The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-18
ICE BRIDGE At NIAGARA.
One Of the Most Ample and SUBJ
stantial Seen for Many
Years.
The Scenic Eff sct From Any Point
Of View Was Magnificent
Indeed.
Not Since the Cold Winter Of 1888 Has
There Been Such u Monster
Bridge.

BUFFALO. N. Y, Jan. 1.-THE ice bridge
which formed ut NiaRara Falls F.iday Is
one Of the most ample and substantial seen
for years. Though formed ut the outset
under unfavornble circumstances it Is grow.
ing larger and solder every day. Tho
steady zero weather Of the past week has
filled the upper river with ice which 10 our
ing over the falls in vast quantities and
adding zach hour to the jam which is called
the bridge.
BY she process OF formation tho latest
arrival OF Joe 10 carried under that which is
stationary. and generally raises the whole
mp higher and higher. The heavy fall OF
snow and the clouds Of mist from the falls
ssttls on top. freezing 90 fast M to form II
natural cement.
The storm OF Tuesday was a potent fac
tor in the formation OF this wonder; it did
the work OF many ordinary days. The
thermometer has remained almost station
ary at five degrees below zero. That day a
strong ~easterly wind came down the rivsr
with a biting fury that drove people into
their houses for protection. Few braved
the elements to watch tho grand workings
OF nature in the gorge.
Thu San Francisco Examiner correspond
emit started for Prospect Point during tue
afternoon, and though the journey Was SOL
itary and made under the most trying cir
cumstances. tie scene presented when the
point was reached repaid the hardships.
Looking down from the high point into the
great abys o. it seemed ~ if the entire storm
had conferred the e. The wind hurled the
great clouds of sp ay and snow in every
direction. at times hiding the entire gorge
from view.
shrieking of the wind ms it rushed with
binding fury through the narrow confines
OF the gorge. !,
Occasional Qlimpses far below showed the
great bridge standing cold and silent, a
monument of natures work, slowly In
oreasinR in size. Now and then gusts OF
win would send great clouds OF spray over
the point and would blind the spectator
with frozen slees, which beat against him
with Q singing, penetrating iciness and
reached over tho trees and shrubbery, which
looked like a TO est OF ice, weird and spec
tacular to a degree almost supernatural.
Goat island in the distance. which in the
gloomy aullen ice mound. Its luxuriant
growth of bush and trees had been trans
formed into an loo hemp whore delicate
traoeries were lost in the storm and dis
tance. Over the edge OF the Goat island
precipice hang hinge stslnctites of ice. like
a giants benld. and mammoth icicles de-
pend from the Canadian and American
bluffs.
The scenic effects from any point Of view
are magnificent, and make Niagara more
attractive in her wIl}tr rnrhs than when
shining resplendent noondny sum
~4- --~ E1k~ n-i .E kaun InnyN a =
tracted here from CITIES miles away. and
only q few days ago two daring fellowa
from Philadelphia, who planted their
camera at the foot of the falls under Pros
poet point were crushed and nearly killed
by the falling OF a huge icicls upon them.
Many parties of tourists from New 70 k and
points further remote have visited Niagara
within the past few days to view tie ice
bridge and it's attendant scenery. Some OF
them have had perilous experiences in their
foolhardy endeavors to get near the foot Of
ths falls by venturing on the ice.
Young Sargent, a clerk at the Prospect
house, eclipsed all exploits by crossing n
smaller ice bridge that had formed ab east
of Goat island and extended toward the
Canadian shore under the Biddle stat. case
near the table-rock. AS Sargent made his
way across this narrow stretch of ice ann
dreds of people began to watch the prog
ress Of the daring pedest, ian. Every now
AJ1A bhcA largo bECLloLb VI AGS Woulu u eGk
from the slender strip, but this did not
seem to daunt the bold fellow. Suddenly
he disappeared, and the Cry went up, HE
has gone"
For the space Of a minute he WAS out OF
sight. but again reappeared and continued
toward Canada, where he reached tho Cana.
dian shore under the British staircase. SaY-
gent found the ice he was climbing over
slowly moving down stream. lie thought
then it was about time for him to get back.
Between the strips Of ice he was on and the
Horseshoe falls no saw a numbe Of ducks
swimming roInd and could easily have shot
them had he Il gun.
shore all the stationary ice which he had
traverscd broke away. was sucked unaor
the ice bridge and o down. The . WAS
q party of New Yorke 8 at the Prospect
house who wanted Sargent to tuke them
out on the route he made, but when they
reached Prospect point they found instead
Of the ice a swift rushing river.
The present b idee Is the largest ever re-
corded at the falls and will c%ontinu, 10
grow now until q long thaw breaks it up.
When that comes many OF the owners OF
inclined railways at the foot of the river
along the gorge have reasons to fear that
their slender structures may be swept
away.
The formation of an ice bridge is an in
terestinR sight. There must be severe sold
weather for II week or two to form ice of re-
CURED thickness in tho rive above the falls
and on Lake + 10. When the thaw comes
ice breaks up and is carried down over the
falls and forms n jam in the gorge. 1t h .
generally been the sule that a bridge would
not stand unless il began above the whirl
pool raj ids and builded up toward the falls.
The present bridge. however, was formed
of smaller pieces OF Joe, and extends + ON a
point below the portal of the big tunuc W
to the edge OF this American falls. 1t is
compactly built n frozen hard. 1t is
thought by the old residents Tint it will
stand. Never since the winter OF 1866 Ii. q
there been such n monster bridge. The ice
mountain is forming and coasting parties
will soon be using 1t.