The morning times., 1896-01-06
RIVER CLOSING RAPIDLY
Northwester Which Prevailed To-
day Kept the Ice Moving.
FERRYBoATs MEET eoReEs
Has Great Difficulty In
Flowing Through. and Is Swung
Around IN IA Lively Way. Bnt Made
Harbor-SloOp CaCgtit In the Crush.
Race Track Men Have Fun.

| Unless the nolart weather which Mani
toba has been shipping down this wayduring
the past few days moderates, the Potomac
will soon be frozen from shore to shore
in the neighborhood OF this city. Old river
men said last night that the stiff northwest
breeze which had been blowing was the one
thing that prevented the river from being
closed with ice during the day.
| Between Washinton city and Alex
andria, however. great flOes Of ice made
navigation difficult. The Colu niba and
Belle Haven of the Alexandria ferry had
| hard battles in making their way between
| the shores. Each tide carried great masses
| of ice up and down the stream, and the lively
| breeze alone prevented a blockade between
the District and the Virginia side.
FERRYBOATs FLOWING.
The ferryboats had their toughest expe-
| riences off the creeks near Alexandria.
As the Columbia was leaving the Virginia
| side early in the afternoon she was caught
in an arctic floe. Her nose plunged into
the pack and the ice crunched under the
heavy blows of her paddles, but she stuck
there and gradually began to drift along with
the floe.
Aittt tStoic stfuHSIt tuc SoiutEpii
| finally cut her way through the ice, only
to he caught by another pack. The ice
swung the boats Prov around, but after
another hard tnssie she opened passage
way. 1t was only a minute later when
more Ice was encountered, and another
lively struggle followed.
The ferryboats had such difficulty In
making their trips toward evening that it
was feared that they would have to tie
up, but they kept open navigation.
In the morning "A sloop was seen from
Alexander Island drifting helpiessly with
the ice. The little vessel was in the center
of thick ice. Her crew OF three men were
at work with poles making frantic efforts
to keep the ice from emitting through her
sides
T0UTS HAVE FUN.
4 bnnch OF race track men who came
across from Alexander Island late in the
afternoon saw 4 big black dog adrift In
the river The dog was barking wildly.
but it was impossible to reach it, and the
ice gradually carried 1t away.
AS a bunch of touts and stable boys watch
ed the ice from one of the ferryboats,
Plug Sweeney. Il veteran Gloucester adj
visor of betting ring marks" said:
Say. If dis freeze keeps up, de gang
needn't let dem horses stay over and
freeze in Virginny fur de want of de price
OF de ferry cards.
Why" asked Boston Tommy''
why" said Mr.. Sweeney" dem ponies
VIII soon have de chance to skate over"
The continuous weather OF the last few
days had the ice at the bathing beach in
fine condition for skating, and hundreds
took part in the sport yesterday and last
night The ice was 4 little rough out in
the center OF the basin. but in near shore
was as smooth as glass
The boys were nut with their silinuy
sticks. and many hard fought games were
played in the course of the day. TIE fair
sex was also well represented, and it was
well on towards midnight before the last
couple reluctantly pulled off their skates
and weil,led their way homeward