The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-26
ICE IN THE RIVERS.

NAVIGATION CONSTANTLY INTERRUPTED YEsTER-
DAY AND LAST NIGHT.
Although there was much Ice floating in the
East and North rivers yesterday there was dur
ing the day lew OF the vexatious delays In navl-
eating these streams which were experienced on
Saturday and Sunday. The solid and massive
cakes which presented such insurmountable bar
riers on those days have become rotten under the
combined influence OF the sun and late rain,
SO that the heavy timbered ferryboats found
but little trouble in crushing through the
large quantities OF small fragments. Much
OF this ice had been carried out to sea
by the late northeast winds, and being brought
back by the returning tides in the afternoon &C.
cumulated in the slips in o manner to Interfere
somewhat with the regular trips OF the rybOats
but the detention did not Call forth much COM
menS
In the East River the New York SIDE was quite
free all day, the strong westerly wind carrying the
noating mass toward the Brooklyn shore. To look
at the white field OF ice running there along the
piers like sheet, the spectator would conclude 1t
offered serious obstacles to navigation but the
hummocks were so rotten they yielded easily to
the pressure brought against them. while in the
channel tnat was open small feet OF tugs
and all manner OF craft were constantly passing
to and lro. At the South and Hamilton avenue
ferries the boats were not greatly delayed, for the
same reason as above given, nor did the Staten
Island boats experience much trouble True, they
seldom reached their slips either way on time, but
they made the usual trips with cOmmendable
promptness under the circumstances.
In the North River navigation was not seriously
Interrupted. The large ierrybOats found nume-
rOus channels which Afforded passage, and when
the pilots desired to crush through snail hed of
the floatlng ice it was readily done. Several Of
these boats nave been slightly damaged during
the week past, but the companies have been ena-
bed to keep them in that repair necessary to &C
cOmmodate the extensive travel.
More annoyance was experienced by the fleet Of
River with so much rapidity when there Is no ice
than by any other OF the Ierryboats. Their trips
channels on either side OF the Islands being filed
with the fragments tnat find lodging place at
every hood iide the pilots exercised much care
the time lost IN thus going around them caused
much delay.
The pilot boat widgeon was on the screw dock
yesterday, under repairs from injuries received by
the heavy ice IN the lower bay on saturday.
AFTER NIGHTFALL
the fields OF ice came up the East River with the
full tide, and were in such volume that the chan
mel became choked up to such an extent that the
pilots OF the ierryboats running from Roosevelt
street to South seventh street, Brooklyn, f. d.,
soon found 1t difficult TO force q passage. Every
solid with the damned masses OF ice, which,
by the force Of the. current were pushed up
against the guards and consequen thy rose and fell
IN huge blocks until the surface Of the water was
almost solid. At nine O'Clock the last boat went
nearly an hour From that Tune no boats were
sent out, consequently all the passengers who ar
rived were compelled to 20 up TO the Grand street
route. Even there the trips were irregular owing
to the presence OF so mucn ice, thereby delaying
the large number OF people crossing.
Wall street terry was early closed; boat which
left the New York side about nine O'Clock, alter
battling Tor passage through the heavy ice Tor
an n0ur, was Obliged to return, bringing her com.
pany OF passengers back TO seek other routes OF
transit to their homes In the City OF Churches.
Fulton Jerry aid little better, two boats having
crossed from each side after eight O'Clock. Leav-
ing this side q little alter nine O'CLOCK thronged
with impatient dweers over the river, a boat
made half dozen inefIectual attempts to pound
her way through the solid ice mass which the ris-
ing tide had brought up into 0the narrow
channel. like experience attended the CON-
panlon boat from Brooklyn. Neither OF them
were able to force o passage through the broad
fields OF cakes, whose white, smooth surface
cleaned In the bright moonlight from shore to
shore. Meanwhile every moment brought addi-
tions TO the company OF walters upon Providence
and the power or steam propulsion assembled in
the ferry house. At midnight fully 1909 people OF
all sorts, sizes and sexes thronged the waiting
rooms and passage ways and longed for
the completion OF the bridge. the return
OF summer or q csance arrival of
boat after the turn OF the tide, which was ex-
pected to carry back again down the bay the Icy
banner which kept them rom their beds in New
YorK's eastern sleeping apartments. Meanwhile
they chatted laughed or sulked and scolded, ac-
cording to their several temperaments, but none
OF them had power to hasten the icebound boats.