The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-04-01
BREAK Up
The Ice moves from
the River.
A Number Of Buildings
Damaged and Destroyed.
Scenes at the Levee before
and after the move.

The long looked for event has finally
come to pass, and the ice which for nearly
Eve months has placed an embargo on the
river navigation at this point. as in lfact
along the entire river. has moved, and will
soon permit the running of steamboat The
breakup has been looked for not only with
interest, but also with some apprehension
that great loses would ensue from the
moving of the ice. Slight apd Intellectual
attempts have been made through the
agency of dynamite ito dislodge q portion
of the ice. not 80 much with expectation
that general movement on the part of
the ice would occur, as having in view.
future emergencies when such explosives
could be employed to prevent gorges with
their concomitant overfows The practi-
cability of such means was not fully
demonstrated probably from the fact that
those handling the dynamite were not
sufficiently. fa miliar with its use, to apply
it with any great benefit.
THE PRESENT SEASON
has been remarkable one in more RESI-
poets than one. as it will be noted tor the
excessive snow fall which occurred aud
also for the length of time in which the
river was frozen over. The river at this
point closed on the 21st of last November,
and with but few exceptions has been
solid from that day until within the past
Few weeks. Crossing on the lee has been
carried on continuously, with few accidents
md no deaths.
THE FIST SIGNS
IF q break up took place Tuesday after
noon. and was visible on the rapids above
he bridge. Yesterday the water worked
Itself through the ice at various places, and
resulted in gradual movement
IF ice toward the bridge. At
about 2 O'Clock yesterday afternoon jam
began in the vicinity of the Gable Lumber
mill on the Iowa shore. The Ice piled itself
10, and thus soon cleared the river at that
point. The rise as reported at the arsenal
vas Is inches. At later hour the ice
gorged at Renwicks, Shaw & Crosset's
mill, and succeeded 10 tearing away the
,ffoer dam and other machinery of that
causing loss to the amount
If $40
IN DANGER.
For time during the rapid rise the |
Davenport water works were in imminent |
Danger, but fortunately they escaped any |
'erious damage. TIE water guage during |
he night was at point only feet below |
he highest point reached by the food last |
June. The breaking off of large cakes of
ce continued, aud by sunrise the river
vas comparatively clear above the bridge.
while at that point and below it the ice
IT'LL remained in an apparently sound con
iition, with no immediate indications that
/ movements would take place.
TIE BIG BREAK
occurred at exactly o'clock this morning,
md was witnessed by large crowd OF
,itizsns not only of this city but also at
Davenport, The shores we're lined with
people, who were there in the role Of
pectators and also to render what assist
nee they could In case their help became
necessary.
At the hour above named the ice close
o the Iowa shore, Just below the bridge,
to move, cakes OF large dimen-
ions piled upon one another, and soon the
ntire sheet of ice was breaking off and
moving away. The ice piled up on the Da-
export shore as far as the packet ware
louse. That building was soon partly
demolished. The gorge then began to
orm on the Rock Island shore. The ferry
7harf boat was carried on shore some dis
ance, while the Diamond Joe wharf boat
7as struck with sufficient force to break il
II to pieces The ice piliDg itself up to
he height of thirty feet. a large amount
it covering the railroad track and seri
usly interfering with railroad travel. A
1rce of men were set to work removing
be ice from the track, but this was not
ccomplished until ABOUT O'Clock. Toe on
be track was found to be remarkably
old and was 50 inches thick.
AN INCIDENT.
The Waterman of the Keokuk d L
acket wharf boat 10 this city had bad
,are. if nothing more serious results from
ia hasty departure from the wharf boat
his morning Ii appears that he sleeps
/ the wharf boat. and this morning he
as aroused from his slumbers by the ice
reaking the lower portion of that insti
1tion, Imagining that the danger was
ven greater than the facts would war
snt, he rushed from his bed in the second
.ory to the staircase, and finding the
eps breaking off. he jumped to the cold
e below. He did not take time 90 fully
ress himself in the conventional dress OF
le day, and his attire would not pass at a
t L.