Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-05
DAMNED THE JAMES.
icE coRGED IN TuE CHANNEL AND
THREATENED NAVIGATION
ggY-LINE WHARF BADLY DAMAGED
RE Virginia Dragged from uor
MORNINGS and n Portion of thc
she'd Torn Down-Much Hay Lost
Two small Boats wrecked.

a very serious ice-gorge occurred in
Pho James river, just west OF the shods
~ the Old Dominion steamship Con-
pany. yesterday morning. and whom IT.
ras broken. the tons Of ice which float.
ri down the stream almost wrecked tho
Bay-IAnc wharf and did wreck several
small craft below the wharf.
The ice came from up the river during
Wednesday night. and piled up 70 a
depth Of six feet. and accumulated with
rreat rapidity. completely damming tho
river. and threatening the entire lowor
portion Of the city with inundatlon. The
city tug Thomas Cunningham. sr. beeon
work on the gorge as soon as day broke
and labored assiduously. though all tn.
time in great danger herself. to omen nm
thc channel. Captain Cunningham and
DIS men taxed their every nerve. and
worked diligently for several hours final
lv accomplishink their task. though dis
aster followed Immediately thereafter
BROKE THROUGH THE CHANNEL
The TUG ploughed through the ice-dam
with much difficulty at first. but finally
cleared way through the middle Of
Che channel, and the force OF the rush
iug weter aided I'm breaking the gorge.
which gave way with one mighty wrench
and started down the stream. IL cleared
Gle wharves OF the old Dominion com
pary. and did not damage the Winvah
of New York. large. heavy steamship
which had secured Wharfage there with
great oiihculty 1t dashed past the
wharf of the Virginia Navigation Com
Ilny. too. but found its prey in the new
hHy-line wharf. At this wharf the
steamer Virginia was moored, and. as
che pcnt-up waters behind the gorge
burst through the ice. immence blocks
were carried by the current against the
side of the steamer. The boat was
fastened with now and strong lines. but
th.sl finally yielded 20 the strong pres
sure brought against them. and snapped
1sunder As II they were but threads
Before breaking away from its moor
ines. the steamer dragged two Of the
supporting posts from the east end Of
the shed. causing the roof to fall I'm. and
vreckng the entire lower portion Of the
shed. A consignment OF hay. about 100
bales was stored at this end Of the
wharf Nearly one half of this was
knocked overheard and lost The hay
was shipped here a week ago consigned
ia s. q. Fairbanks. and was lying I'm
storage at his risk. Some Of the bales were
subsequently, recovered from the water.
hut great many of them fioated away.
STEAMED AHEAD OF THE ICE.
The Virginia. as soon as freed from
Che wharf. lost no time in getting clear
O. the great mass Of ice. which threat
ened 10 grind her sides in: but, as soon
as she gained the channel she put on
full head of steam and sailed off down
thc river distencing the ice She
wharfcd az City Point. where the river
s broad. and returned TO her wharf here
last night.
The Bay-Line Company was not the
only sufferer from the gorge. a short
distance below the shed q small launch,
owrel by a Mr. Gibson. and a steam
launch the property OF G. s. Duke. We're
at anchor Both craft were overturned
hr tho floating ice. and the former sunk.
The Virginia sustained no damage
whatever. beyond the loss OF gang
plank and IT'S regular trips VIII not be
interfered with.
A DARING VENTURE.
An ico-gorge in the James is something
o. "a rarity. and all morning the
river-banks were lined with people. who
watched with interest the work of the
city tug as IT manfully and heroicaliy
attacked the big dam. While this was
in progress. Nike MahOney, a we'll
known Fulton man. wagered a dollar
with a friend that he could walk across
the river on the blocks Of ice; and, the
wager being accepted, he actually per-
formed that feat. IL was daring per-
fornance Mahoney feu several times
iu crossing. and narrowly escaped drown
ng once. but pluckily held out until he
reached the Manchester side The crowd
watched the plucky fellow with breath
less interest. and cheered him Justify
when he returned in safety from MS
dangerous trip.
The channel Is now clear; the high
water has subsided. and navigation is
Gree from interference.