking that
another such disaster was to happen. However,
no explosion took place, and 1t was found that,
with the exception OF the vessel being grounded
hard and fast, bur little harm was done and during
the morning the passengers were taken ashore in
small boats. About seven o o'clock last night the
ierryboats' MiddetOwn and Northfeld, aided by
the Quarantine tug Hopkins, were made last to.
the grounded vessel, and, after an hours hard
work. succeeded In getting her OF. she was at
once towed to Clifton landing, where II was dis
covered that she had sustained but little damage,
some Of her 10or panking only being started. She
leaked SO little that her donkey pump kept her
Tree OF water