The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-03-10

The ice was piled up as high as the houses
at the levee. in some places.
and everybody was trembling for fear
of the consequences. All of q sudden
there was a great roaring sound and then
lths crash came. and In less than three
hours the city was flooded. Men had to
90 across the house tops to visit neiRhbors
flor few days. and the slough was great
pond. It was severe while it lasted. The
people were scared, too. for il was ut $3.50
that night when the ice broke, and crowds
worked all night. 1t was the worst ex-
perince I remember. This was the second
food that year. only week before the
river closed, then there was terrible snow
storm. and three days after heavy rain
and then food washed out the gullies.
What do know about the dates of the
river closingf Well, used to have a
complete diary for thirty years back, but
lost good many of the memorandums,
SO | have to trust to memory 10 many
instances. but l can give you the exact
date from 1870 to the present. and the
Squire unearthed from drawer in his
desk. memorandum book and proceeded
| In 1879 the river closed Dec. Is, and on
| March Is, 1870. the ice run out. This
was severe winter-not much snow, but
intensely cold.
In 1870. have no record of the rivers
closing-but the ice ran out Feb. Is, 1871.
The river closed. think. sometime 10
December. but won't be sure about it.
The winter of ls7I-72. was bitter cold
one 1t was one of those winters where
an overcoat and mufHer was always COM
Portable. The river closed that year Nov.
so, 1871, and remained closed until March
%, 1872. when the ice run out There was
some fear Of a food then. but it did not
come.
The winter OF 1872 Is was another cold
one-no let uplifting cold all the time
The river was closed Nov. 2s. 1872. and
remained closed until March is, 1873,
| when the ice moved.
The winter of 1874 vas mild one
almost like spring sometimes. The river
closed for two days and then the ice run
out, The river was open most of the
winter.
In 1s7475 the winter was mild until
Jan, 4, 1875, when the river closed md SO
remained until March Is.
In 1855 the river closed Nov. 90.
1875. during the night. Dec, the ice
run out. and Dec. II the river closed the
second time and run out two days later
Feb. 2, 1876, the river closed a third time.
do not remember when it run out. but it
was soon after. This was not very severe
winter, but an unpleasant one. The wealth
or was so uncertain.
In the winter of 1876 II. the river closed
Dec. 4, but don't remember when it run
out; have lost the memorandum,
/ In the winter of 1S77-7S the river was
open all winter, and the ferry boat made
regular trips the whsle season-miss
ing only one day. This was a
rough winter though. on business, for
the roads were 10 bad condition. The mud
was up to the hubs of teams, and the road to
Rural and Bowling was almost impossible,
Our business men suffered severe loss of
trade that winter, and Rock Island had
number Of failures. Many of our mer-
chants bought heavy stocks anticipating
big trade but were unable to realixs on
their goods. Farmers could not get in
with teams, except by great effort, and so
the business Of the town suffered.
In 1873 the winter closed December
10, 1873. and opened March 8, 1879.
TINS was q bitter cold winter, but we had
plenty OF sunny weather and that made it
pleasanter. There was some suffering
here that winter, too, but Rock Island
managed to take care of the poor. as she
always does. In 1879 80, the river closed
Dec. Is. 1879. aud opened January 7.
1880, and remained open all winter. This
was pleasant winter and there were very
few severe cold spells. OF course we had
some bitter cold weather, but il was fair
winter.
The winter of ls8O-si. the present one.
the river closed Nov. 81. and still remains
winters in my experience.
Do think there will be hoodf Well, |
/ don't know. A week ago [ was afraid |
there would be food this spring, but if |
this thaw continues to melt the snow and |
ice gradually, as now seems probable, |
there is no real danger. do not say that
there won't be any damage when the
break up comes-that is most always sure
to happen but If the thaw is moderate | |
think Rock Island will escape any serious
consequences.
Now. then. said the Squire. you have
got ell the river points l can give you to
day, and if you can make anything out of
them to interest the readers of The ARGUS
you are welcome.
THE DILLY MURDER.
The Cam bridge Chronicle gives thei
account of how the Dllley murderer es-
eaned trial Mt this term of the Henry