The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-04
FERRY TRAVEL SUSPENDED.
North River Boats Prevented by Ice from
EnterInR their slips.

The North River has not been so thor
oughy leo bound. and crossing has not been 30
difficult. for years as yesterday. veteran
ferrymaster at the Pavonia Ferry says that he
has not seen a similar blockade but once
before in his service OF nearly half q
century on the ferries. That was In
in the winter Of 1895. when the river was almost
entirely closed and travel between New York
and Jersey City was interrupted for several
days. The whole water front on this sidc was
great mass OF lee yesterday. In tho docks and
ferry slips the thick blocks and broken pieces
OF ice were packed tightly together 10 depth
OF several ioet making navigation for vessels
very dangerous. and In one or two places ut
terly impossible. Tho worst trouble was at the
Cortlandt street ferry. Only two. success
full trips were made across the river
from about o'clock In the morning
from Jersey City for this side at II o'clock A. NJ.
and was hours in working passage across
She carried q full load OF passengers and yehl.
clee She got caught outside the upper slip at
Cortandt street and struggled for hours 10 force
her way in c. the bridge The New Haven
outside in trying to make her wharf just above
and in the way OF the terry6oat After many
the Newark was compelled to give up the task
1 o'clock and landed her passensers at
@ i1fed 't 10 ths DSsbTosses % street V route and and
did not reach this side until after dark. nearly
fve minutes to O'Clock the New Brunswick got
inside OF one OF the slips. and the first
load t lam bnfd ba sns FSp Trhns rom
the bridge for them 10 walk upon. The teams
remained on board. Rs Il was Impossible 10 get
them of with safety They were landed ON the
between and 8 o'clock thousands Of persons
who had not heard Of the blockade gathered at
the ferry. large proportion Of them were on
their way 70 get trains 20 their homes In Now
JsT9y AbSr beS WbanE souS iSs hI[S Fny esS ose
leo in tho upper slip was thick and sold enough
ferrymaster, said that he had not seen
anything like the blockade in twenty
Sishht Sisht the eOH ferryboat Nc New BrpnsWiek
vain struggled 70 get IN with party OF laborers
OF the Pennsylyan,s a., hair9sd & %h9 were yer sent sent
slip which had sunk under tho great weight OF
At the Barclay street pier to Hoboken the Ice
was piled up from the bottom OF the river 10
above the bridge. Boats got out from one OF
The last last trip was made at, ion. Many oi tho
waiting passengers went to hotels.
The lee was driven In by the heavy winds At
The last cross ing al Chambers street was made
There was not enough floating Ice In the East
Rive. to impede the passage sage ot ierryo2stss;
oeotR o% sRo %ina ons w"S tho Futon fsarybos
whose deck was crowded with teams.
swung out into the, stream. the cold wind
seeking shelter. began to back away from IL.
AZ frst little trouble was anticiRsted but soon
all OF the horses were backing. The deck hands
hastily drew second chain across the stern OF
the boat. and the hindormost wagons lodged on
this Then a new trouble was developed;
Tho horses in tho rear were crowded
upon by the wagons In front OF them; The
drivers whipped them up smartly. and at length
the danger was tided over. A renewal OF Il was
prevented by prying tho hind wneels OF the
wagons against the sides OF the pAssageways
The wagons thus becoming cramped. could not
be further backed.
Though there was little floating ice. yet under
| the Influence Of the sharp wind tho water was
| piers Soon after 10 o'clock the South and
Hamilton ferryboats stopped running. but not
| on account OF the severity OF the weather. The
| the time 10 the southwest. has blown the water
of tho coast and out OF the bay. SO that toward
| midnight. the time for low. tide the water was
| exceptionally low. Tho Columbia OF the south
| Ferry got aground Just outside the Now York
| slip. and the Hamilton avenue boat was not
| allowed TO entor her ali because II was known
Before the gates OF the CommuniDaw Ferry
| drays. loaded and nnloaded, gathered all at
onco about +. NJ. They had como from the
| closely were the horses and vehices packed
| that ii was impossible for q pedestrian TO force
passage through, unless he, crawled
Made trips about twenty minutes apart
| Tho ferryboats could not quite reach the slip.
| as the ice was packed in front OF the bridge SO
Capt. j. b. Moriord, the ferry manager. rugged
| boats could not come within twenty feet OF the
| iron apron. Thousands OF passengers who
| Communipaw line. Capt. Morford says that to-
| day, IL the cold continues. he will keep the
steamboat Chancellor plying in lieu Of the ferry
boats to take passengers and to Keep open the