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

THE DELAWARE ICE GORGE.
THE ICE IN MOTION AT PORT JERvIs-THREE BAR
IIERs OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE IEsI-
DENrs-A PANIC AMONG THE MECHANICS AND
LABOREGs-AN ENGINEER's FEARS.
frRoM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT TRIBUNE
PoRr JERvIs, March 2.-Thc ice gorge which
formed last Saturday In the Delaware River, between
Port and Matamoras threatened the destruction
OF large amount OF property. People who i've on me
banks Of the river IN the vicinity OF Port Jervs unite In
declaring that the town never before In such immi-
Dent peril
Port Jervs is situated on the left bank Of the Della
ware River. almost the outer edge OF State
and close to the boundary lines OF Penns lvania and
NcwJersey. II has population OF about 10000 people,
Threefonrhs OF mile below the town there Is sharp
bend In the Delaware where IL Is joined by tho Never
sink River. About 100 feet further down IL situated
Three States Rock" This rock lies In the center OF tho
stream aud derives ts from the fact that on are
the dividing points between three States-NewYork.
New-Jersey and Pennsylvania. The peninsula between
the two rivers, where their waters miDge, Ia used as
cemetery. The ground ut this place Ia marsiy and
almost level With the river bed Just above are situated
the houses OF the railroad aborer mechanics and other
poor people. short distance back Of and little above
this point the ground rises slightly and the business
portion Of tho town Is situated there. running back
about half a mile from the stream A milo above Port
Jervs is tract OF co Of land which is settled by
sduatters." THIS place IL known as Germantown
The land fully feet lower than the banks Of the
river and slopes gently downward as 1t recedcs from
the shore 1t feared that the river would overflow
a, Germantown. the banks were not very thick or
high. In that event, tho whole town would be under
water within an hour.
The wire bridge connecting Port Jervis with MaamO-
as was built in 1871 by company organized for that pur
pose The first cost OF the structure $4,000 and The
expenditures since its completion have been about 5000
more. The stock principally Ownod by H. H. FIrnam,
the woalthiest resident OF the town The bridge Is GAO
feet In length having pier in the middle OF the river
and ono at each extremity. At both ends and In the
cenier of tho bridge lofty towers OF ybraced
Georgia pine, resting on heavy stone masonry work
From the SUBMITS Of these uprights depend twisted
cables two three inches in diameter, which sup
port those portions that do rest upon the masonry
When the water Mt its ordinary hight it flows % feet be-
low the timbers AT present the ice fills the whole space
between the bed OF the river and the bridge.
at about O'Clock on Saturday morning a few largo
cakes Of leo nJaed down under the bridge and disap
peared around the in the river below Soon their
number was supplemented by seventy or eighty blocks
aud In short time there were hundreds OF them As
the hours went by tue quantity Of Ice increased until at
O'Clock IN the afternoon tho river nearly spanned
from shore to shore with floating mass AT about
o'clock the stopped for moment and then moved
on silently. Tnen number OF huge powders b camo
cogged the the river below tue bridge and
another dam was formed. This time the barrier was
too firm to give readily and stuDhorny opposed
the immense pressure from above. As the strong cur
rent swept down with It's heavy freight, huge blocks OF
ice 70 spring from the surface near the dam
II thrown high in the by some CONFUSION OF
nature. a CRY raised and tho crowd turning be-
held cake Of ice fully twenty feet in hight and three
feet thick standing directly on end and bear
ing directly down On tho bridge. lhe people
turned and I'D In each direction. believing
that the structure would he carried away
They hid nearly all reached the shore when the ice
struck the bridge Tho strong cables and solid masonry
however wthstood the shock and tho people soon re-
turned The ld began rise slowly, great cakes
bong forced upon another. In hour 1t had risen
Before hour had elapsed IL was close
uhher 'he ie'l OF tno'e Wn1 s ,r h, , VI h ~,
Drdg. Suddenly some one crle1 out that inc rIFef nu
overlooked Its bamks above and the water was running
through the srces TLio created panic Tor cue peO
pie rushed h"adiong toward thelr homes. They found
tao Already ankle deep IN the Streets and pul
Great CONSERVATION prevailed Parents gathered their
li,;ie together. and catching mp whateyer they
carry fl Il 10 higher ground. Nearly all the stores
ana snops "iosd tncr doors, and business was slis-
pended. every thinking Only OF SAVING VIA sOeVr
cctld from tnc destruction winch seemed IinmiueEt
Tue DAY was bright AM clear qua inc rear was eA
messed tBlt the lover barrier w0lld give way ana
hiring the whole weight OF me immense mass Nv one
Upon tue bridge. lac weather grew colder after ~
U'cl3,i however. aud 10 such calamity took place III
the Irnug biid%o covered with people gazing
at tAe extraordinary apoctacIo prcscheu LlOhnS up
aud dow thJ RIVER, the ego was uct ny Il COhtIn"os
cham icy shapes crushed into uncOuh or picturesque
iolnis, their summiis glstohing III Tue sun. bIochs
wei.ung from ton 10 twenty tons were StanGihg on
end, them 80 feet III hight ana tue SUMMIT o.
Tho W.ioe Ice rrl1r was elevated above me oihkH,
which pt tLi. point are remarkably bigh Ihe zee III
macy places covers shore for distance OF 100 Iert
the rive. cOursr. Ia tho vicinity OF f1ft Jorvs
the banks Delaware are frn:cd win loHv ems
wcn stand surrounded by re- and icoh as IL tncg
had grown il 'he stream itself o. Monday morning ,
IL began snOw and de storm COM lnued nh oc'ock
ia ne afternoon, woen tue snow Turned 10 sieet auh
HnaIy TO rain Ts what has been dreaded ever since
.ue ivru.atiOn OF tnc gorge.