The New York herald., 1876-01-02
THE FOG.
NEW YORK "MIsTIFIFD.

The sun, which had shoue with such genial warmth
yesterday morning, hid his smiling face behind tnick
banks Of clouds about three O'Clock in the afternoon,
and in less than ten minutes the atmosphere became
dark and heavy II had been every day Of the week
Just past with marvellous rapidty almost impene-
able bank OF FOG settled the city and har
Dor and the surrounding country. And what fog it
was That venerable and frequently quoted indiyid-
ual-the oldest nhabitant-never anything on this
side OF the Atlantic 10 beat IT, and rarely has The great
English metropolis been able to mistity" matters to
greater than New York did during portion Of
yesterday afternoon and all OF last night The Of
the heavens had scarcely been obscured by when
on came tho grea, bank omnous gray fog rolling up
through the Narrows the lower bay like spectral
feet under world OF canvas and with the rapdty Of
thought enveiopng the shores OF both the North and
East rivers and ohscurng their eGcctually
though night Of Egyptian darkness had settled upon
them Indeed some idea Of the density OF the vapor
may be CLEANED from the fact that in less than
twenty minutes after the sun became obscured the
boats OF the various terry lines compelled TO run
on half time and the course Of hreeq uarters Of an
hour some OF the companies suspended operations
altogether by laying their boats up. The Roosevelt
street ferry the Grs 10 withdraw its boats and the
James slip Hunters Point line very followed suit
Then staten Island boats withdrawn, leaving
many an unfortunate uual, VINO hdG been doing
be day both ends OF the line with other alterna
than 20 patronlze hotel 50 back their
friends literally.
An IMMENSE rHRoNG
Of people assembled at the gates OF the various ferry
houses, anxious 10 reach home but prepared for
disappointment for they had ample warning Of the
dion OF hngs the rivers before they reached the
At Roosevelt street ferry painted sign stating
that boats would run from that point long the
FOG lasted postcG in conspicuous place on the
ferry house seeing which those persons bound FOR
the Eastern district Of Brooklyn walked
down 70 Fulton ferry and crossed over and
then took the town cars, took
Belt line car In South street and went up the Grand
ferry. In this way double the usual amount Of
traffic thrown upon the Fulton and Grand street
by these routes effected only at the imminent risk
Of lite and limb OF course the boats could not
anything IKE their regular time, and when did
leave the slip reighted with no fewer than from
LOO to 800 passengers. Every inch OF available
space in tie cabins and on the deck was covered
by human beings, and then from 200 to 800
scrambled upon the upper deck. one could not help
renccung upon tue possible consequence OF the explO
son oi boiler unacr this dense mass OF humanity or
a sudden and severe collision In the middle Of the
river. Indeed 10 anv argument in behalf Of the com
peuon OF the East kver Bridge required IL could
readily be furnished ty contemplation OF The Fulton
ana Grand street erryboats upon such occasion
last night presented
Nor we're the Jersey City ferry lines any better or
Some OF them withdrew their hoa.s altogether and
those that continued 70 run did intervals OF from
uTty mnutes 20 an nour. Several times during the
early part OF tie evening very collisions wore
narrowly avoided by the boats Of The Liberty and Des
Orosscs street lines.
The Hudson CRY and the Jersey City OF tho r,bertv
street line very near coldinE The entrance N
The per The New fork side about Eve o'ciock Both
boats finally became wedged together d the shp and
were delayed some time one trp Of the Jersey Civ
occupied Just an hour and twenty mlnutoS