The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-24


and very hard. and between Peck slip and the
South Jerry had the appearance OF one enormous
ice foe. The aspect was most picturesque. In-
stead or the waving, undulaung masses of water
that greet the eye OF the ferry traveller scarcely
anything was to be seen but this crystal sheet OF
glit:erlng ice.
TEMPTING SIGHT.
1t was most tempting sigh. to the adventurous
who like 10 boast that they have crossed to Brook
Ign or New York on the ice. ana by nine O'Clock
crowds OF spectators had gathered on both sides
the river. Many OF these were DESTROYS OF cross
ing over in the Terry, but scarcely any OF the
boats weres running IL was evident that their
only chance OF reaching the opposite shore was
By means OF daring feat OF pedestransm.
Everybody has noticed bow cowardly crowds are
until the first example oil daring has demonstrated
the possibility OF success. and 1t was 50 in tnls
case; By a quarter past nine O'Clock the crowd at
The Fulton Ferry had swollen to thousands. and
although many Jumped upon the ice TO indulge IN
few eva sportlye AMI antics none had as yet
rather, TO overcome IL? Well, the hero appeared
before long He came he walked and he con-
quered, and reached Brooklyn In about two min
utes and forty seconds. He started from Peck
slip and landed in Brooklyn about two blocks
west OF Fulton Jerry: He picked his way carefully
the noe in some places, and, after taking many
circultous routes, he reached the Brooklyn shore
IN safety.
And now the Ice was broken and everybody
that no danger lurked beneath Its bright. shining
surface. the crowd followed IN his wake in an
another In this novel walk; they Shouted and
hurrahed when anybody sped on with especial
holiness, They laughed when anybody fell. The
scene was one OF indescr baDle animation and
merrment Some OF the business men, who were
naturally cautious and would have preferred TO
take the ieIryboat, nevertheless crossed on the
ice, as they were eager TO reach their business
places IN New York. Near Wall street the first
one who crossed the ice was a little boy whose
agility generally admired. Between Brook.
Ign ana Governors Island there was also q com.
plete bridge OF ice. and people used it literally;
others by the mere desire for sport
s!.EIGHs DRIVEN ACROSS.
One OF the spectators near Wall street even
stated that several slelghs, drawn by horses sue
ceeded IN crossing IRON New YORK to BROOKLYN.
ton by confirming IT, There was also Il II tie
skating at some points, and the boys at he river.
Ice Hundreds OF schoolooys from me Heights in
Brooklyn came down with their skates and sIeds
and went out boldly upon The Ice bridge. The
and near thu Fulton terry In New York drove
away many people who mad ventuied upon the ice
danger that they might be carried toward the
bay or perish In the water when the ice broke up.
several lacies The first, Mrs. Jones' OF New
York, created quite sensation by her bojdness.
On the shore the scene was also one Of novel
interest. Thousands OF people were curious to
see the ice bridge and came from considerable
distance to view The spectacle. The docks were
Dered upon the ships IN order to OBTAIN better
view. IL was sight well worth seeing and
Years Are you soina overs "Come on. lets cts
take promenade on the ice," and other similar
expressions were heard everywhere. Numerous
vessels had been caught IN the ice when 1t first be-.
gan drifting up the East River, and freed them
selves with the greatest difficulty.
THE FERRYBOATS.
At first the ferrybOats succeeded in opening
gap once in while, ana cutting through the Ice
at some places. This was before the bridge was
:NOrOuVnlV formed. Between nine and
O'Clock, however, all the Wall street boats and
most Of the Fulton terry boats were lying idle. 1t
start from Brooklyn and enect communication
with the metropolis by landing their passengers
in loose cakes. All the Roosevelt street boats
were greatly delayed. The Arizona lett the
Brooklyn side just before eight O'Clock and
reached New YORK at nine O'Clock. the Montana,
which followed ner, could scarcely make any head
way at all. Alter half an hours struggling wlrn
the loose ice IN the upper portion OF tne she
drilted across the CatharDe ferry slip, on the
Brookyn slde where she remained firmly wedged
Tor hall an nour. About hali-past seven O'CLOCK
the Harlem boats had reached the head OF the
toe which at thar time was beyond Peck Sip.
The shady Slice was ahead, driited over to the
Brooklyn shore and was in near the jay street
pier.
AT noon pOwerlu, squadron OF tu2boats and
steamers mustered around the Battery and moved
forward with tine high ambition OF restoring the
East River TO freedom and Terry travel. The most
brilliant service IN this line was performed oy the
City OF Boston. With Iull head OF steam on and
JOOIuluE Ilkc u uOuutdIu, tHIS SpleQulu VeRSel
struck the solid square mile OF ice that formed the
lower border OF the vast field, extending, with
but break or tive, all the way to He'll Gate. A
cheese may give an idea Of the case, force and ra.
pidity with which the bow OF the City Of Boston shot
through the ice. TIE paddles struck the shattered
blocks with u low rumDlinR noise ike the SOUND
OF monslrous mufiied drum. AT times the high,
ABOVE the Ice, as II the vessel meant TO SKATE
across It's surface. On and on it held Its steady,
powerful way, gallant object to the eye, and ami:
maepd. with n OarInV m n
or perish. the thousands lining the shores
watcnea the Boston with admlrng interest as she
disappeared up stream, carrying all before her.
AN Electric SHOCK.
The simultaneous. attack on the lower border
ice above. Lines OF DIVISION quick and irregular
81 orEed lightning playing across the SKY. SHOT
over the frozen plain nmsnt The nervous people
high excitement were tlmldly crossing from potn
shores, iels thrill OF alarm. They heard strange
sounds beneath their eet, like the bursting asun.
der OF solid rocks They saw the force OF tugs and
Jerry boats strike like huge battering ram against
the fioor. on which they stood. Iney heard the
shouts Of Alarm from either bank OF the river, but
the wild exniiaraion OF the danger round about
had fascination that many found 1t hard to
resist.
LINE OF TUGBoATs
broke through the bridge close by the New York
shore, while on the Brooklyn side clear chan
mel was made by similar MEANS This Isolated
the field. The tide WIS on the turn. The strong
shattered, and now the whole mass began a slow,
steady movement in the direction OF the harbor.
Inc sun was snlnlnR pTlgnty, ana tne SKY
was nearly cloudess. Along both SIDES Of the
river, ON the Battery to Harlem, spectators
stood In groups and crowds. Above aud below
Futon ferry The piers were black with people.
Vessels were III vaaed by eager slghtseers. Even
the rigging and masthead OF many craft were
boldly s0ngh, out Tor a mole satisfactory glimpse
OF the strange phenomenon. The Terry slips were
tnrongeo. Tue 'lonQsnoremen ceased discussing
the rate Of wages, aud gave loose to speculalons
on the nature OF ice and 10 gossip on the history
OF ice gOrges IN The East River.
TIE GREAT INTEREST
now was centred IN tile movements OF the people
Caught the iragEentary lceDeiXs. It grew
all the keener rom the tact OF several ladies
being seen among the bewaered adventures.
Vessel after vessel kept passing up and down the
channel formed on the New YORK side The cnan.
ne continued encroaching Oil the ice, ana all nope
OF tie OrlUrn wanderers reaching New York on
loot ended. The channel on the BROOKLYN
side FORBADE any escape III that direction, and thus
the crowd was cut completely OIL from escape.
Some behaved vita supreme indlnerence, Ut1ers
were anxious and uneasy, and still more were be.
sac themselves WITH perspiring lear. All were
prompt to succor the unfortunate anu brave Jan.
ger ior nunIanity's sake. The steam vessels along