New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-17
TIE SPRING FLOODS.
THE DELAWARE ICE GORGE.

THE DELAWARE ICE GORGE.
TIE DECISIVE MOMENT NEAR AT HAND-THE ICE
BREAKING UP ABOVE PORT JERvIs AND THE
RIVER ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO MEET TIE
RUSH OF WATER.
PoRr JERvIs, N. Y, March 1G.-Tho fate OF
Port Jervis will probably DO decided within the next "a
hours. To-day the weather has been warm and the
river has risen rapidly. Tie blasting operations
have been completed in readiness for tho final
shock. Five holes have been dug in tho main
dam OF the glacier. in each OF which Is pounds
OF nitroglycerine will DO exploded at the critical
moment The water in the channel through the ice Is
three four feet higher than II was yesterday. In
tense alarm prevails In the village. strict watch will
be kept the river all night and bells will be rung
and whistles blown at the first approach OF danger Tie
watches have been doubled all points along the
Many people will not retire at all tonight Houses
the lower ground Lighted up and furniture is
being removed. News from up tho river is
very alarming, and the telegraph Office Is crowded
with people anxious TO got the latest advces The
heavy rains Of yesterday among the mountains have
caused torrents TO pour into the Delaware which is
greatly swollen and the leo Is everywhere breaking up
The food Is moving down the river at the rate OF five
miles hour, and will reach here about or o'clock
tomorrow morning. The rise OF water is from six
to ten feet The fec broke up at Deposit, and
TANNED mile below that place at noon. The water
backed up rapidly and flooded all tho lower portion OF
the town. driving the people out Of the lower stories o;
their houses. Considerable damage was done; but,
about o'clock, the Ice gave way and the water
lowered At $50 p. the broke up In both the east
and west branches OF the Delaware. At Hancock.
70 miles above here, o jam occurred about
mile east OF that place, and the water
rose several feet In few minutes, until 1t almost
reached the railroad bridge. The banks were over
flowed. and between Hancock and Stockport the Erie
Railway was overlooked and large blocks of leo were
left on tho track These were Immediately
moved without causing any delay 10 trains
damaging the rails. largo amount of lumber lying
on the banks was swept away by the food which sub
sided in hour when the jam gave way at Lordviile
q few miles below, the water six feet in hour
There has been ice jam for several days at Rock Rn
90 miles above here.
The wooden highway bridge across the river at Bias
ke Station IS miles above here swept away at II
p m. the river being thon flied with floating ice and
OF tho reached Rock Run where the
water backed up by jam of ice. and nearly 90
feet. 10 the railroad track.
THE SITUATION SOON AFTER MIDNIGHT.
PORT JERvIs, March III a. m.-The jam at
Rock Run at II 80 last night and ut Didnigh
the food passed Calicoon, running crest II feet
high. and bearing along immense cakes OF cc trees logs
and other debris The people along tho rverare all watch
ing for the food At COcheton tho water has rison
and it is feared that there Will be jam at tho falls ;
but the principal trouble will occur when tho water
reaches Narrowsburg, 3i mes from here gorge IN
varably occurs there Tho water Is rapidly falling at
Deposit Hancock, and other places whero the food
reached its maximum during the afternoon. AT Lord
vile 1t has fallen four feet SINCE Sp IN.