Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1875-02-03
, BRIDGE FOE Ar NEW YORK.
TtsOusRuds srOssing Between New
YORK and RrOOklyn-An Exciting
scene al the Breaking Up.

The East river at New York was
bridged with ice saturday morning,
caused by n jam of ice which had float
ed down North river. Hundreds of
persons crossed to aud fro on the ice
between New York and Brooklyn be-
tween nine and ten o'clock, while the
docks and piers were crowded with
thousands OF men, women and chill
dreu witnessing the unusual spectacle.
River men say that such huge body
of ice has not been seen there since the
winter of 1857. The Brooklyn Edgle
gives The following description of the
scene:
THE FLOATING FIELDS OF ICE.
As soon as the tide began its outward
flow the fields of ice came down from
the North river in such solidity that
the ferryboats were caught and carried
along asthough theywere but paper ma
chimes. The Fulton ferrybOats Winona
and FGlton made trips with great ir-
regularity, and after AN hours deten-
ton were obliged to land their passen-
gers at any dock on the New York
side which could be reached. From
Whitehall to Fulton street on the New
York side, and from Wall street to At
lantic on the Brooklyn side, was Gov
cred with solid and impenetrable
field of ice at 10 O'Clock, and below
that point the river was so free that
the boats were enabled to get back and
forth without hindrance.
This foe or field which came along
at the hour named, was over a mile
square in size, and when it reached the
neighbOrhood of Fulton ferry, got
wedged in, thus forming bridge of
sucn strength that trucks heavily
laden could have rolled upon it in ab-
solute safety.
The great crowd of human beings
upon the piers on both sides witnessed
the loGgment of this foe with some
thing very like satisfaction.
THE INEVITABLE SPECULATION.
A couple of enterprising young men
obtained a ladder in the shape of a
gangway plank, and standing each at
the top and bottom end as it was eX-
tended from the top Of the pier to the
ice below, collected one cent. per head
for each passenger ascending or de-
scending. The success of this COM
mercial speculation brought about
competition, and in short time two
additional ladders were in full opera
ton. The shouts of the prOprietsrs Of
these couveniences were " Here's the
regular boat for New York" Here's
the East river bridge, toll one cent?
" Here's the ferry TO the cars, &c. a
man with basket on his arm drove a
thriving trade in whisky on ice drinks
from the bottle at ten cents pull. He
took his stand about midway between
the two cities, in the swash of the
travel, aud cried his wares without fear
of excise oflicer-, and in defiance of
license laws.
The volume Of travel constantly in
creased till by half-past ten or near
eleven o'clock the ice foe presented an
animated appearance. Many people,
including boys with their sleds, had
scattered over its whole extent and
were enjoying themselves with the I'M
usual experience. The boys were taxi
ing running slides on their sleds, and
men were standing in groups.
TUE BREAKING UP-RESCUE OF THE
RECKLESS.
1t was known that the tide would
begin running down 10y IL O'Clock, and
at that titne a sergeant of police with
two or three men stationed themselves
at the entrance of the pier and kept
any more people from going on the
foe. The ladder men were also order
ed to receive only those coming from
New York. 1t would seem also that
similar action was taken on the New
York side, as the stream of passengers
began to diminish. At Ills the tide
began running down strongly, and in
a few moments thereafter the foe be-
gan moving down. At this moment
about fifty people were on the foe.
They were shouted to from both sides
to hurry up. But on the New York
side, Que of Lorillard's coal steamers
had succeeded in cutting its way up
from the Battery near the shore, and
had opened a wide channel.
The more prudent of those on the
foe, under these circumstances, rushed
over to this side, and by the aid of long
ladders were taken Off from the foe to
the pier over a gap OF at least ten feet.
Twenty-six men and boys were thus
taken off, but the remaining twenty
four did not seem to appreciate their
situation and made no haste to get off.
The foe was now moving rapidly down
! towards Governors Island. AS ii
| reached the island and was pressed
| against 1t, it began to break up and
crumble into small cakes. This re-
/ duced the size of the foe rapidly, and
at last the reckless individuals began
to move for their safety. 1t looked as
if each man might presently have q
cake Of ice 20 himself if he desired it,
upon which to float quietly out to sea,
A tug which had been lowering
near the edge of the foe on the New
York side now approached and drove
itself into the foe, and blew its whistle
of warning for the delinquents to come
and be saved. A rush was made fol
her, and all hands succeeded in get.
ting on board without accident
All the buoys in the bay were car
ried away by the ice, some being passed
forty miles at sea.
That UproRr.
Ii strikes US as being little strange