Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-30
|T IS VERY NEARLY CLOSED
HEAVY ICE INTERPRETERS WITH
NAVIGATION ON THE UPPER
OHIO.
SEVERE WINTER LOOKED FOR.
All the Smaller and Most of the
Larger Boats Driven to the Bank
by the Ice-Only One Packet Out
To-Day-Rivermen Claim the
Wharfmaster Neglects His Duty.

There is very good prospect for
total suspension on the Ohio river from
Pittsburg to Cincinnati. Experienced
rivermen at this point are of the opin-
ion that if the weather continues the
same until Sunday or Monday at the
latest, the ice will be gorged at nu-
merous places along the whole upper
river. The stock of the Erie (Pa.)
Oracle, who prophesied no severe
weather at all for this winter. is on
the wane. and his name. when men
toned by the sturdy men of the inland
water, is coupled with horrid oaths.
The goose bone has fallen into disre-
pute. For years the rivermen have Wis
tied this modern Apollo at the Delphian
Erie, and usually the oracle hath spo-
ken wisely.
All day yesterday large cakes of
heavy ice almost filed the river from
bank to bank and was it not that the
boats were still out and kept the cakes
scattered and broken, fields reaching
from bank to bank, would have formed.
On the river front yesterday gorge
which has been forming in the old
docks since the ice began, gradually
worked its way out from the shore to-
wards the western channel pier of the
steel bridge, and by this morning the
gorge will be effected that far. This
will close the front river up about one
third of the stream, and with the back
river closed up the Pittsburg ice will
soon jam.
The back river gorged at the Bridge
port bridge yesterday morning about 9
o'clock, and by this morning the whole
back river to the dam will either be
frozen over or gorged.
The river is falling from Pittsburg
to Louisville except at Point Pleasant
where back water from dam caused
a slight swell. The Big Sandy is closed
at Catlettsburg and at Portsmouth one
third of the surface of the river is filed
with floating fields of ice. In fact at all
points below the indications point to a
speedy close UP.
The local packets have been driven
to the bank and the prospects are just
as unfavorable for the larger boats.
The T. M. Bayne did not even try to
make her trip from Steubenville yes
terday. The Ruth has gone to the bank
at Sistersville. The Leroy came up
yesterday, having quite a little trouble
with the ice. On arriving at Claring-
ton she will lay up. The Virginia
passed up at l o'clock yesterday morn
ing for Pittslburg. Capt. Henderson will
wait until this morning and if there is
any prospects of getting the boat
through to Cincinnati in the ice. will
send her out. The Eloise was in and
out early yesterday morning, leaving
for Marietta, where it is her intention
to go into winter quarters in the mouth
of the Muskingum. The Bedford is also
at the bank at Marietta. The Ben Hur
left at noon for Parkersburg, where she
will go to the bank. The Greenwood
people telephoned from Pittsburg that
she would leave Pittsburg yesterday
evening, leaving this point for Charles
ton on time this morning. This will
make her the only boat out to-day.
The water fell rapidly all day yes
terday. At o'clock the marks showed
feet 10 inches and at midnight feet
inches.