New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-19
SPRING FRESHETS.
THE DELAWARE FLOOD.

RIVER BANKS.
trRoM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBUNE.I
PoRT JERvIs, n. Y, March 1S.-The river has
been falling all night aud now there Is scarcely an ord
rafting freshet The water In the river Is hled
with small floating cakes OF Ice, ana Is Moving al inc
rate of about six eight miles an hour The damage
to property the food has been greatly exaggerated
Mr. Farnum, Vice Presdcnt Of the Barrett Bridge Com
pany and President of the National Bank OF Port
Jerv states that the damage the suspension bridge
will not exceed 5000 or $1,000 Tho abutments and
piers unnjured by the ice, and the upper
or northermOst towers OF the bridge are III
tact. Precautions had been taken to give extra
support to these towers, but danger was appre-
henicd to the lower The cable which remains
suspended over the standing towers is unnjured The
lower shore towers lying the bank as they fell,
while the central tower and the southern cable are lying
IN the river close by the piers The part OF the bridge
which carried down the river has lodged fast aud
much of the iron work will be recovered The Company
intend to rebuild tho bridge as soon as possible The
Barrett Bridge Is the second bridge which has con-
nected Port Jervs with Pennsy lvania The old bridge
was double. containing a railroad track well as
passage for vehicles and foopassengers 1t was situ-
a;cd about halt mile farther up the nver than tue
structure which has just been destroyed. and built
by the Erie Railway Company who were required to
maintain bridge at this place II was blown
down by high wind five or six years ago. The charter
Railroad from their Obligation and the stone In tho
piers and abutments OF the old bridge sold TO tho
present Company for nominal sum. The bridge which
was washed away yesterday connected Pikest with
Matamoras, and was built about three years ago.
large portion OF the railroad bridge three miles
above hero will probably be recovered temporary
restle structure is being built the old piers, which
the ice did not domage. 1t viii not interfere with the
passage OF RATS hen the river rises high enough for
the rafting season to begin. The span Of the iron
bridge which oated down the river grazed but did not
damage the Suspension bridge at Milford, which is about
ten feet higher than the suspension bridge here. Con-
ncctons werc made yesterday afternoon between this
place ana Pond E1dy, IL miles up the river, with two
trains. by of wagons This plan has been aban-
doncd. and to-day there westward trains from
Port Jervis. Down trains run es follows: Orange
County Express els M; No. G, 12eo M; No. 3d. 465
p. M: No. 49, $40 p. Tho damage to the CON-
pGny very slight the fires in the works being put out
and some OF the retors probably cracked.
Tho food was anticipated. and both the
glsoneters full. that there will be no
inconvenience to tue residents OF the village. brick
building Pkest settled about six inches and several
panes OF glass were cracked but tho injury viii proba
bly, be repaired without taking the building down The
principal damages to properly were In Germantown.
The large cakes OF struck and turned around
buildings and demolished others. WOrkm n were busy
this mcrning removing tho Ice blocks and attempting
to make their houses ready for occupation Immediately
THO cellars IN this part OF the town all filed Travel
up the river to Sparowbush by the road has been inter
rupted. and vehicles compelled TO go by the tow
path Of the canal The damage to lumber up the river
Is much less than anticipated at first. Arrange
ments are being made collect whatever floats down
man by the name OF Westall, living about milo
above Matamoras. on the Pennsylvania side. suffered
sone lJs. Four cows and half Il dozen hogs owned by
him were washed away, and the food came so suddenly
that he and HIS family forced to resort ~ the hay
mows III the barn for safety.
An ice Island about 20 feet high formed about
hundred yards above tho suspension bridge near the
PENNSYLVANIA shore This firm that the iron
bridge which struck it forced to swing around and
seek lew course. fine view of the river and villages
was obtained this morning from point near the Juno
ton OF the Delaware and Neyersnk rivers From this
the Delaware cOIld be seen stretching away to the
north-w west mixed either sido by high and ragged
banks Between the river and tho railroad on the
right the blocks piled up in irregular masses
from which wOrkmen were cxtricatinS with difficulty
wood and lumber which had been carried down by the
lee and was lalf-bured In it, An ice-hOuse had been
struck and torn down. and the carotuy-cut cakes OF
leo wero mingled with the larger masses up
heaycd by tho force OF tho waters. The owner how
ever. busy at work rebuilding bis ice-EouSe on
higher ground, and attempting to recover tho Ice
which had much labor In cutting and storing
The ice which IA piled up presents peculiar appear
auce layers Of alternating with clear ice 1t was
evidently formed by repeated Oyerfows.
The water which Oyerfowci in Germantown
has not subsidized so rapidly expected
on account Of the cold weather. leo strong
enough to bear a mans weight was formed last
night To-day has been quito cold. and the wind has
blown very strongly, with occasional furres OF snow
Several persons who sick and unable TO leave their
beds had to be removed from Germantown yesterday
when tho alarm Of the food was sounded. but the
results have not been serious In any case. Half mile
below here there ia q Ledge known as the Clip Rock
which juts out considerable distance In the river Tho
Ice above this for some distance formed solid
and thick, and when the breakup at Llckawaxen
occurred the ice that brought down wedged under
this and lifted 1t up 10 feet moro. Thus the lower
end OF tho glacier perfectly solid. The great re-
s,sng power the gorge occasoned by this fact
It was through this solid portion that the channel had
to be blasted with nitro ycerine.
is probable that ferry communication will be esab.
ljsbed with Matamoras fcw days. there Is large
amount OF travel between this place and Milford and
other points farther down the river.