The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1873-02-13
THRILLING STORY.
The Ice Gorge in Pennsylvania.


ouehanna and its tributaries during the re-
cent freshct. We copy portion of his let,
ter:
Arriving at the mouth of the Conestoga
we surveyed the desolate scene, which SEEM
ed more fit to be in the polar regions than
in the fertile Pennsylvania valleys. The
abutments of the railroad bridge were each
HUGE HAMMOCK OF ICE;
large cakes were piled upon the tops. On
one was large irregular parallelogram OF
ice, weighing several tons, which was GU
riously poised upon one angle. reminding
the spectator of the famous rocking stones
We scrambled back, and having, by in
ouiry, satisfied myself that the feat was pos
sible, accompanied by guide, essayed to
cross the gorge in the Conestoga.
Providing myself with long pole, l
scrambled over the huge cakes of ice, which
twisted and turned in every conceivable di-
rection, presenting an inconceivably rough
and irregular surface. There was q great
depression toward the middle, which was al
most level. There was another arduous as
cent on the other side, and scramblng along
the bank l climbed up steep bluff, which
jutted out into point between the Susque-
hanna and the Conestoga. The snow upon
the sides afforded some some foothold, hut l
momentariy expected my treading to- slip
from under me, precpitating me far down In
the ice gorge My pains were rewarded
when attained the summit of the hill, TOR
had there a comprehensive view of the situa-
ton, which enabled me to apprehend IN
some degree the vastness of the gorge 1t
was scene of frigid desolation such as never
was before seen no the Susquehnna river.
Below me, upon the east, was Safe Harbor
On either side of the Conestoga, the snow
had laid its white mantle over the Jagged
edges of ice, and had destroyed its terrible
aspect. There was some sublimity In the
view, although my mind continually revert
ed to those individual cases of distress which,
chaining the fancy down to the hard facts of
the case prevented that concrete apprehen-
sion which, impressing one with the vast
ness and magnitude Of the scene, produces
feeling of awe. The suow-covered hills, the
ice extending up the creek as far as eye can
reach, lay glistening under the glorious sun
light, making
BEAUTIFUL SCENE.
It was on the west side of the creek that
the greatest damage had been done; stables,
fences, outbuildngs, were jammed and crush
ed together houses stood surrounded by
ice, SO that their inhabitants, cutting away
the ice from about the doors, stood below the
level as if down in a cellar.
The water had piled the ice in lusty ridges
on both sides Of the creek, and retreatlng,
had made deep hollow between. A road
ran along either side of the creek, but was
now buried under thirty feet Of ice. The
front porches Of houses were filled with ice,
large cakes being even iammed into the
windows There was considerable quantity
of lumber mixed in through the ice, some
RATS having been brought up into the creek,
as it was supposed that it would be safe
place for them. Through this snow valley
the wind rushed and whistled over the hill
tops. 1t was bitter cold, as the sun acting
upon the snow lowered the temperature. On
the west side of the hill was the Susquehan-
ma and the islands in it. Els Island, imme-
diately opposite, is body of land one hund-
red and twenty-seven acres in extent, and is
farmed by John Ellis, whence its local appl-
cation. The farmhouse is in the centre,
upon the highest part of the island. This
island, unless otherwise informed, | would
have taken for part of the gorge, for it was
ENTIRELY COVERED BY THE ICE,
the roof of the house and the tops Of the few
trees being the only things discernable. Be-
low it was Brush Island, the outlines OF
which / could not trace; it was covered by
the ice and made part Of the gorge. Still
further below was Mundorf's Island, upon
which Jacob Warfel resided The house
was upon high ground and escaped could
see desirable tract of land covered by large
trees, which were above tho ice The river
had cut channel through the gorge, above
which the ice rose from fifteen to thirty feet
high, sheer and straight as walls. The gorge
extended as far up the river as my eyes could
reach At Turkey Point, few miles above.
the waters were damned up, flooding the lit
tie town Of Washington. The water rose
twenty five or thirty feet, and flooded the
cabins built along the line Of the Columbia
and Port Deposit railroad for the accommo-
dation of the workmen, many Of whom had
20 take boats and enter the upstairs windows
in order to save their effects The losses in
Safe Harhor were heavy the damage done
on the west side Of the Conestoga alone is
estimated at over 5000, and great deal
of damage was done on the east side also
The loss is greater than in 1865, when the
dam across the Susquehanna at this point
was swept away and the Safe Harbor iron
works suspended operations in consequence
Descending from the hill, l made some IN
quiry about to sec if could see any of the
family of John Ellis and get the particulars
of their escape. After some search sue
ceeded in obtaining recital of their trials
and the plain, unvarnished tale vividly i'm
pressed HE With the
GREAT HEROIsM DISPLAYED.
As the waters began to rise the inmates
Of the house became very much alarmed and
great anxiety for their safety was felt on