New-York tribune., 1875-01-25
MID.WINTER WEATHER FREAKS.


AN ICE BRIDGE TO BROOKLYN -INTERFERENCE WITH
NAyIGATIoN-A SUNDAY or EVIL WEATHER.
Only at long intervals has ii been possible
TO cross on tho Ice from NJwYork 10 Brooklyn as was
done on Saturday. sucn An ice-brdgo as was seen
then has only been formed five during the past IS
years-n 1851 1851 1856. 1851 and 1871 Upon none OF
these OCCASIONS except the rst was bridge caused by
excessive cold but by the accumulation OF hoang Ice
in comparatively mild weather.
The temperate dir OF Thursday and Friday loosened
the ice in tho Hudson River above The city, and the cbb
tide brought 1t into the bay There it accumulated
In largo cakes and foes greatly impeding the course OF
feryboIs and other craft Tue mild weather OF Satur
day morning added still further to these accnmulatlons
and when the flood tide set in. about M, 1t swept
great mass into tho East RIVER. completely hng the
corparatyey narrow channel AT g3o "a. IN.
solid bridge OF leo haj been formed. extending
from Rofevclt-st to Coentles Slip. The boats on the
Fulton and Wall Sreet Ferries had been irregular In
their trips the beginning Of the food tide and the
delays COLLECTED crowds In tho ferry houses aud % tue
ners II was not unt sonic time had passed after the
formation OF the ice bridge that any one tried to cross
upon IT, Al last q sailor boldly vcnturcd our ah1 ma 10
the tourney safely His embodened Others ana
until tho crowd 1Ccked upon the nowy-iormed bridge
giving the river very animated appearance.
During the next two hours thousands OF people went
over on the Ice but strong ebb tile weakened the
bridge and needed only large steamer 10 mako
channel in 1t Ia order 10 break 1t up This was done
hy the ateamer City OF Boston, which endeavOriDg
TO make her slip In tho East River. Then the crowd
began to pel nell for the nearest point Of land
Nearly all reached the shoro quickly, but few were
caught upon detached cakes OF Ice and taken of
bOats Several escapes occurred, but 1t Is
believed that finally every one reached the shore.
Considerable damage ana delay resulted 10 boats ana
shipping The ferry-bOat FIrr igut narrowly missed
running into the New-YOrH lower OF the brooklyn
Bridge, and carried the DI kh3ad and &C n)dinS
fl.ar mar Hhn arIa n
hne the FnOn Of tue FdltOn Ferry nc aud the Idaho
OF the RosevPlts line hal collisions, ht without seti-
reach her pier. seriously damaged ber paide-wneel
and compelled 20 lay up. About O'Clock In the
evening the Williamsburg fefrybodt Montana, IN at-
tempting to Grass the New-YJrk side, struck largo
Obliged to dock for repairs Ga the
North Ryer navigation was much tDpeded but not en-
large cake lee opposite the South Ferry and had her
sides crushed in Tue vessel cTecned over, but was
rghed aud then became weiSet and froz IN the ice.
English ship Nuphir, az Pier No 20 Est River, had
ud1er carried away 10y the Ice ana was forced
half out OF the dock. IL was stated NJ the Cce or
the lO Commiss that the lee iD Tie arhOr had
swept nearly al the buOys, thus lncrea,ing the
difficulties OF navigation
nat few persons cared 10 venture out DIF!n. tue
morning snOw-sjOrm set In, which changed 10 IA dry
ing ram, after Covering the ground To tue depth or
ABOUT inches The sidewalks, II cleaned, were
cleaned, tney were deep with mingled mut ami
melted snow, safer for walking. but exceedingly I'M
pleasant Most OF the streetcar lines were cOnpelcd
double teams though tIe trips, IN general
made regularly. few y rsOns improved the OppOr
tunity for sleghing I'm the Central Park early the
day with the coming OF the rain, the became
street almost tue only moving things to DC