New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-05
FERRYBOAT FAST IN THE ICE.
PASSENGERS IMPRISONED OFF WEST
FORTY -SECOND-ST.

OTHER PEOPLE DELAYED ON sHoRE-MucH IN
CONVENIENCE CAUSED BY THE MIsHAP-
WEST SHORE TRAINS HELD BACK-THE
VESSEL. FINALLY RELEASED BY TUGS
The big ferryboat Kingston. belonging to the
West Shore Railroad. left the New-Jersey side
Of the North River yesterday afternoon about
4so. with a large number Of passengers and
teams on board and landed hard and fast in
an ice blockade just as it entering Its slip
at West Forty-second-st For five hours 1t was
unable to move one way or the other and there
was much excitement on board. well as in the
ferryhouse which held a crowd of people OF all
kinds and descriptions.
AID FROM TUGBOATS
Shortly after the accident occurred the Kings
ton whistled for assistance. The Chaplin, the
Clark and two other boats belonging to the New
York Central Railroad Company at once an
swered the call, and every effort possible was
made to rescue the big boat from the tight grasp
OF the ice. But the Kingston would not bulge,
ard II looked at time az II the passengers
were doomed to pass the night on board.
As the Kingston was the only boat plying be-
tween New-York and New-Jersey over the West
Shore route. the delay proved most unfort-
unate one. People bound for Weehawken.
Union Hill and Gutenberg. having no other
way OF rec chns home. were kept up until late
hour. or giving up In despair remained all
night with friends in the city. The Chapin,
small boat which usually makes the trips at
this point. had been laid up a result OF the
wind and ice and the Kingston had been brought
up from Harrison-st. In order to avoid any such
mishap that which occurred
The Kingston stuck in the Ice at most In
no
euage of ferrymen. "she her centre"
with her Lean way down. Such was the ex-
treme cold last evening that the water froze TO
the buckets OF the wheel. the chains and every
part OF her running gear that was exposed to
the elements. The boat powerless. and de-
pended entirely upon the efforts OF the tugs TO
get ner of When at last 1t was pulled back
and ou; into open water. 1t was necessary to
scrape the ice of the exposed parts of the steer
ing gear before s.arting up the engines.
MIXED CROWD IN THE FERRY-lIOUsE
Each hour brought It's quota OF people bound
from New-York to the other side. until BY p.
the crowds In thu waiting room at the foot OF
Forty-second-st were packed like sardlnes in
box. Every class was represented. Men In fur
lined overcoats and silk hats and women OF
fashionable attire were crowded against coal
beavers and brcklayers. There working
men bound for Union Hi and passengers with
gripsacks and handbags starting for a much
longer trip. Germans with long pipes in their
mouths fused and fumed at the delay. and
Italian laborers from Weehawken. with rings In
their cars and cigarettes in their teeth chartered
away in the corners. over and over again the
gateinan was asked: When do you think they
Will get her or" ana over and over again came
the exasperating reply, Don't know.
Outside In the biting blasts long line OF milk
carts heavily loaded Trays and empty coal
. wagons extended back for nearly n block The
wind blew bitter cold and although heavily
banketed the horses stamped and champed at
their bits In their erdeavor TO keep their blood
In circulation while the drivers sought the glad
dening warmth of ncighbOring saloons. Worn
out with the cold and delay. seventeen drivers
for Burns Brothers. coal dealers. Of Weehawken.
held a consultation and decided that such was
the slender chance OF their getting home last
night that they had better stay In New-York The
horses thirty-sx In number, were put up at
neighboring stabl'.
THE KINGSTON FREED AT LAST
There was buzz Of unusual excitement at $40
D. m. Some one cried. She's moving
II was true. The effort OF the tugs was finally
rewarded. and slowly but surely the Kingston
was pulled out into the river. Then there was
wild excitement when at 10 p. m. the Kingston
poked her nose steadily through the ice and
made the landing Two Wild scrambles ensued;
one by those getting of the boat. the other oy
those trying TO get on. each equally exciting
True genius Is ready for every emergency Az
the half starved passengers from the Kingston
poured through the gate there came 10 their ears
a cry that struck responsive chords In theiI
hearts. or rather their stomachs. Here they are,
Nice and hot, A nickel nickel. a haii ane.
Down I'm time, Hot, hot hot. steamlns NOT
And In as short time as II takes To tel H. soiNe
300 frankfurters giving satisfaction 10 Us
many palates.
There were no accidents of a serious nature
While the Kingston lying fast In the SIP.
many OF the male passengers climbed up on 'nc
decks trying to iinU way to escape from tn'ir
impT TisonH.e. but TIE officers OF the boat QUICK
~ called them TO time before any rash attempt
had been made. -
I All trains due out OF New-York on the west
Shore were he'd for the passengers, ana the
timc-t H. on thai road was consequently SOME
what revised 10 suit the occasion. As there are
more than dozen trains scheduled to leave De-
tween the hours OF and 10 p. m. II VIII pe seen
that the delay to the passenger trarc was oi
much Importance.