Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-01-22

Friday. The ice Immediately around the
boat formed after the river closed and
was about five inches thick where the
heavy laden coal wagon went through,
while outside the boats in front Of the
wharf there is quite a little stretch OF
open water, which grows smaller after
each nights freezing. Down at Ben
wood, where the big cakes jammed up
the surface of the river from shore to
shore, teams have been crossing the ice
for q number Of days past without the
least signs Of its giving way. Along
In front OF the city hundreds OF
pedestrians cross on the ice every day,
~well-beaten paths crossing in varying
directions to the Island shore, and at
times the scene by day, under a bright
sun, or by night, under the glare of the
electric lights along the wharf and on
the bridge, is not only unusual, but pic
turesque, and 1t is no unusual thing for
pedestrians on the bridges to stop and
admire the long and level reach OF
~snow-covered ice, which stretches away
to the north and south until lost to
view by the bends in the channel.
From Plttsburg 10 Cincinnati the
riVermen are making preparations to
protect their property from destruction
by the breakup, when 1t comes, and
coal is being put on board boats, new
lines secured, and in some places the
work of cutting the boats and bargeS
loose from the solid mass OF ice which
surrounds them has been commenced.
1t is probable that a force of men will
soon be thus employed about the boats
now lying at this city, and once they
are free, they will not be permitted to
freeze 10 again, if it can be helped by
daily breaking the young Ice" until
the danger is over.
Opinions differ as to the nature Of the
coming breakup, Of course, but the
conditions obtaining during the past
two or three days have strengthened
the belief that the river will go off by
degrees, and that there will be no such
disastrous freshet as some alarmists
seem disposed to insist upon. These
pessimistic croakers have succeeded in
thoroughly frightening snum Der OF res
idents on low ground, and in some
households, both on the Island and in
the Eighth and Sixth wards, it is said
carpets have been removed from the
lower floors and heavy furniture moved
mp stairs or prepared for q quick re-
moval. OF course, precautions are all
right, but there is such a thing as car
rying even precautions to extremes,
especially when the danger is not wholly
apparent
Yesterday morning was quite cold,
the mercury continuing to fall slowly
until nine o'clock, but after that hour
there was q rapid rise until % was
reached, and quite a lot Of snow was
transformed into water, much Of it only
to again freeze into ~icicles, which after
hung from the caves OF houses in a men
acing manner, and sometimes fell upon
the craniums Of unsuspecting pedes-
trians. One or two folks re ceived pain
ful bruises In this manner, and one
couple, ~promenading along Market
street yesterday afternoon, g caught
under several bushels of snow from q
cornice and nearly frightened TO death.
The streets were in 3 terrible condi-
ton all day, and promise to be worse
to-day. In the business part of town,
on the back streets, the nov and mud
has been worked up into a mass almost
the color of chocolate, and it lies there
from four to ten inches deep, making
travel ~laoorious work for horses. The
B. P. w. had a number Of men at work
during the day cleaning the crossings
at the principal rne but it only
served TO slightly ameliorate the situa-
ton. Much trou bic has been expert.
encsd in keeping the street railway
tracks clear, and a big scraper Is con-
tinually going over the line.