The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-16
NEWPORT NEWS IS
NOW THAWING0UT
All Cables Across Hampton Roads
Cut by Dragging Anchors.
ICE MAKES PLAYTHING OF SHIPS
The Che, up AXE and Ohio Getting Its
Trains in Good Shape-A Terrible
and Bloody Fight Over q Worth
less Herring-A Donation.

NEWPORT NEWS. VA. Feb. l5.-Spe-
olal.-rO-day was a beauty except unGer
loot and enough snow melted ana ran
away over the frozen ground 70 hoat
men worked with coats off cleaning away
the snow. The street car company IS
clearing or its tracks In the city. out
go far has not run its cars further up
than rHenty-eighth street on the Hamp-
ton line. over a hundred men worked
until late last night with shovel aud pick
clearing the tracks. The entire distance
from Hampton TO Newport New, over
seven miles, was dug out by hand.
In the river the noating ice IL playing
havoc with the schooners and other light
er craft. The foes drift in ana out with
the ebb and food OF the tide. carrying
between Old Point and the Rip Raps
have been cut BY dragging anchors and
communication has been entirely cut or
BY wire between this city and Norfolk,
except via Richmond.
BY the latter route. the Western Union
and the Long Distance Telephone can
reach the city across the way by COINS
around their elbows TO get TO their
thumbs The Postal Telegraph and the
Citizens Telephone can't get to their
thumbs even by going around their e.
bows. As matter or fact, the Postai
office here has communication with
Hampton and Old Point only. bu. with no
other part Of the known world. II viii
be a week or ten days before any ~
the cables can be repaired.
ORGANIZED CHARITY.
The work OF organized charity inaugu-
rated b. the business men yesterday goes
on systematically and mercifully. over
$1,000 I'm cash and hundreds Of dollar $
worth of provisions have been raised and
to-day are being distributed rapidly.
Many pathetic. rescues are described by
those having the work in hand.
The freeze-in has had a disastrous ei-
feet upon the export business Of this
port. and the total FOR February will
probably not be more than half what vas
anticipated
The Chesapeake and Ohio trains are ar
irving and departing almost on sene9uIes
time to-day. This morning for me first
time In days the postoiiice received mail
from the North and West.
The water front presents busy scene
over a score Of vessels entered and 9TH
ers that have been out IN the stream
frozen In. came up 10 the piers for coal.
There are now tied up at the piers Tor
fuel coal ana bunkers no less than fifty
thousand tons II will take several days
10 MI the orders and clear the shipping.
FIGHT OVER A HERRING.
4 herring valued az ten cents and wort
nothing. meat saw sharpening steel,
butcher knife. "a cart prop. Christian
Y. TIlgham a well-known Washington
avenue butcher. his negro assistant At
iorney u. l.. Christian. and his brother
G.. G. Christian. were al mixed up IN "a
bloody scrap this morning The details
viii be aired In the Police Court when
Mr. Tllgham Is able 10 appear lie is
not IN a condition 10 give his side Of the
affair Just now. The two Christians were
also badly chopped mp. but are out and
talking about H. one Of the Christians
bought the herring which proved TO be
bad. The butcher refused 10 take n
back or replace it. ana the whole bloody
business started from this.
Mr. w. j PAYNE or Richmond. presi-
dent OF the Newport News and Old Point
Railway and Electric comDanv. has just
"A az I.rH.f Ia.
Business Mems Association 20 draw ON
him for s20l for the relief Of the poor Of
Newport News 20 la used as The COM
mfttee NAV direct Jle also prOners any
other assistance iu MS mower and asks
Mr. Vest 10 wire him az once II ne can
ala the cause further This IS the larry
EST donation vet made ~ the fund. and is
verv widely appreciated.
The committee Is considering the advis-
aEi'fv ~ purchasing a car OF coal FOR
distribution IN the Fast End and II this
Is done Mr.. Pavne will be asked 10 lend
one ~ the freight cars and the use or
the lire for the purpose.