The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-02
The Threatening Masses Vanishing from
the Rivers.
GREAT FRESUETS RUSHING SEAWARD.
Kingston frightened from Her SIumbers
by Terror
Adventures on an DISTRACTED Rail
way Train.
THE DANG Err PA ST

THE sUSQUEHANNA RUNNING ASTRAY-DREAD-
Full ALARM OF KINGSTON TO FIND THE TOR
RENT ROARING BY ITS wINDows-LUcKY Es-
CAPE OF THE vILLAGE-BREAKING UP OF THE
GREAT GORGE
PTrTsTON, Pa, April l, 1876
Your correspondents crossed the river here early
this moaning In small boat, forcing passage
throughheavy cakes OF Ice. The water during the
night had fallen about foot, and the
current was still very slow. Arriving
the west bank, an expedition on
horseback, In the direction OF Kingston,
located eight miles below here, was made TO as
certain what damages had occurred to the west
bank orthe river. The towns OF wyoming Forty
Fort and Maethy lie between mere and Kingston.
The road to Wyoming three miles below, was all
right; but upon leaving the town 1t was neces-
sary to proceed very cautiously, as the whole
country, for distance OF Ave miles, all OF which
is very low and nat was submerged, In some
places to the depth OF fifteen feet Two elegant
old homesteads, just below Wyoming, were mum
dated to the tops the lower stories, the inmates
barely escaping with their lives. Several smaller
houses in the neighborhood were surrounded by
the flood also. ON both sides OF the road, for
nearly half mile one vast sheet OF water COW
cred the fertile acres IN which the great boulders
OF ice were rocking and tossing about III mad giee,
propelled by strong current.
KINGSTON HALF DROWNED.
Arriving at Kingston the main avenue was
found 70 be completely under water. On all sides
the debris or iences wooden SIDEWALKS, tree boxes
and other noating material were seen. tuCpike
bridge, which crosses q small creek as you ap-
preached from Wyoming. was nearly out OF sight.
The residents OF Kingston were terribly alarmed
at the dangers surrounding tnem and which were
hourly increasing. There was scarcely hopeful
face In the whole community, for never before had
the sight been seen oil the waters OF the Susque-
hanna tearing by their door yards and beating
AGAINST their windows From M, the Kingston bs, Post
quite mile In direct line, and the whole dis
lance was covered with the angry tide, bearing
on Its bosom the uncouth blocks OF hard, nrm ice
THE sUSQUEHANNA AsTRAY.
The current here was also very strong. as II 1t
was passing TO lower lands IN southerly
direction, but not returning TO the river. Here,
"a 1t were was the whole Susquehanna turned
from its course ana seeking channel through
hitherto famous valley, beautiful in It's monuments
oil glory and exceedingly fertile In It's rich and
handsome farms. Kingston was the point OF at
tack last night, and TO this pace IL was that all
ewes were turned with anxious interest," though It
abounds in high points, wnich proved refuge Tor
night IL was not visited by the amount or damage
which at nrst 1t appeared would be the result.
The Lackawanna and Bloomsbury Railroad Com
pany nave yards at this place. In which cars and
engines are sometimes kept, but little damage
was sustained, although the tracks were flooded.
Kingston, therefore, has very luckily escaped.
THB BREAKING UP or THE GREAT GoRGE
This afternoon. upon ulning rom Kingston,
q "trip was made down the east side OF the Susque-
hanna, along the line OF the Lehign Valley RAN
road, the tracks OF which have been submerged
since Wednesday afternoon, no trains having
passed over them since the one spoken or In yes
terdays despatch, when lett lts baggage car be.
mind. The latter mas since been recovered AMI all
its contents forwarded 10 its destination. The
water was still very high. AZ Fort Blanchard,
wneIe c sns the river appeSred 10
ne slowly rising. ~ Macay Island,
three miles below Pittston, very thrilling
welded together IN rigid embrace was the Icy
deoris OF two mighty gOrges-the Ransom gorge,
gorge. The two nef the ice which had formed
Tor 100 miles up the river. The blocks were
and were piled INTO the ar In many places
twenty feet nigh. While looking upon this large
ACCUMULATION loud, cracking report, as O. distant
thunder came from point quarter Of
mile below the island. Immediately this was
followed oy repeated cracking sounds near by.
TnIs occurred ~ u point TWO miles below the
p1ttstOn end OF the gorge. In q very short time
afer these reports were heard the whole upper
portion OF the gorge became detached and the
waters dubbed up tossing and rocking the crys-
tai cakes madly about subsequently the water
began TO pour over tue ancnOfed portion OF the
Ice furousiy, while the disintegrated blocks were
dashed upon and over It. Not many moments
passed before this tremendous power VAS ielt by
the 0dged ice, against wnIcn ~ was pressing.
soon the whole mass began to move. Within NJ
teen minutes the immense heid was staggering
moved out II passed safely under the covered toll
bridge at WiikesOarre. 10 was feared tnat part
vi tue wreck Of the PittstOn bridges would strike
and damage the WlKesbarre bridge. bus tins was
not the case as the timbers 10ated under without
interfering with the structure tn the least
THE IcR EISEwHkRE
A despatch RON 0wego. early this morning,
stated that the Big Island ice, some twenty nile
Ia length. rad broken mp ana was coming down.
A great deal OF noating ice has passed all day,
going along very slowly until the gorge broke De-
low, when the current At once set IN swiftly.
despatch at eight O'Clock. dated at Tunkhannock,
which Ia twenty-five miles above tins place, re-
ports a field OF Ice twenty-seven miles 10 length
passing that place. Al the present rapidly OF the
current u y not likely TO reach tins place before
morning
and some iears are entertained that should IL con-
tinue 10 drop down IL Will DC impossible for the
ice now coming down TO get over tie shallow rus
Astounding fn the river in tue neighborhood; but
all real danger from further depredatiOns by the
fteer tonight than she has done or over two
weeks past All trans on the LehiRh Valley road
viii probably Dc running regularly tomorrow.
THE DANGER PASSED AT wrKFsRARRE-THE
DEBRIS OF THE BRIDGES SWEPT DOWN THE
CURRENT.
wILKEsBARRE Pa April /, 1875
Tao upper end OF the gorge passed here az six
O'Clock this morning at the rate OF i've miles an
hour. IL presented grand spectacle, and many
thousands OF people viewed Il rom the banks and
house tops, and when it was seen that the gorge
was going without doing any damage they ex-
pressed their eradication by hearty cheers. The
bridge here and tue railroad bridge above Plymouth
are now safe; but the piers OF both were severely
tried. Great cakes or ice many rods in area
were dashed against them and were broken into
small pieces. Tue biackened remains OF the old
pittston bridge could be traced for a long distance
before they reached here. Tney were hurled with
immense force against one Of the piers. Tue
crash WINS terrific, and the people on the bridge
thought that the pier was swept away and msde
q rush for the bank. The mass OF partly burned
umUer, however, was split IN two, and went
scrapIng along on each side Of the piers, sending
up a binding cloud OF black dust. The Dier was
somewhat shattered, ana could not nave stood
much more.
The wisdom OF destroying the Pittston bridges
was to-day apparent TO every one. Had " not
been done tins bridge and those at Plymouth aud
NantcOks would nave been carried away.
the gorge carried along with u several ferry
boats, q quantity OF lumOer and great mass Of
driuwOod
A construction train on the Lehign Valley Rail-
road was caught near swinging Bridge this after
NOON hX the first movement OF the ice and looked