The New York herald., 1875-01-18
ICE IN THE RIVERS.

DIFFICULTIES AND DANGERS OF FERRY TRAVEL.
The dangers, difficulties and delays OF ferry
travel IN the winter we're never more thoroughly
exempliied tnan during portions OF yesterday.
During the forenoon the East and North rivers
were comparatively free from floating Ice. The
ferryboats made their trips IN the usual manner
and at comparatively regular periods, but in the
afternoon any attempt at running on schedule
time was simply out OF the question. About two
O'Clock an immense Zoe of ice was noated up from
the lower bay by the tide until 1t was opposite
Fulton ferry. 1t extended completely across the
river from the Brooklyn to the New YORK side, and
1t appeared as though the novel spectacle OF ice
bridge was about to be formed. Indeed, such was
the case Tor moment but the tide was running
80 strong at the time that the edges OF the Ice
gave way, but not before II made tue pier sniver
aud groan as the foe moved slowly on. Travel at
especially on the upper ferries, the Desbrosses
street and Twenty-third street ON the North aud
the Roosevelt anu Hunters Point on tue East River.
The Fulton ferryooat Mlneola, while endeavoring
10 enter the slip on the Brooklyn side about two
O'Clock, was jammed In, aud for upward OF an
hour the passensers-and the boat wa, literally
crammed-were compelied TO walt although
WITHIN lew feet OF the dock. IL was intensely
cold at the time, and the Mlneoa was so crowded
that large proportion OF tne passengers were
not able 10 get into the cabin. Some ol the more
adventurous ones were aDlo to get on snore by
climbing the sDiles at the side oil the slip, and
so on through the ferry yard but this was really at
the peril oltnelr lves and the police put stop to
dragged the Mineola out OF the slip into
ne 81 ana a. sss ass Sn n aas
ing the dock, TO the intense satisfaction
not only OF the passengers but TO the hundreds or
ANXIOUS people VINO mad by this time gathered and
VINO were waiting to be lerrled TO New YORK. The
upper bay is comparatively Tree rom ice, SO tnat
the staten islanu boats experienced no difficulty
but over toward Gowanus navigation Is imposs-
bic. The Horseshoe in the lower bay Is also
almost completely booked up, and 10 requires all
tne sklIl aud courage OF the pilots TO avoid acc-
dents. Tue Ice IN the river yesterday morning ap-
peared TO be unusually thlos and solid and when.
ever the ierryDoat would come Ia contact win O
Gaze OF more than ordinary size The craft would
come almost TO standst.
owing to the lrregularity OF the trips most OF
the DOats we're very mucn overcrowded, and in
the event Of any accident, such as an explosion, a
COLLISION or the sprInging OF leak the loss OF life
would nave been terrible. The trouble expert
cnced rom the noatinR ice cannot be avoided
however and the travelling community Will nave
to put up with it, to greater or less extent, until
the advent o. spring, unless We are favored by
cold PrGoaoiitles' with q severe rain storm before
tnat time.
ON THE NORTH RIVER.
The past .hree days have been most perilous to
ferryboat navigation on the North River. Fields
OF Ice noated oown ana obstructed the ferryboats
on the Cortlandt, Desprosses, PavOnla, Commu.
nipaw and HoDoken lines. The crowds OF busi-
ness people who had to cross the river Kept press
ing on ana the ferry companies, anxious to ac-
c0mmodato them, took all tne FISK, and the result
was great damage to the boats. one OF the COrt.
l9ndt street boats lies disabled at the wharf and
two others nave their paddle wheels damaged.
All the DcsbrOsses street boats are Kept running,
though all but one are more or less injured.
The ierryboats running from Payona ferry 10
TwentytnIrd street have had a nard time OF t,
an0 it was entirely out OF the question TO adhere
to the time taoo. lt was stated yesterday tnat
II the river continues TO be biockaded as 1t mas
been TOR the past three days these boats Will be
Withdrawn. 1he HoD0kcn boats, beng OF lgnter
construction aud making long trips, were more or
less injured, yet there has been regularity IN the
TRIPS fne Central Railroads. lerryboats, running
irem Liberty street 10 the Communipaw dock, make
trips at longer intervals tnan any OF the other
lines. and thus lar tue boats have been unInJured.
Tne pilots have dread OF the ensuing two weeks,