Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-01
THE RIVER OPENED.
THE OLIVE BRANCH, MONARCH, AND
CHRISTIAN TUGS REACH HERE.
The Former boat FILLED with wster-Con-
tents of the Wolf Trap Lighi-House
Rccoverod-Msrire Notes.

James river Is practically open for navi-
CATION again. The Richmond tugs. the
Monarch snd Henry Christian, arrived IN
this harbor at 2 and 230 o'clock. re-
spectIvely, yesterday afternoon, having
broken passage through the ice from
City Point. The Monarch pulled away
from the latter place at 2 ?. NJ. Monday
and encountered considerable rough and
hard ice, some OF which was five and six
inches thick. though the most OF II was IN
a partially rotten 3, tie. As Tar mp rs
Dutch Gap the ice was observed 10 be
drifting downward satisfactorily. but TINS
side tho gap" ii displayed n tendency 10
collect in the jetties and form small par,
rIers. which, If not kept cleared away, VIII
eventually produce q gorge. IL -. now
ever. the intention of the James River I'M
prOvement Committee 10 keep two tugs
plying about these points for the purpose
Of keeping the channel open.
THE OLIVE BRANCH SINKS.
The tug Olive Branch, another Rich
mOnd boat, was the first to come NJ the
stream. 1t il much lighter tug than the
Monarch. and IN breaking passage
through the ice sprang aleak IN It's DOW
and after reaching this city was beached.
The incoming tide of YESTERDAY, morn
ing caused the water TO rise above the gun
vale and entirely fill the hull of the boat.
The water was pumped out by the Mon
arch last night, and the Olive Branch VIII
be repaired to-day. A diver was at work
on the boat for some time yesterday AFTER
noon. He found a hole about htteen
inches across on one side ana SEVERN
smaller ones on the opposite side OF the
boat. The larger one was Temporarily
caulked. 1t not thought that the DAM
age 10 her machinery Is much.
The ice in the river IL melting quite
rapidly, and there appears to be no pros
pect Of food
The Old Dominion steamer Wyanoke
sails from New York today Tor Richmond
aud will arrive here as usual Friday morn
ing. IL will leave this port on time n,
DAY evening for New York. The Ariel Will
come mp on Thursday. her regular day;
She Is now running between Norfolk anu
City Point.
Above Richmond the condition of the
river remains practically unchanged. Az
SCOttsvile the ice Is breaking up slowly,
while at Columbia II u still solid from
bank 10 bank. Tue water at these points
does NOT appear to be rising.
woLF-TRAP LIGHT-HoUsF.
Captain L. VI. Smith. Of the tug Mon
| arch brought 10 Richmond with him the
! light aud all the appliances, tools, stores,
| &C., of the lost Woif-Ifap lighthouse.
About two weeks ago this lighthouse lett
| its foundation and had not been seen until
! sighted 10y Captain Smith al ll:45 o'clock
Wednesday morning while the Mon
arch was on the way from Nor
| folk 10 East river. running IN the route
| of the steamer Northampton, of the Old
| Dominion Steamship Company. The light
house was observed upon the bay ABOUT
| five miles southeast Of New Point light
| house. Upon reaching II Captain smith
saw that tue structure vas rapidly break
| ing up md the ice was running against ~
and assisting IN rs demolition. WIN a
nlne-lnch line the crew 4 the Monarch at
| tempted 10 tow the house 20 New Point
| harbOr. but their efforts were III vain.
eEcurED THE LIGHT AND APPLIANCES.
The Captain then put his men 20 work
| o relieve the structure OF the I'M
| merse lamp aud the machinery and ap-
| pliances. "a well "a tho stores. oils. NC.
! The articles saved bv Captain Smith were
| the lamp, which vas manufactured IN
! Paris for thi. government at cost OF
| s.. 500. the machinery aud cooking uten-
| slls. Il cases of OH and 20 emvty casks,
| 3 boxes OF lamp-elobcs. and numbers OF
/ blocks. falls. 6c. According TO the
! law OF the country governing such
! matters, the rescuer of government
! property at sea l. paid one third the value
! Of the articles recovered. The lichmchd
! Navigation and Towing COMPANY Will re-
ceive by Capts,n smiths discretion IN Sc
curing these things au amount exceeding
/ $500.
ANOTHER RECOVERY ~ THE MoNAEcH.
In fhe cruising Of the Monarch about
! the CAV Cautain Smith secured the cap
/ ton al the schooner Mary J.. q. Dow
/ wrecked OF Cane Charles about tive
! the hav collections OF zee as high IN some
| places as - feet.
All the buoys III the river have beer
shifted from their positions, and the utmost
| ~ kill ha, 10 be brought INTO play oy
pilot in coming up the stream.
ne tug Christian got hung IN me lc'
on Monday night and was pulled out by
the Monarch.
TWO BOATS - DfSTRFs-.
! On the same day that Captain Smitl
! sighted tie lighthouse he also found th'
steamer New York and tug A)rlolk adriti
! IN the ice with their rudIcrs broken. B)tf
! OF these boats nleW their distress signals
/ The Monarch eudeayored 10 reach them
! but. finding the zee very thick and having
| Indy passengers aboard. the Captain
thoucht u best 20 pvt TIE boats company
ashore and then return to the ships askins
for and. Before he could get oack 10 them
/ however, the mate Of the New ork steam
or mad walked seven miles upon the ice
and telegraphed for a couple Of ocean tugs
which made prompt AMI ehectVe 10
sponse.
DlSORDERLY IN THE THEATRE.