The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-01-25
Great Ice Gorge at Port Deposit,

0A1ut Aou NeA6e ~ AS@N @fsfN
Port Deposit, IN Cecil county. on the Sus.
qnchanna river, has been visited by another
ice gorge, occasloned by the ircshet which
commenced on Sunday last. The ice IS piled
% feet high, andeonsidernble damage has been
done in the town, 10 houses, wharf property,
lumber, &c. Several families had TO escape
from the windows oftheir houses in boats and
erect tents for shelter on the hills above the
river The gorgeisn not so great us that oil 1901,
when the ice was piled forty feet sigh, and all
the lower side ofthe town q perfect wreck.
We copy an extract from the account OF the
correspondent Of the dmeTicdn.
By the kindness Of Mr.. Pugh was afforded
iine view Of the whole scene from the cnpo-
In upon the top Of the large warehouse OF No.
laud 4 Co. From there could survey the
whole town, as well Ms the ice gorge IN its
whole extent below the town. Somo sixty
dwelling houses were inundated, some of
them being lifted and carried away from their
foundations. The Columbia and Port Depos-
II Railroad Station was surrounded by the ice
andinavery dangerous situation, -Four church
es the st. James, Episcopal the 81. Teresa,
Catholic; Methodist and q Presbyterian
were surrounded BY the waters. The telegraph
poles we're swayed and a wire was broken, ana
the telegraph Office surrounded. a Temporal
nv one had been established however at Rock
Run at the upper part OF the town. Some soV
| feet away from the street was whcret the wharyes
| had been confused mass Of lumber and ice
covered them. Two warehouses OF Messrs.
Davis h Pugh's, the sash factory of holland \
! Co. and the warehouses of Messrs. Tome
Co., Davis h Way, Bond, Bro. Il Co. and j.
1 p. ZIMMERMAN Il Son were surrounded by the
I winter the stores of Messrs. West and Carroll
! and West and Vannort were filled with water
| in their lower stories. A large frame building
belonging to holland & Co., was moved about
twenty feet from its former position. Three
| thousand doors had been stored away in il,
| but when the waters first began to rise they
| had been removed. Besides the damage done
to the track of the Por, Deposit Railroad, the
| track Of the Maryland Central Road was also
submerged for about the distance OF mile.
| Besides their losses here Messrs. Davis 4
| Pugh suffered heavy loss at Lapidum, on the
opposite side Of the river, where wharves and
lime houses were swept awpy. The tidewater
canal from Lapdum to Coolies Point was al.
80 submerged, the river forced channel
through it sweeping away the canal bank, the
main current running over it, The ice gorge
itself is Of course the most conspicuous object
in the field of vision. Looking over its miles
of extent, it presents the appearance "
roughly ploughed field that was covered by
snow fall. An inspection of TINT nearest the
town shows that the ice is piled To the height
OF twenty-five feet in some places. The huge
cakes are packed together, and twisted about
in every conceivable way. Some are set
straight ON end, showing edges over foot in
thickness. The detritus is pushed upon the
shore in every direction. A, II o'clock on
| Tuesday night the water was subsiding.
Later accounts say the gorge had not abaied up TO
i Thursday night. The water OF the river was five
feet deep In the street al Port Deposit and all the
K lower part Of The town submerged. The lumber Ia
the yards was piled In great commission and much of
Il viii be swept down the river aud out into the bay
when the Ice gives way. AZ Metals Ferry, up the
river the gorge was irom 70 70 - feet high Another
gorge has alsO formed at Columbia Pa coTcspon.
dent of the BaHinore Sun, Wednesday, writes as fol
lows;
neral, In boats, OF Mn Duke the lady who died on
Friday last and whose remains had been locked up
in submerged dwelling since Sunday last, awaiting
burial Yesterday morning j was determined 70 re-
move the body for burial. Boats were accordingly
provided, and funeral cortcge OF rowboats filled
with friends OF the ndy-a novel scene. truly-waS
witnessed passing % the high grounds from whence
the body was transferred 10 vehicle and taken 20
Perryyille and thence To iiayre dc Grace where il
inferred according TO the rites of the Catholic
Church. Father Barry conducting the ceremonies
The rescue Of the families imprisoned ON Cars Is.
land above Port Deposit whUse cries for help had
enlisted such profound sympathy ON the main land.
was the great event OF the day, In por Deposit Mr.
J. J. Ahnhanls, of Baltimore, and Mr.. J. Cayenny
of Port Deposit had offered 500 for the of the
Islanders but there was no one To undertake the task
In Hnyro dc Grace yesterday however rescue
party, composed mainly OF duckcrs and fishermen,
point accomplished the difficult and honorable feat
The expedition was organEcd and headed by John
lcitheistr who on Tuesday evening last called tor
volunteers among his commdcs In u few moments,
at least dozen brave and hardy men enrolled them.
day, when IL was resolved 10 attempt the rescue were
made.
The party met al G o'clock yesterday morning,
} when two-horse wagon was loaded with the life.
saving appurtennnceS These consisted OF two good.
sized lifeboais, covered with tin Upon the bottom
OF each boat were three wooden runners covered
with iron plates in sled style designed As means of
passing the BOATS over the Ice during the winter sea.
son. A number OF boat hooks and coil OF rope 80
Reel IN length were also provided, and with these the
party set OuL The party proceeded thence about a
mile higher up, To Bells rerry at the site OF the old
, susquehanna turnpike bridge, which was washed a.
way IN the great Hood OF leJ1. The boats were gotten
out placed ON the ice gorge. which was nineteen feet
above ordinary wafer level, and the following party
were assigned 10 manage them: John Leitheser
John Nathan, Grafton lay, William Dobson john
kurtz, John Cameron John 1eppish Albert kRisin
! and Chas. W, Hubbard.
The whole party stripped of their coat, satachci
the rope To the Int buAL and thence to the second
leaving John and Robert Mitchell and John I. Ives
To hanuie the ropes on shore. The start was then
made, at about A. NJ and crowd of pertains hfty
persnns, who had assembled on shore watched with
he ar,, .e SLOW anu iaborcd progrss o.
shore Jonn Cameron went through the ice bufclung
70 inc boat side and was soon up again. few feel
TURNER and the Forward boat lurched aud seemed D.
sink, when John Mghan, another VI the party WAS
himself 'gorgcd in The ice, but quickly pulled
out. dripping with the cold waters When abou
three hundred yards irUm shore a creyice In In,
gorge was encountered, deep that when the boat
Descended II they were entireiy out OF sight those
on hnOre and the men say that nothing could be
but ice and sky Those IN Shore were disposed h,
pull inthc rope but inRiew moments the buats reap
peSa as anu were again myuntea on The hgh gorge
\ ON, ana IN one hour reached Woods Island, which
i was almost entirely submerged, having paycd Ou
" ieet o. the rope. The rope was then tied last 10
tree On Woods Island Tor the return. A shout in,lu
shore was eheerily answered by the brave ducke
Crossing the water space this island 100 yards ihey
again mounted the gorge, and shouted for nm answer
tOm the family cn tarrs Island about 80 yar,is a
1 way. heceyins NO answer some oi the party con.
eideu the unioftnnats had perished but they push
sd On and reached tue island over which the water
was Hooded hive u eight ieet deep
who were in a buat padding lrum the iaTmhaase ~
the stable saw the the party and gave them
hearty welcome. The farmhouse, which Is pain
Mosloiy uMelhng, situated On rising ground and
hau been submerged about two feet 6ui BY the mi
IN the river, there was hut little water in the dwell
ing al the time Oi the arrival OF the expesiltiun
The party was met at the doorway IN Inc women
and Children who shed tears Of Joy over the gallant
men who had come 10 their rescue one OF the ladies
MIS- Charles Roberts, enchanting Thank God utir
prayers are answered; We prayed all night with the
waters all round U.S. for help iiiid you've come Az
once preparations were matt to leave the house
Prom the elder OF the Roberts brothers Is pss,vel
orei slDry Their experiences The last visit made
70 the main land was On "Wednesday OF last week
when stock OF groceries and provisions was laid in
and NOM that time until yesterday the whole Iamiy
mad been as II were, imprsOned within the dwelling
The Island Hooded badly on Friday and SATURDAY.
and On sunday the water rose 10 the Ami ioor OF az
house. On MuIiday the water was two feet deem IN
the honse and the iamily wen driven to the second
story, where nre was started and they managed Il
] cook food sufficient for their wants
On sunday Monday and Tuesday the hours both
Gay anu night seemed weeks OF suspense The men
communicated with the barn. ~ iced their ftocl 4,
boats, and whenever IN opportunity Offered tRey
shouted ivr help frum those on shore but as timc
wore on inc water grew higher, hope seemed TO tie
out, and death appeared n certainty Within the
house We're two ladies' and four children Crushed
with despair who spent the greater part of the tis
IN prayers for help A watch was Kept up III MIGHT
anu VAN every rush OF Ice about the house ainopr
the trees, new alarm was given
Apou! ~ O'Clock all was mnde ready for the return
eight years old were placed In one boat and hel
slstrr-in-law MIS- thas Roberts with babe In arms
and mum hand ~. -. ~.