The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-01-19
OPEN RIVER.
Kick man NSharEbOat wrecked
-&reat Losses Oh The Ice.

Friday evening last the announce ment
was made the ice gorge in front OF Hick-
man was breaking, and considerable
crowd rushed to the front to witness the
grand spectacle. The then moderated
weather had given indications that the
''break' must soon commence, and the
knowledge that it is usually attended
with great destruction of property added
interest to the hour. The body of the ice
moved off at snails pace-inch by inch,
but rent in the channel brought the ice
from above down on the main body crush
ing and grinding with immense power.
The crash was at times fearful, great
powders of ice whiriing with furious
force up, over, uader and against the
block, sometimes piling a Ieevee of pow
dered ice on its edge or plunging great
masscs under, delving, shelving, and
SCATTERING itself in the freezing torrent
below. The sight was grand and alarm
ing. The special apprehension at this
point was that the Hickman wharfboat
would be wrecked, but strange to say the
local gorge passed leaving it comparative
ly unhurt, but closely Rugged by bodies
of ice on either side. By eight clock
the main channel of the river was com
paratively clear and free. but soon there
after the ice from the Columbus and
upper river gorges reached this point
and for time jammed and blocked the
river between the hanging icy ledges on
either side. The situation of the wharf
boat was imminent, and though its con
troIIers worked maufulIy theirs was a
hopeless task. By Il o'clock m. the hull
vas so nearly filled with water that its
complete wreck known, 1t could proba
ably have been RAISED, but it was thought
useless, The next morning hands COM
menced to dismanile it, aud 10 save any
and all things of value possible Tho
boat itself il a complete wreck. The loss
to Mr.. Bondurant, the owner, is probably
about s., 900. The cost was about > 100
The breaking of the gorges on the Mis-
sissippi and Ohio rivers mas destroyed
vast amounts of river property. Scarcely
n town on either but has been witnesses
FROM PirrsBCRG.
Cautious coal operators figure the en-
tire loss at between two and three mil
lions of dollars. Ten steamers, which
number includes two passenger boats aud
between three and four hundred coal
barges, were lost. Every dry-dock be-
tween here and Brownsville has been de-
stroyed. Ten coal tipplos or spouts, at
least worth each from S5,0o0 to $4,000,
have been destroyed. A careful estimate
puts the number of bushels of coal at
$500, 900. Beyond any question the loss
of the coal interest is unparalleled, in
the history of floods on the Monongahela
FROM ciScIyyATt.
The present break up of ice in the river
has been one of the most disastrous on
record, not only at this place, but at al
most every point between here and Pitts
burg. The lowest estimated damage here
is $3.50 900; the highest SiO), 600. The
heaviest losses at this writing will be
with coal dealers. There were seventy
FIVE loaded and one hundred aud fifty
empty barges sunk or carried away from
the landings at this place. Most of those
not actually sunk have been left in such
a condition that nothing can be done for
them, and they viii be eventually lost.
In addition to these a fearful destruc-
ton OF property has occurred ut almost
all points on all the main river courses,
amounting to millions of dollars. Many
old familiar STEAMBOATS, will be known no
rsore to the travelling public.