The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-16
THE ICE.
4 Sudden Break Up at Troy.
.SEFEN VEN IN PERIL.


Troy, y. y, Feb Is.
The Troy Times Of last evening says
The most remarkable breakiug-up of the
ice in the river in many years occurred
Saturday morning. SO sudden and unex-
pected was the movement that several per-
sons were crossing the ice when it com
menced to go out. They all succeeded in
reaching shore. The thaw commenced
Friday morning, but no rain fell until after
dark. In the country north and west of
tins city the rain desceded all day and all
night, and had n moving effect on the ice
in the Mohawk and Hoosick rivers and
their tributaries The IIoosick ice COM
menccd TO move Friday night, and Saiur.
day morning that river was entirely clear
The Mohaw ice started at about o'clock
Saturday morning, and for an hour moved
very slowly. Shortly after seven o'clock
1t broke into small fragments, and was pre-
cipitated into the Hudson. The ice in the
Hudson formed sort of dam, and held the
Mohawk in check for time. Meanwhile
portions of the village of Waterford were
inundated by the Setback" of the waters
of the Mohawk.
TIE BREAKING Up OF THE HUDSON RIVER
ICE.
AT 81 o'clock persons who were in the
neighborhood of the docks in this city de-
tected a slight movement of the ice. A
few minutes afterwards it broke up into
cakes with a loud and sharp report, re-
minding those who heard it of the noise
produced by the discharge of rifle. The
water rose rapidly, and within twenty
minutes the docks were submerged Of
course in this brief interval it was impossi-
bic to remove any property exposed to the
ice which rushed upon the docks, and
some damage must have occurred. The
extent cannot be determined until the
water subsidies, and returns to its usual
level.
THRILLING SCENE.
The most thrilling scene was enacted at
the foot of Congress street. The Troy and
West Troy bridge company's employees
were at work as usual building the "south
pier" upon which the draw, when opened,
will depend. A portion of the men were
employed on II cana, boat near the pier,
mixing cement. \ large fiat boat contain
ing stone was close by A pile driver with
steam up and large floating derrick were
moved to the eastern pier. The tug George
Harding was near the flat boat. Just be-
low the piers pedestrians were crossing the
ice as usual. In a twinkling the huge mass
of ice began to heavc and give way under
the pressure from above. Some of the
workmen leaped from the crafts upon the
broken ice and succeeded in reaching the
west shore. Meantime the pile driver, fiat
boat, tug and canal boat were tossed about
by the moving ice, and subjected to a Sc
we're strain. Alex. J. Swift, assistant engi-
necr to the bridge company, cut the hawser
which held the pile driver. and with four
others started on n voyage down the river
The ropes holding the other craft were
broken by the force of the current and
tiHy i'ii'N''i NV liiN 'iiN Vi. It llltil Oh
the tug Harding headed their vessel for the
west shore, and when just below the ferry
landing they succeeded in getting it to the
dock. Then they threw rope to persons
standing there, and by means Of this rope
two hundred pairs of stout arms hauled
the tug into the old ferry slip. The other
crafts were carried down the river. The
flat boat was forced npon the island below
the steel works; the pile driver stopped
about two mile north of the upper bridge
at Albany, and is now in the center Of the
river, the ice below not having moved the
derrick stopped at Breaker Island, opposite
Roy's factory. Besides Mr.. Swift, whose
conduct in cutting the hawser is ccnsurcd
by some of his superiors, Edward Frawly,
n laborcr, and the engineer are still on the
/ pile driver. Two of their companions sue
cecded in walking over the broken ice from
the point where the pile driver stopped to
the east bank. William Brady and another
man were on board the derrick After its
progress was stopped by the ice, Brady
walked over TO the east shore, procured
matches and returned to the derrick, ON
board of which he had kindled fire. The
pile driver is in gooo condition, but the der
rick has commenced leaking and is held
up by the ice. which Is banked in under
her.
ALONG TIE DOCKS.
At noon the water was about ten feet
over the docks. and was rising. The ice
| Ia nilpd nm in masscs opnositp the CITY and