The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-22
Hundreds of Families Made
Destitute.
A TERRIBLE HET.
Ice Gorged in the River Thirty
Feet High.


the beginning Of their troubles and the ice is still
collecting the water moving through the town
with undated force. At this writing the channel
the left bank of the river has been opened by the
action OF the increasing volume OF water and some
OF the ice is moving OF. The cause of all this
trouble is traceable to the carelessness OF the peO
pie who are now suffering from its effects. About
two miles below the town and one mile from
Havre de Grace is a lumber BOOM which is used to
hold back RATS until such time they required
This boom is left closed the year round and In Win
ter the Ice gathers and is held tight.
AS THE FLOATING ICE
comes down faster and faster. it is piled In great
masses high above the surface Of the water and ex
tends downward to the bed Of the river. There is
now at least six miles of this ice In the river at this
time. solidly packed and extending IRON one shore
to the other, and presenting to the eye grand and
awful exhibition OF the power OF the elements.
Agreeably to your instructions left Philadelphia
last evening and arrived In Havre de Grace this
morning at three O'Clock. crossed over to Perry
vile at an early hour and found, to my extreme
surprise, that the trains could not
RUN TO PORT DEPOSIT
on account Of the freshets. Twas informed how
ever that for the slight consideration OF a 81 SO
could get to my destination by hack conveyance.
The distance by railroad Is four miles, by the route
we were required to take 1t was seven miles, and
thanked my lucky stars" that got there safe
and sound. for we went over mountain, down
ice covered hills, and whrled around corners with
undated speed until the vehicle halted at one Of
principal hotels in the town. The whole front OF
the town. for over mile in length and extending
backwards an average distance OF five hundred
feet was submerged. Houses had been deserted,
and in the hasty hight Of their occupants articles
MERCY OF THE RUSHING WATERS.
Stores, houses lumber yards, ofces railroads, coal
yards and docks shared common fate; and in two
hours after the water began crOwding into the
town the work OF destruction was complete. Hun
dreds of men, women and children were nying. in
their mad haste grasping in their hands whatever
they could save in their hurry; clerks and store
keepers, their feet encased In great rubber boots
hurried hther and thither with various articles Of
"stora truck" as they term groceries and prOvi-
sOns in this country, and all around was scene OF
desolation and horror such as seldom visits our
American riverside towns. All the time the water
gathered strength and the great masses OF ice
piled themselves In giant heaps in front OF the
town. The public wharves were submerged then
the cellars OF the storehsuses overlooked. Silently
and swiftly the waters deepened; lumber nOated
out against the mass Of ice, where its progress
finally reached the
PANIC BECAME UNIVERSAL.
One foot OF water coursed rapidly through this
street from end OF the town to the other; then
another foot, and another and another, until finally
there was six feet of water there. railroad track
was covered to a like DEPTH and the waters
were only stayed in their madness at the centre
OF the town. As soon as the people
could collect their senses they endeavOred
to estimate their losses, but now there can be
no correct estimate made, for no one knows
whether the destruction has only commenced or
will extend further and engulf the whole town. At
present the losses are estimated all the way from
sixty to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
or course there is no insurance, and the loss, what
ever it be- must be "dead" loss. The telegraph
ONCE was inundated. and the operators were re-
quired to move back int the hill yesterday after
noon.
DOOMED FAMILY ON CARR's ISLAND.
There was rumor here yesterday and this
morning that family-of husband wife and five
cnildren-were cooped up on Carr's Island and en-.
trely helpless. Although myself and gentleman
from Philadelphia offered to he OF q party to 20 to
their rescue. no one of the inhabitants seemed
willing to risk his life in such an endeavor.
"Dy'e reckon, mister, we could walk on the Ice
from here to the lslandSn said TALL greasy noun.
taineer to my friend.
"of course we can; or, at least we can try"
was the reply.
''well, then, I reckon that man and his family
can walk ashore" and the mountaineer's wit was
received with general laughter by the bystanders
near by. We were forced by the apathy OF the
people to give up our the helpless and starv-
dertaking, but with generous spirits and willing
hands in sun1cient numbers think we could have
do S.l tvla thn
the family in safety. At last advices they were
still there, and their chances Of relief and assist
DWELLINGS THAT ESCAPED rNuNDAT1oN
There are two or three houses In the town, the
best here, that have escaped injury Of any kind
One OF them was the birthplace OF Postmaster
Creswel, and his venerable mother could be seen
at the window to-day calmly locking at the ruin at
her feet. The residence OF Jacob Tome, q million
aire OF the place, is unlnjured Mr.. j. j. Abraham's
house is also intact. Each Of these houses is liter
ally built on . rock, and a little higher elevated
than the surrounding houses. went into the
cupola on the roof of Mr. Rambo's store this after
BIRpsEYr VIEW OF THE ICE. GORGE.
The cellars Of this store were submerged, and
found 1t necessary to climb over several ice-coated
piles Of lumber and indnge IN some grcdna ana
building through door In the second story. The
view was sngularly grand and impressive Up
and down the river almost as far as the eye could
reach stretched one unbroken mass Of piied.up
ice. In places 1t was fully fifteen feet above the
wuu sos 81 n, umps fna
chasm with crash that echoed TO either shore.
BUILDINGS WRECKED AND WASHED AWAY.
Below me the waters OF the river whired and
edded through the principal streets OF the town,
at times gathering In Its rapid current an clubhouse
or shed, and dashng 1t against the storehouses on
the wharves. shivcring its frail timbers into
thousand pieces. In q lew moments the fragments
would disappear under the Ice and that would end
the entertainment until another shed, or office, or
pile OF lumber was whired forward to destruction.
So the scene is kept up, and the excitement OF the
people Is Kept constantly ahve. one scene OF de-
struction passes to another constantly, but am
glad to be able report that no lives are known TO
have been lost as yet
ICE PILED THIRTY FEET HIGH.
/ Advices from McCalls ferry represent the ice as
nied M there to height OF thirty feet and gorged
tight between either bank OIL the river.
THE town Of Port Deposit IL situated on the east
hank of the Susuuehanna, about ten miles from 1t