The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-13
THE GoRGED DELAWARE.

A Great jam OF Ice I'm the River-Im-
mense Fields Fifteen Feet Thick
Fears OF q Wholesale Destruction OF
PrOperty-sixty Million Feet or Lum-
her In Imminent Danger.
PORT JERvIs, N. Y, Feb IL, 1873.
In the event OF o sudden rise In the Delaware
River there are gorges of Ice at various places
which threaten great destruction to property
along its banks. At the time OF the breaking up In
the river few weeks since the ice was a loot and
half thick. Below this place, on the New York
side OF Sims Island the ice is piled up in the chan
mel fifteen feet high for eighth Of mile. Along
the river here are the homes Of railway laborers
of the poorer class, which, II a sudden flood
comes, which is by no means improbable, will
be in great danger. Near the bridge spanning the
river at this place the ice is piled high the yards
OF some OF the houses, and in many cases against
the houses themselves. Four miles below, 1T what
Is known as "Punkies," where the river flows In
two narrow channels forming small island, the
main channel, on the Pennsylvania side, is gorged
with huge cakes Of ice in some places thirty feet
high. The island itself is completely buried be-
meath ice. Several farm houses in this vicinity on
both sides OF the river are In imminent peril. The
blockading OF this channel viii destroy work that
has been done there at great expense, to improve
the navigation for RATS, and will have the effect OF
making the passage dangerous for running lumber,
except in high freshets.
This is also the case at Conashaugh Island sew
eral miles further down the river, where the bin
nace side OF the large island is free Of Ice and the
main channel gorgedits entire length, In places the
that this channel Will be entirely destroyed as
means OF navigation, but that the extraordinary
nacle by the blockade win have the effect Of making
1t safe for RATS to run through No little trouble Is
anticipated in the Spring by raftsmen at
similar places along the river, where the same
state of affairs exists. The late breakup did not
utary OF the Northern Delaware entering the
main stream at Lackawaxen, ON the Erie Railway,
twenty miles west OF here.
and Hudson Canal Company's DAM there Is an Ice
gorge in the Delaware which is creating no little
the Lackawaxen, in which there is an immense
body, 1t is feared that much damage will be done
to adjacent property At gaI;ryye four miles
sharp curve, running through o narrow channel
into Handsome Eddy. There is an immense
amount Of ice pied up above this place. Where the
river makes the abrupt turn, on the New York side,
are several dwelling houses, ships and other con-
structions close to the river. When high water
comes and the Ice starts all the vast body OF ice
upon the Lackawaxen River that forming the
gorge at Lackawaxen and all the deposits inter-
vening must be swept into this narrow channel at
in the river is gradual the Ice may pass
It will be impossible for the great rush of ice to go
through. 1t Will form into huge dam at the
curve DetWeen the nigh rocks on the pennsylvania
side and the establishments OF the Delaware and
Hudson Canal on this side which will check the
flow OF the water and food all the lower portion Of
Barryville and wash away the banks OF the canal.
The lumbermen and others at Barryvle are
taking every precautOn, SO that in case of
sudden freshet as much property may be
saved as possible. Lumbermen who have
lumber piled on the banks OF the Delaware and its
feeders, from Pond Eddy-where there Is a fearful
jam OF ice-On the Delaware to Westfeld Flats on
the Beaver Kill are watching every indication of
danger from Hood, prepared to remove what
they can OF their property If the Tears Of many are
realized. AS there are about sixty million feet of
lumber, intended for market in the Spring. In i'm
mnent danger, the effect of quick Hood the
chief interest OF this region may be easily imagined