Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-22
No Prospects Of a Serious Rise in the
Potomac.
THE RIVER CHANNEL CLEARED OF ice
Boats Running to and From Nor
folk on Schedule Time.
A TRIP ON THE FERN

Although the danger of food has not
passed, merchants along the river front
felt easier this morning than they have at
any time since the ice first covered the
river. While the basin is filled with broken
ice, the Georgetown channel is practically
clear. This channel was opened yesterday
from Georgetown to a point below the ar
senal Since noon yesterday the ice on the
flats and in shoal water has been breaking
loose, and this morning there was small
gorge at the Long bridge. Harbor Master
Sutton sent out tugs to clear away the ice
from about the bridge and also to pulver-
ize the huge cakes of ice found drifting
down the channel. Other tugs were also
put at work below the bridge TO keep the
channel clear and prevent a possible ice
gorge near Giesboro'.
Information received here today from
points up the river show a slight rise at
several points, but nothing to indicate dis
astrous results here.
The following dispatch was received at
the Capitol this morning dated at Wood
mont, Nd, 9:22 am:
River rising rapidly. Ice gone from in
front of club house"
From Other Points.
From information received in the shape
of a telegram at the office of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal Company, the river
at Hancock was four feet high and still
rising. The ice had started to move.
A telegram at o'clock today from Har-
per's Ferry stated that the river had risen
three feet since IL o'clock Yesterday and
that the water was then four feet above the
low water. The water came principally
from the Shenandoah, the rise in the upper
Potomac not having reached that point up
to the time of sending the telegram The
Og11r11 aaal
at IL o'clock last evening. The river was
rising at the rate of two inches an hour
Mr.. Nlcolson is under the belief that by
the time the swollen waters of the Potomac
reach Harpers Ferry the bulk of the rise
OF the Shenandoah will have passed Har-
per Ferry is only sixty miles from George
town by the canal, and any rise that may
start AT that place will be felt here inside
OF hfteen or twenty hours.
River Open to Norfolk.
General Manager Callahan of the Wash
ington and Norfolk Steamboat COMPANY
told Star reporter this morning that the
river from here to Norfolk is practically
open now. Very little floating ice is in the
channel, and last night he said the boat
up the river had to hold back to prevent
coming in ahead of time. Yesterday after
noon the Harry Randall arrived from
chapel Point, where ii had been ice-bound
since the snow storm. The boat was we'll
rrovisioned and had aboard plenty of coal
tomorrow morning the Randall will re-
sumo her regular trips, leaving here at I
O'Clock. Saturday morning the Wakefield
VIII probably resume her down-river trips.
The Alexandria Ferry Company's hoat
made several trips between here and Alex
andria today.
Arrangements were made last evening for
a TRIP this afternoon of the Fern with The,
District naval reserves Commissioners
Wight and Beach and Gen. George II. Har-
i1es We're especially invited to accompany
the reserves.
Commander Robert p. Harris of the Fern
received MS orders last night and early this
morning the volunteers, about 100 in num-
Der, were on hand getting the boat in readi-
ness. 1t was arranged this morning tha t
the start should be made between 3 and 1
CLOCK TINS afternoon. 1t is the intention
OF capt. Harris to steam down the river
and give the boat a good test. The party
will probably return about o'clock to-
night.