Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-02-01
THREE BOATS AGROUND
RESULT OF THE HEAVY ICE FLOE IN THE
RIVER YESTERDAY.
The Boats Considerably Damagtd-They Are
Proppsd Up and Ready for Ralse-Al
Fears Of Flood Are Now Past
Other Notes of the River

a tired lot of individuals last night.
Since the ice began to break they
worked steadily day and night to get
their boats in readiness Tor the break.
Notwithstanding these efforts three
boats are now on the shore at the wharf,
and there is little hope OF getting them
off till the river shall rise. The steam
ers R. L. Phillips, and the c., l.. ~
WIS transfer boat, the Lizzie Town
send, with the wharibOat Of the e.,
L. & W., are clear out of the water,
with seven feet of ice under their
sides next the river. Each Of these boats
were propDed up yesterday, lest the ice
give and ruin the crafts. The ice was
found to be tightly wedged, and the
crews Of each boat will be put to work
to-day TO put butments under the boats
in preparation for what may be long
STAY. The river men think these boats
but little injured thus far, and II they
can be so propped up, and the ice re-
moved from their bottoms, little damage
to them will result.
All fears of flood are now pas, as
the river reached It's highest stage early
Yesterday morning, when it was nearly
% feet About z o'clock last evening 1t
was 20 feet, and falling steadily. 1t has
been noted by rivermen that the river
is falling very steadily, as all day yes
terday and last night it fell at nearly
uniform gait.
The proprietors of the boats which
were ashore thought that by securing
the Joseph Walton, anchored near Bel
laire, their boats could be removed.
Shortly after dinner the boat arrived on
the scene. There were two attempts
made by the Walton to move the Town
send. Both failed. In the tirsi so much
force was exerted that the guard and
the cavil was tern from the Walton. A
huge cable three and one half inches
thich was fastened to the ice bound
steamer and fine Walton made run OF
twenty feet, and as a proof how tightly
the Townsend is wedged she
scarcely moved. The Walton also
took two pulls at the Il. Il.
Philipps, but she could not be moved.
After an afternoons work, and nothing
accomplished, the Walton steamed back
10 Bel. aire, at remarkable fast rate OF
speed.
Capt Thomas of the Townsend stated,
that it was his belief, that within ten
days, the river will have raised enough
TO float the three imprisoned boats. In
the meantime, the c. l.. q w. will hire
another boat for its traffic. If the river
does not raise sufficiently high within
month to float the boats, they probably
will be launched. If this is done, II
will cost nearly 81 goo to get them afloat.
Crockard & Booths wharf boat Is
floating, and not damaged in the least.
1t took very hard work TO get the boat
in it's present condition.
The loss, in case the three boats now
on the shore can be taken off, will not
exceed $780, Capt. VIM. Prince is the
heaviest loser, and his loss is about $500.
He had an excursion boat, just above
the steel bridge, when the ice first
broke. The boat was partially sunk.
At daylight yesterday large barge
came floating down the river, and the
boat was struck and completely broken
In pieces. A more complete wreck can
NOT be imagined. There isn't piece of
il In one place much larger than floor
ing board. After wrecking this boat
the barge Just grazed the two ice-bound
steamers and struck the ferry boat
Orion and broke in its side and demon
allied the gangway. The boat leaks
and needs much repairs. Another
shanty boat near the water works was
also completely destroyed. People in
that locality now have it about used for
kindling wood. The loss is about $3.50.
( Gustave Wagner has a boat iaunchad
ON the Island side of the river This
boat is gorged with ice and much
| damaged.
Late last night there had just been
seen six large barges floating by the
wharf. The ferry boat and Shriver's
sand noat are launched and safe at the
! head of the Island.