Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-03-24
the GREAT ICE FLOOD.
Below will be found detailed statement In re-
laiion to the ''break-up" down the riveri h

Below will be found q detailed statement In re-
lstion to the .brrak-up" down the river
Special dispaick to The PAifa Tima ~.
COLUMBIA, March 1.-THE river banks above
Columbia, along the Henry Clay furnace, Chiekes
Rock, the town Of Marietta, and as far as Bain-
bridge, presents a scene never before witnessed.
The Hood Of yesterday carried away immense
bodies Of Ice. piled up along the shores, To heights
at various points varying from ave TO twenty
i've feet. lhe ice varies In thickness from hfieen
inches to nearly or quite four feet. and in surface
some Of them measuring several hundred feet
ALONG onIckKs' ROCK,
about midway between Columbia and Marietta,
the ice, we'll packed and resem ng perfect mason
work, Is from i've 10 10 ten feet deep over the
track Of the Pennsy lvanis Railroad, and during
the afternoon about four hundred men were at
work along the point cutting 1t away.
AT MARIETTA N'
the scene Is yet more interesting. Along the up
per part Of the town 1t is piled up on the front
street and railroad track FROM ten TO upwards OF
twenty feet. A. several places the railroad 10
badly damaged, and rails bent and torn up. Some
Of the houses were saved from total destruction by
large trees in 'front.' Several eanal-boau were
lodged against buildings and across Front street,
and few buildings, including the office Of coal
and lumber dealer, arc totally destroyed.
RAIsRniDGE. tt
At Bainbridge, seven miles beyond, similar
scenes are presented. The office and warehouse,
frame building belonging to Ex-sherih Frederick
Smith, along the railroad, has been raised from
the foundation and carried into the canal, whore
II has lodged. At Marietta, Bainbridge and
other points, as well ut Chickes, large numbers
Of men are at work cutting the ice from the rail-
road, and, according to present prospects, several
days Of hard work, with n large force, will be
necessary TO get the roads open Tor business.
AMOUNT of rms DAMAGE DONE. .tiI \
Tho damage done, as far as known, Is compare
lively small, mostly TO inferior buildings along
the river In the town Of Marietta A considera-
BILE amount OF lumber has been carried away, but
the amount will not be kRown for some days.
The severert loss, as far as ascertained, was at
this place--a large amount Of lumber, including
fifteen RATS belonging to Mr.. Bleti and estimated
at $50, 1000, being carried away. Some Of 1t, how
ever, 1t Is expected, will be recovered.
rnE Long BRIDGE
across the river at Columbia has been damaged,
and II Is deemed unsafe to run ears across. One
Of the piers near the middle OF the stream has
been moved bodily about twenty inehes and some
of the woodwork Of the bridge gave way. The
river has fallen considerably, and is now almost
entirely clear. But the general Impression is that
there Is serious danger OF iurther injury that he
large bodies OF ice ir"a the upper branches of Che
river are yet ts come down, and that unless the
coming thaw should he very gradual another and
perhaps more destructive freshet is inevitable
AT SAFE HARDoR |
at Turkey Hill, below Columbia, the gorges are
very high. At the former place the Mansion /
House, at the mouth Of the Conestoga, is almost
surrounded with immense blocks Of ice, piled up |
from ten to fifteen feet. The oiheors OF the Peun-
syivania Railroad have announced the want OF
one thousand men at various points named, to /
cut away ice, and large numbers from Lancaster
and points below will at once 60 TO work. |
The abutmvnt OF the Tide Water Canal Com
pany, at wrightsyille, is badly injured aud the
basin gorged full Of ice, canal boats aud logs from
the bridge to the dam. The winding bridge wns
raised OF its abutments and carried about
three hundred yards by the Ice and landed on the
BERN bank OF the canal with one end lying oser |
a canal boat In Marietta the loss was very |
heavy by the lumbermen having their RATS, 4e.,
swept away. Miller A Mussers' saw-mill vas
entirely ruined by being crushed 10. One canal
boat Is lying against large tree In front Of a
private residence. The tree was the only thing
that saved the house FROM being stove in. Ict is 1
piled up over the tow.path Mt some points fiom
twenty-five to thirty feet high.