New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-13
ALONG THE WATERFRONT.
SAvIGATIoN PRACTICALLY SUSPENDED
THE FERRY BOATS UNABLE oMAkE THEIR TRIPS
No BUSINESS AT TIE wHAkvEs


No BUSINESS AT THE wHAkvEs
Along the water front the storm ragged in its
greatest fury all day. The gusts of wind swaycd
the vessels snd the me driven snow hung all day
like mist over the rivers and the BAY. On the
broad expanse OF Vests the wind drove the snow
in great drfts heaping them higher than the store
windows and in instances drifts of ten or
twelve fee, in height were reported. If it were
possible to establish difference between the
desolation the general suspension Of business
throughout the city yesterday, the North River
front. with It's miles Of passenger aud freight
stations its ferry depots and its wharves, would
probably have cone in for CHER degree of quiet
neglect than any other region. There was not
trace OF the usual hustle and activity. the shouts
OF driv the calls of "cabbes' and the armies
Of passengers from New-Jersey's shores and the
West The blizzard had. therefore, full sway TO
juege with the snow-fakes aud did It's work with
grace and dispatch. Mountains CT snow were
transported from place 10 place with alarming
snddenness and ali entrance to cross-town streets
were practically blocked to pedestrians and vehicles
DIFFICULTIES OF FERRY TRAvEL-
The various ferries on the North River presented
the most interesting scenes. The boats began
running as usual early in the morning, but such
difficulties were encountered that some boats had
TO be taken off entirely while the rest made trips
az most irregular intervals, and then in manner
not al all satisfactory to the passengers Inc pilots
could not see through the binding storm more
than hundred feet. and navigation was positively
fraught with danger he greatest trouble or all
was experienced in finding the slips upon arrival
at the shore. The landing OF the boats was ac-
cOmplisned by dnt of much backing ana fOr,
wardlngD and any amount of Yelling ashore ana
on the boats Several ferry-boats were taken out
of their courses by the storm. one, the New York
duftiLg nearly TO the Battery before its location
revealed TO the pilot high sea was pling
M the waves on the river. and the passages were
all marked by plungng which would have done
credit 10 a clipper-ship IN hurricane The pitch-
ing and tossing of some of the boats was
cuffip IN
n panic and one boat on the Liberty
Street line leaned far enough 10 ship sea into
the lad es cabin. In order 10 avoid collisions the
whistles were kept sounding CONTINUALLY TO warn
approaching vessels. The traffic on the ferries
was naturally small Jewellers soon found Ial,
lines of struggling pedestrians, among them 10
eral sprinkling of rOsy-cheeked factory girs,
plunged along the streets Leading 10 the ferrles.
The boats on all the lines at intervals OF about
an hour throughout the day. an occasional extra
reducing the average time between trlps Inc
asmuch rs no vessels left port on Sunday. There
were due at either ends Of the many lines. ana
none left their piers either here or al New-Engand
ports Inc Offices were almost deserted, lew ell
plOyes being present TO attend TO duty.
NAVIGATION SUSPENDED on THE EAST RIVER.
Navigation on the East River practically
suspended up except on the ferries that ran
straight across the river The binding gale OF
snow had the effect of thick fog and pilots could
not see a boats length ahead Under these
circumstances only a few little tugs with
transports OF cars made extended trips The R0Ose
Welt ferry ran no boats between Broadway, Brook
lyn and RoOsevelt-st., until l p M, when the
Alaska sent out from the New-fork sids ana
made round trip she eft her slip at o'clock on
her second trip. On both trips she was crowded
No tips were made at all during the Gay by the
James Slip ferry boats running 10 Hunter POINT.
The boats crossed 10 Hunters Point from thirty
fOurth-si. every hour.
DIFFICULT TRIPS OVER THE RIVER AND BAY.
On the downtown ferries the Fulton, Wall,
Catherine, Grand-st., and Greenpont boats ran at
irregular intervals. sometimes fifteen minutes be-
tween trips and sometimes an hour Each boat
carried thousands who ioked, chafed and had as
much endowment out of the great storm as II they
were school boys acIrcus for the first time Every
crowd had its sprinklng OF mebrlated lnnuuuas
who became the butt OF the sOOer ones III the
thrOng.
The staten Island ferry boats felt most severely
the storm. having 20 cross the BAY
with its full force driving upon Them and on their
return trips II necessary to sail almost III the
face OF The driving gale. The Sonthneld ana the
Westfeld both lost their ag-stafis, aud sustained
other llghf damages from the gale. The Nestbeid
left II. George at 1870 a. III and did not reach
New-YOik until nearly l p. m She did not make
another trip until D. ~. but one or two more
trips made ~ the evening.
The boats at the Thirty ninth Street Brooklyn
Ferry made two trips III the morning. each OF
which occupied more than two hours A
third boat was started and after reaching the
Brooklyn side did not return. President Ambrose
became Disguised with the experience before
noon and directed that no more Tips should be
made.
ell the morning III heroic effort TO reach the
BarthOldi Statue and 10 return. and meeting with
success discontinued Its efforts for the day 1t was
renorted that some fear was felt the
Island that the severe wind might lnjure
the statue and II stated that the arm sustain
ing the torch sWayed IN threatening manner un-
der some OF the heavy gusts
UNABLE 10 RECEIVE NEWS OF OCEAN VESSELS.
All communication was broken between the Ship
News Office 1t the Battery and the Highlands and
Sandy Hook. 1t was learned that the Bohemia
from Hamburg was anchored of Quarantine. but
she made no attempt to reach her pier. The French
steamer La Gascogne, which came in late sun
dav night, was unable 10 reach her pier and
Law of ID the river until this morning. Inc storm
YESTERDAY prevented her from la ding any OF her
passengers The Alaska was reported OF the Hook,
but confirmation could be obtained OF the
report.
against the walls of the old fort and few persons
yentuIed from the gates. Three hundred passen-
gers from the Etrura, which arrived on sunday
were collected IN the Garden and thev looked
in dismav at the tine snow which Omitted III the
sky- ghts and listened all day 10 the hOwilng
winds IL is thought that they will be detained Tor
several days until the railroads recover from the
storm.
TIE BRIDGE MIGHT HAVE DONE WORSE.
REDUCED TRAVEL FAIRLY WELL ACCOMMOBArED-
AN EASY CROWD TO DEAL WITH.
The Brooklyn Bridge oonied up yesterday as it
has often done before, Of the greatest pub
he blessings of It's size anywhere near NcwYOrk To
b. sure, the frostbton and benumbed thousands who
besieged the Brooklyn entrance in the early hours
OF the day found the Bridge railroad suffering from
q temporary seth back, caused by an engine and a
leaving the rails al the New York entrance. This
accident caused partly by pin getting out Of place
and partly by an accumulation OF ice and snow,
served TO delay travel about one hour and half