New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-14
THE DENSEST FOG FOR YEARS.
DANGER AND DELAY TO RIVER TRAVEL.

REPORTS ABOUT GhEAI LooS Of LiFE.
People were not disappointed yesterday when
they awoke, to find dreary, foggy day. with inter.
mittent rain. They expected nothing else. Tho
overshoes and umbrellas that have been In daily
use now so long that the memory Of man runneth
scarcely to the contrary, were brought into play
again and the city went forth to its business.
There were mud and water ankle
deep below, lowering sky above and disgust
IN the hearts of pedestrians Damp, moist un-
pleasant" people crowded omnibuses, street-cars
and elevated trains. Every one seemed to be angry
with himself for being out in such weather and TO
look upon other people idiots for being out, too.
As the day advanced one of the densest fogs that
has visited this city for years rolled over Man.
haitian Island. Lofty spires and high buildings
became wrapped in the vapcr 80 that their
tops were invisible. Then the mist settled
down into the streets and veiled everything
in partial obscurity. Everything loomed
dim and large in the gloom and in narrow lanes and
courts there was deep twilight. In many manu-
factories and offices the gas was lighted, and every
thing was dim and disconsolate. din OF steam
whistles and fog bells arose from the rivers, where
ferry-boats and other vessels went slowly along.
The fog clung to everything and made it damp and
sticky Drivers of trucks and other vehicles
got into blocks" with unusual frequency
and facility and waxed unusually profane
in their endeavors to extrcate themselves. Look
ing up street was like looking into an enormous
steam-chest The buildings could be seen on either
side for a little way only, and that dmly. Thick,
mpenetrable vapor hid everything else. An object
would be seen moving dimy in the obscurity. As
it came nearer it began TO take form and shape, and
finally resolved itself into an omnibus, team or q
street-car Looking down on the city from the top
of the Equitable Building gave one singular
m, iLa darl<
ghosty pyramid now standing out SO as to be seen
with some distinctness, and then fading almost
tirely from sight Where the fog was thickest
nothing was visible except the faint outline of some
of the highest and nearest buildings The specta-
tor seemed to be in the midst of some vast vapory
sea, "above the smoke and stir of that dim spot
that men call carth." The only suggestion OF the
thousands toiling below was the constant hum and
murmur that arose.
The bulletin of the Signal Service announced that
the storm which was central over Arkansas on
Tuesday, had moved north of Lake Ontario. IL was
raining at Shreveport, ST. Louis Pittsburg, Cairo,
Buffalo, Washington, Baltimore, New-Hayen, Au-
gusta Boston and Quebec.
On the elevated roads the trains were running as
usual but lamps were lighted on the engines and at
the switches. "we are taking every possible pre-
caution" said Colonel Hahn to a TRIBUNE reporter,
and do not fear any accident. We have been
able to run our trains on time all day."
EAST RIVER FERRIES DELAYED.
The hoarse tones of the fog bells res0unded along
the river fronts and frightened timid travellers.
At the more important ferries there were strings OF
heavy trucks and wagons, and crowds Of pedes-
tran, awaiting passage during much OF the day.
At South and Hamilton ferries the
boats were run all day on half hourly
trips. There were no accidents, however,
and the company lost few passengers; as the Bridge
is too far distant At Wall-st and Fulton-st the
receipts fell off about one-third. At the former
ferry trips were made every fifteen minutes at the
latter Slight delay was caused by taking of one
boat the trips averaging eight minutes instead or
five. The Rooseyelt-st. and James slip ferries were
closed entirely throughout the dav.
The Saratoga the T tFdnng sp was
in the morning about o o'clock by ferryboat OF
the Roosevelt Street Line. The quarternaster and
lookout hailed the ferryboat before she struck.
An attempt was made to stop her, but she
coming down with the current. The collision car
ried away the jib martingale of the Saratoga,
The ferryboat backed off and stood over to
New-York. The officers of the Saratoga
think it was the Idaho. The extent OF injury to
the Saratoga cannot be ascertained until she Is put
in the dry dock. She has been ready to sai for
Lisbon since Saturday, and was waiting for falr
weather. The accident will delay her departure
several days.
CROWDS FLocKING TO THE BRIDGE.
patronage. BY o'clock crowds began to assail it's
portals clamoring for passage In fifteen minute
there was solid of humanity
packed on the Bridge steps and along the
sidewalk in front Access to the Ele-
vated Railway staircase was rendered dlfhcult.
There was scant courtesy shown as rule, and the
longest arms and broadest shoulders gained tho
most consideration, such as 1t was. AT the toll
gates the money-takers were allowed little or no
eisure but those at the entrances TO the cars got
lNr;af Whaua he
from above, giving notice that there were as
many people on the platform as could be accommo-
dated on the trains the gates were promptly closed
The tollmen at the promenade boxes however, goo
no rest About O'clock, Superintendent Martin or.
dered part of the exit barricaded with benches ana
the overflow of the crowd was turned into the new
path. Mr. Martin acted for some time tolltaker.
few persons got through at one side or the other
scot free in the rush a the 70 lack ot
but the number was inconsiderabe.
At the roadway human nature came ont strong
e Every Sgsf Ts apa se o
the crosswalk were utterly disregarded. Heavy
trucks crowded into dangerous proximity 10 s ngns
from total wreck A half blind horse attached
to coupe gained osof@ some oried a,5orts 'aIS
Elevated railway entrance. -.
As was waiting at the Brooklyn terminus
for the passengers TO get or ut 4:30 the car fol-
lowing il came rapidly down the grade after
the grip had been l0osened and ran into IT. The
force OF the collision was enough to break the plat
forms of both cars No person was injured and tho
damaged coaches were drawn out of the way at
once. The of the accident was the failure or
the brakeman in the rear car to see that the other
car was still at the stopping place.
THE FOG IN THE NORTH RIVER
The ferries on the North River were all delayed
The Lberty-st boats were making half hourly trips
all the afternoon and ran pretty regularly on that
time. The Jersey City Ferry was running boats
every twenty-five minutes. The Barclay-st. ferry
boats were running every twenty-five minutes and
the Pavonia boats every half hour. only one
boat of each line was allowed in the
stream at time, with the exception
Of those of the Twenty-third Street Ferry. The