The New York herald., 1879-01-06
ICE IN THE RIVERS.

RYBoAr OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES STEAMERS
UNABLE TO SAIL ON TIME.
The condition Of the rivers at many points yester-
day materially improved from the icelock Of
Friday and Saturdays but at some points 1t was even
worse. the continued westerly wind and a strong
incoming tide carrying all the ice to tho upper
part of the river. Some of the ferry slips
bounded each side by long. project
ing piers, and eddy current is thus
created. which sucks in large cakes Of ice from
the river and blocks the ferry slip while the main
stream is comparatively clear This was the case
the Brooklyn side of the Wall street ferry The entire
slip was blocked up with cakes which prevented
the boats from getting any to the slip than
Ave or six feet Ice brows called into requisi-
ton every trip aud sometimes the boat had to back
out into the stream several times before the passen
gers could be landed On Friday night the erryboat
Clinton struck by the spanker boom Of
drifting schooner which stove in the gentlemens
cabin aft The schooner captured and towed
into the dock at Perrepont Stores where she
found to be the Gloucester. of New York. Her rig
ging and spars all cut away the port side.
aud showed signs of having been in contact with
q large vessel. Her owner. Mr.. Cusick claimed her
yesterday. but the Union Ferry Company refuses to
deliver the schooner up until some $l25 damages have
been settled.
The South and Hamilton ferries had considerable
trouble during the morning but tug soon reduced
the cake ice 'fne cut" Ali the other ferries
the east side their boats with. comparative regu-
larity The Staten Island boats encountered some
ice in the Staten Island slip, but after few efforts
the cakes were broken up. NO trips are made alter
to fght the ice at night.
The Cortlandt, Chambers and Desbrosses street
ferries regular trips all day long At ten O'Clock
in the morning the Twenty street ferry to Ho-
boken started to boats but discontinued them at
two in the afternoon The Forty ysecond street ferry
to Wehawken was frozen in all day and could run
no boats. All along the North River, especially
by ' ice epp'th on the leo shore. % An immense aed
of leo drifted down during the day
where it frozs fast Scores of and boys started
from the foot of Bloomfield street and walked the
within 500 yards of the Hoboken shore the ice
beng thick enough to bear = horse and wagon. All
the afternoon humber of tugs and steamboats,
deavored to break the field, but without All
the small boats including bargcs, canal boats light
schooners and IN I'D scows. frozen fast in their
docks.
Newark Bay is entirely closed up tho water having
steamers are, consequently icebound The piers of
the Central Railroad bridge prevent the ice from
leaving the bay with the ebb tide. This keeps the
Kills clear Of all except very light ice.
New York Bay. all along the shore. is covered with
ice is very Dense and yachts navigate in the
vicinity; all the fishing boats icebound. Graves
the heavy wind having driven the ice into the bay
iii large cakes. where 1t has frozen fast.
wEArnERBovNp SHIPPING.
The trouble occasioncd to ocean steamers through
their inability to sai because of the delay in cargo
has not yet Many of the steamers advertised
to on Saturday left yesterday. while others will
The Great Western line steamer Devon. which was
delayed, sailed carly yesterday morning. Mallory's
steamer Carondele which was also delayed left pier
No. 70 yesterday morning The Rio Jsneiro, OF NAL
lory's line, also cleared.
The Anchor line steamer Asatia made great efforts
to leave yesterday, but unable to do owing to
delay in the cargo. Last night at twelve O'Clock work
started to load her, AZ her owners would not
allow the men to work on Sunday. The steamer will
probably sail to-day as all her cargo is on the dock
and every thing in readiness.
or the National line the steamer Spain managed
to sail yesterday in spite OF the ice while the Greece
remains fast at her dock. work has been going on
ice around her, tnat the freight barcs may
approach. 1t is likely that she will sail tomorrow
The steamer Ashland, of the Florida line, which
to have sailed SATURDAY. but was frozen by the
yesterday and ali speed Is being made TO prepare her
The steamer New Orleans position was changed
to-day. She righted by the aid of tug. as was
the Morgan City
stevcdorcs and tug owners are in great demand and
the latter charging enormous rates for contracts
OF breaking mp leo clearing vessels. I'm blowcd
il it don't boat anything ever saw. said weather
owner had been refused. THESE tug owners arc
putin on more lu,s than many bank directors.
got to get down his marrer bones-and pay Tor 1t
too you bet. This comes OF bevin too much TO do.
Blast the ice anyway" he concluded. in reflective
tone.
II the wind continues in q northwestery direction
and cold weather sets In there s danger that tho
North River will freeze entirely. as there is now
enly a narrow strip OF clear the Jersey
shore above Horatio street. and thus space is being
gradually lessened by tho additional cakes of Ice
driven IN this direction by the wind. Should the
tide succeed In moving this field OF IL will only
result i'll blocking up all the downtown fer
ries, while on the east side the effects would DO
anything but desirable. strong southeast wind
would break up all the ice, and continued fog
would clear 1t entirely. as would cause the ice to
sink.
The City Of New York. Of the Inman limo. has not
yet been heard from. She due hero Friday last.
and Is advertised to sail Thursday next. She comes
from Liverpool and Is very large vessel carrying