New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-02
HARMLESS BREAKING UP OF THE della
WARE GORGE.

HARMLESS DREAMING Of Or lnE Disbh-
WARE GORGE
1T MAKES IT'S WAY THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS WITH
LITTLE DIFnCuLTY-No INJURY DONE TO THE
BmDGEs-sUCCEss OF THE PRECAUTIONS IN
CUTTING CHANNEL AT DELAWARE WATER
GAP
IRON SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUYE.l
DELAWARE WATER GAP, Penn, April 1.-The
great gorge OF the Delaware River has finally broken
up No one anticipated that the enormous quantity Of
ice which the gorge contained could down the river
without difficulty make its way through the intricate
windngs Of the Gap and the abrupt mountain spurs,
and yet do damage. But such u the case The Ice
has come and goue and there has been no 0vefnow OF
water and all the bridges down the river are saie Inc
been looked for at any moment within the
past "a hours The rise In the river had been quite
rapid and night there good prospect OF RAIN
Many thought the ice would come during the night NO
rain at all has fallen to-day The river continued to rise
gradually this morning. About noon quantity OF Ice
above BrOdheads Creek broke up and hoated do"h W
the Gap, where the channel was not ehtrey cie'i
There it lodged and the backwater caused rapid Use
in the river OF about foot 1t was followed by as SUI
den fail Expectation now wrought up 10 a very
high pitch, Large numbers of the villagers gathered
on the river banks momentarly expecting 10 see 'he
ice come Upon the overlooking hills many women ana
children we're seen intenty looking toward tae RIVER
At noon special train arrived from Scranton Drnging
W. F. Hallstead Superintendent Of the Delaware Lack
awapna and Western Railroad; Chief-Engneer Arch-
bald: Mr.. Griffin, superintendent of Bridges ana
Lumber, and several other gentlemen. About
O'Clock the river began to rise more rapidly
and during hour the rise at sometimes was over
a foot minute People who dwet in houses near the
river bank began to their household goods to
higher ground At balfp the ice again began TO
loosen, and borne down rapidly by the increasing
volume OF water When 1t reached the Gap instead Oh
stopping and piling up, was generally anticipated II
forced its way through with comparative ease. III
gorge had been produced the backwater would undoub
edy have flooded the railroad and oil the lower part OF
the village. This fortunately did not occur, and the
highest rise above low water mark did not exceed IL
feet. The ice which formed the gorge
was more rotten and broken than was
expected and met little resistance IN passing down the
river The average rate of speed OF the ice was ABOUT
five miles hour. The gorge itself was ABOUT 10 miles
long aud composed OF all the ice IN tue Delaware
for $50 miles, At o'clock superintendent uallsteau
teegraphed order tnat all trains approaching lhe
Gap should be stopped. AZ the ice passed II was seen
contain many trees and logs which nad Deen carried
off the banks of the river The river continued at
about the hight and at O'Clock the special tram
proceeded TO Delaware Station.
In its passage through the Gap The ice appeared TO be
ground TO such an extent as to be ncapaoe OF GOING
fun from shore TO shore the moving mass being
about eight or ten feet tDick The cakes varied mnch
IN size kept grinding against another ana pllng
themselves up against the shores Al the Portland
dashed TO pieces, and the bridge uuIDiured The
splendid iron railroad bridge across the Delaware IL
also intact. The Company congratulates Itself upon the
escape Here the river Is wider and the ice spreading
out passed without injuring the bridge portion OF
wagon road which runs along the NewJersey bank
OF the river through the Gap was submerged, ana Is
now covered with ice. Trains began running regularly
at p. No danger is now apprehended nom the Ice
There is direct communication with the villages up the
river The damage from the ice and water II any, has
asceraned. II is the general opinion here that
the entire gorge which extended from Dnginan's farm
10 Shoemakers Eddy has been broken The weather
past few days has been very favorable 10 the
quiet harmless IOOsening of the ice. lac eshet
caused by the melting has been sufficient TO pre-
vent the ice from gOrging ia the Gap, and yet not
enough to be damaging in itself or To cause the ice TO
strike against the bridges. The precauOn or the ran
road company 10 cutting channel through the solid ice
III and about the Gap proved TO be very wise. Many
thought IT useless but it has doubtless been the saliva
ton OF the bridge and the houses situated near the
river At O'CLOCK tonight the river had fallen afout
eight feet aud but little ice was running Remnants OF
the Port Jervis suspension bridge which was carried
away March H. and one house frame have been seen.