The daily gazette., 1881-02-14
In THE SUsQUEHANNA.
THE GORGE PASSES OUT AND THE
FLOOD AT FORT DEPDsIT SUBSIDIES.

FLOOD AT FORT DEPOSIT sU BsIDRs,
HAvRE DE GRACE, Md, Feb. 13, Q
P. M -Ur t. this evening We have had
sS hours of high water and floating
icc in tue Sus4uchanua river at this
point, where there is always soici'ude
in any breaking up OF the ice after a
severe winter. Saturday morning tue
ice broke up and the river began Using
slowly. The great field of ice below
the railroad bridge parted first, com
mencinE at Du Bois's wharf, on the
Iavre de- Grace side, and extending to
the PerrJVille whaIf. j. Frederick &
Sons started to harvest ice at 8 a. IN,
bat the ics moving by the rising
waters filed his channels and com
PEELED their men to quit work.
At :4S saturday afternoon the ris-
ing food started all the ice in the
river, but il moved out easily, not with
standing some of the moving packs
we're piled up thirty feet high. The
river continued to rise all Saturday
night, until at one time 1t was within
two feet of the great food of 1875.
The ice has gorged on the eastern side
of Watson's island choking there, it
throws the great body OF water on the
west side and gives it a greater force.
The gorge seems to be fifteen feet
high. Taking a view from the lower
end OF Havre de Grace as far as you
can see, the Chesapeake bay is one
great field of ice, aud the speed of the
river is greater than yesterday. Dur
ing tile afternoon and evening there
was a span of a bridge and two houses
passed here. SO far as can be seen or
heard no great damage is being done
here. The water is over all the wharves
and up in the street near the residence
of Il. Hall. Ii the water continues for
twelve hours longer as high as it now
aud the wind from northwest, we will
soon be clear of the great body of ice
in tho Susquehanna. All this mo- ming
it was running out freely, and bids fair
to be the easiest breakup the Suss ue-
hanna has known for years.
To night there is gorge ON thePer-
ryville side, commencing at McCoy's s
icehonses and running across to Wat
sons Island and extending north for
two miles. Another gorge Is on the
Havre de Grace side, commencing at
Port Concord lighthouse, running
across 10 Penny shoals and extending
four miles south to Battery ligh house
All the ice is going out the eastern
channel, where there is plenty of room
for it to pass off.
The fishing float of w. Ewing broke
loose last night, passed out and can be
seen IN the ice three miles from Havre
de Grace. When the water falls we
will he able to ascertain damages.
Nothing serious is repo rted at this
time, @ p. m. There is very little
floating ice. The water is falling a
little, and it is thought the worst is
already over.
Al Port Deposit the lee commenced
running about 3 O'Clock Saturday morn
ing, and few minutes afterward the
broken mass firmly lodged in both chan
nels Of the river, causing the water TO
rise aud lnundate the town. Vast masses
sf ice we're borne in ON the fosd, ue-
stoyil property Of all kinds. A number
of dwelling houses were crushed like
eppslelIs, the inhabitants making mar
row escapes. The hayhouse of the
baltimore Steamboat Company was
completely demolished, and force Of
men engaged in removing hay to place
of safety had to leave ii in boats, so sud
den was the rise of water. The build
ing vi as destroyed few minutes after
uey left. A corner of the warehouse of
Messts DAVIS Il Co. was torn away and
he lulnber-yard of the same firm was
iamag aged 10 the extent VI over 81, 900. s.
noutiand's lumbsr-yard was also injur-
ed. The steamboat Beniga narrowly
escaued destruction. The track Of the
Port Deposi, Branch Of the Philadelphia
| Wilmington and Baltimore railroad was
covered with ice. A channel was form
ed after the fl lod had lasted two hours,
and The Ice began to pass out. The Wa
ter al once subsidized.