Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-02-16
THE BREAKUP.

| The rain and thaW Of last week had the effect
Of disturbing and breaking the thick, heavy ice
on the Susquehanna river and It's tributaries in
this county, and early on Friday morning 1t was
observed to rise with the flood and msve down
the stream, doing little damage to pro perry, after
taking into confederation the thickness Of the
ice aud the amount Of snow yet on the ground
to swell the volume Of water.
Early Friday morning the Ice began to break
on Leavys "riille," in the vicinity Of town, and
huge cakes began TO heave and groan, and to turn
up on their edge. About seven o'clock the whole
mass from shore to shore began moving. but run
only for a few minutes II having gorged
in shaws dam below town. The water com
mcnced backing up, and for time, the citizens
in the lower end Of town and on the opposite side
Of the river, In West ClearGeld, began to feel
alarmed in consequence Of being flooded. The
gas works add dwelling. occupied by the su.
perintsndent, A. NJ. Fleck, was entirely surround
ed, as was also tho barn belonging to A. II.
sbaw's estate aud tho Leonard House. Mr..
Fleck, having anticipated something Of the kind,
had bis family moved to place Of safety before
the water was near bis premises. The ice lodged
but short time when itstartel again with a rush,
and the backcd.up water reoeded more rapidly
than It rose. It was grand sight for every one,
except those who had timber IN hazardous places,
to sec the tremendous cakes Of ice, twenty feet
aeross and about twenty inches in thickness,
crashing and growing as they aoated down the
rapid river Large quantities Of loose timber
was noticed going by. In the afternoon Of Fri.
day, the remainder Of the Ice between Clearacld |
and CurwenUille, which hpd gorged at several
different places, passed by quietly The Ice
gorged In sections, three different ones forming |
between the Ourwensye dam and shaw's pond |
The up river leo lodged in the vicinity Of the
Bloom bridge above Curwensvlle, and the cold I
wave Of Sunday hhs frozen il solid Lumber
belonging to MesIs. Lsavy, Mitchell Co. aBd
some timber belonging to the Biglcr Brothers, and
other parties, arc m liked in with the Ice The ice in
the vicinity Of Rsrthaus went out during Thursday
night. The fact that no bridges were destroyed
is remarkable, as 1t was feared from the nature Of
things that when the break up occurred il would
be as fully disastrous a. any that ever happened
In this region. Il was, however, mild and qaie,
as any one could desire
A di'patsL from Lock Haven, dated February
18th, says
NEARLY one thousand men arrived with piik
and shovel and have been engaged all day on the
great Ice-held thrown up by tho gorge and which
ohsirucl. the track Of the Philadelphia 4 Bfie
Railroad from near Farrandsville to Glen Union,
a distance Of eight miles, in cutting channel
through II wide enough to admit the passage f
,ars. The leo ~ II lays on the track ranges in
thickness from two to eish, feet, and the immense
blocks are piled up 10 an Irregular and confused
mass, presenting their jagged edges at every
point VI the compass Many Of the blocks meas.
IRE thirty two inches 10 thickness Of crystal Ice
Thousands Of pine logs and sticks Of square tim.
,or are mixed with the ice, which retards the
york Of cutting through"
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
Muskras we're numerous, and could bs seen
upuing over the leo to the river banks. being
lriven ou, by the high water Several Of then
'cre killed.
Tae water backed up and extingushed the Gre
n the furnace Of Ernest Books green house. on
first street, uhich street was entirely submerged
i the foot Of Pine.
Robert Mitchell, Of this borough lost q raft
hA, lay on tho river bank, A. Reelsllle, Just be- |
ow Reeds dam.
Msss. Weaver A Bets lost platform, or
nore, that lay 10 the vicinity Of the lower