The New York herald., 1877-01-14
ICE BOUND.
The Delaware Blocked with
Heavy Ice.
THE HARBoR PRACTICALLY CLOSED.
Difficulties and Dangers Of Navigation on the
Delaware-The Reading Golfers Aban-
don the Port-Steam aud Coast
Lines Suspend Work.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. Is. 1877.

PuiLApELPHIA, Jan. IL. 1877.
The blockade OF ice in the Delaware has made the
100 miles Of channel between this city and the
sea-always difficult one to navigate-almost impas-
sable. The continuous cold weather since the winter
in has had the result OF increasing the Ice the
harbor Of Philadelphia far beyond the usual winter
quota and 1t has been many since the river has
been bockaded at present Al the lower portion OF
the city the river Is
from shore to shore, except where tho ice boats by
persevcring work. open a narrow passage; and at tho
Horseshoe, just below the CITY, the ice has
lated In such quantities that Il is piled layer layer
and bockades all approach to departure from the
wharves OF the city except with tho assistance OF
OF the three city ico boats. Practically
this harbor is for the time closed, and the
passage between Philadelphia and the
Is dangerous to attempt and only uavigabe when the
assistance OF the ice boats is available For eighteen
years there has been such winter known at this
port Much pccuniary loss will be the result many
ow OF small schooncrs, oyster boats and tho like
small craft will probably be reduced poverty by tho
suspension Of navigation.
FLEET VESSELS Ic. BOUND.
Between Philadelphia and the sea, including Chcs.
tor, Marcus Hook, New Castle Delaware City and tho
Delaware Breakwaer, there is fee, of sxty-two Tor
cgn vessels and twenty sailing vessels under the
American flag all waiting for opportunity TO get up
TO Philsdclphia but prevented by the impenctrable
barrier between the city and the ocean. Some or
these vessels have been ice-bound three
weeks Along the wharves OF the Delaware
water frent OF this city there are besides,
$50 vessels lying loaded and ready for sea- but so
locked in by hc ice render departure imposs-
bio, or, at the best, extremely unsafe. There
among these ice bound craft ships that have been thus
detained over month, entalng great losses 10 their
owners
city and the men board are in exceedingly peril
GUS position in of sudden break up. There is
and some Of the crows that have been ablc 20 reach
tue shore the ice toll terrible stories OF their expo
ricn.-s In an almost arctic sea-
rERiLoUs VOYAGE.
large three-mastcd schooner the Dead
Man shoal. with Ice piled high around flying a
signal for help Saturday party OF eight deter
mined TO attempt the perous undertaking OF crossing
tho icc, and il possible, reach the Ice bound vessel
which they did after hreo hours labor, tho iSe at
CIV Ing way IRON under them, when they would
have to get into their boat 10 keep from falling through.
phey found the vessel to be the L. c, Wishart, OF
wood, bound TO Philadelphia
The Captain reported the vessel forty days out from
Forked River, and had been two weeks III Delaware
Bay They werc nearly out OF provisions, their stock,
according 10 the mates account consisting OF twenty
pounds OF fish, TWO small pieces OF beef and halt BAL
rel OF Hour which he he mattel stated would last but
three or four days The vessel had lost rudder,
lies on tho upper end east side, OF the Dead Man
Shoal, having been dragged there by the ice Both
anchors arc out boa. has been telcsraphed for 10
assist her. The crew consists OF men, all well and
In good health except The steward, Mr. sheldon.
IcEBoATs
Thcr0 are three steam iceboats owned by tho city.
but they are unable 10 keep the channel open and
Secretary Of the Board OF Trustees charge oil them
has confessed that in his opinion, ton ice6oals could
not do the work. There Is much complaint among
river TO the injudicious management OF these
boats Had they been kept constantly at work earlier
n or hpt re
lingsport and Greenwich Point, where most OF tho
heavy ice is, instead OF towing tho vessels OF
shippers, whose cosgnmcnts ths iccboats always take
particularly good care OIL II is said u is extremely
probable that the huge cakes o ice at the Horseshoe
would never have accumulated. From actual meas.
ureent Is declared that tho Ice at tho Horseshoe
ten ieet thick.
coAsrwsE AND STEAM LINES SUSPENDED
Tho coastwise and steam lines OF this port have
come to tho conclusion In general that II rs hardly
worth while TO rum tho damaged suffered u getting
TO would amount to more than tho freight money.
Most OF the lines have lp reality stopped receiving
freight although the publication OF this may move
some of them to deny to tho public this fact well
known TO those along shore Many OF the com panies
have discharged their and lad their vessels up
The steamer Junata OF the southern Man line, lost
her wheel in the leo the other and towed up
TO tho city by the ice boat
YIFry.oSE HOURS IN THE ICE
The large European steamers, with the assistance OF
ono or more OF the ceboats-sometimes all three
able 10 force their way TO the but to them
requires two days 10 accomplish tho 100 miles. Tn,
Indiana, of the American Steamship line. which
at twenty-five minutes past ten Thursday
morning, but did not get 10 until
ono o'clock p. NJ. on saturday, although she mad an
ccboat 10 convoy her all tho way down and three at
the Horseshoe. She got stuck tho ce and got
aground many times, being twice aground between ten
anu hapast Cherry Island hats below VIII
mingtor. She WAS hity-onc hours and thirty live
minutes in making the 100 miles, and iccboat No. =.
who conveyed her through the ice, 1856 tous
OF coal IN the operation. The illinois, which sailed
for Liverpool day before yesterday. twenty eight
hours IN reaching the Breakwatcr.
lnrc 40 10 criv i'm
possible to get up or down, ana II will be tor
time come Nothing but rain and log together viii
open navigation on the Delaware this winter in the
opinion OF old river mon.
THE READING cOLLiERs.
Tho Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company
owns fourteen steam golfers Tor delivering co from
Port Richmond piers, Philadelphia, to their various
depots IN New York and ports In Now England near
the manufacturing centres. len OF these golfers
have been stuck fast In the at Billingsport
eight miles below Philadelphia, for nearly u week.
Eight OF them have just been extricatcd and havo
abandoned the idea OF reaching Philadelphia, whittier
they we're bound 10 load with coal They have gone
TO Perth Amboy. To-day news reached this city that
the remaining two we're totally disabled ia the leo
Bingsport. ana needed the immediate assistance Of
the iceboats TO tow them TO the city Tor repairs
The company has decided to make Perth Amboy It's
winter port for the shipment Of coal the oil the
sion reached 10 day at meeting OF the directors.