New-York tribune., 1901-02-15
SHUT IN BY THE ICE.
BOATS PASS ANOTHER DAY OF CON
STANT STRUGGLE IN THE RIVER
AND HARROR

Wintry weather continued to hold tight grip
yesterday on the icebound rivers and Bay
While the conditions were not quite so bad as
on Wednesday there enough ice all
sides OF the Battery and along the east and west
shores seriously to impede steamboat traffic
and I'm some instances To prevent il completely.
The WaIl-st Hamilton. Thirty ninth-st.. and
, Brooklyn ferries stopped running. There We're
not so many boats caught in the ice yesterday
morning on Wednesday. because their own
ers refused in most instances 10 venture out
The Staten Island boats and the boats Of the
Central Railroad OF New-Jersey ran at irregu-
lar intervals
Everything afoat WAS ice covered Harbcr
towing was greatly interfered with. and only
tne tig railroad transfers seemed able to make
much progress. As the tide was approaching
the slack at little after 10 O'Clock In the morn
| Ing. the tramp steamship Frascati. from Green
point, on her way down. was I'm tow Of four
boats and. although operating her own screw
only able To proceed at a snaiFs pace
through the ice az Pier No. g. North River As
the steamship was passing between the Barge
Office and Governors Island she ran into IA
tumble OF craft. consisting OF ferryboats rail-
road floats. stone scows and canal boats. The
ferryboats which for time formed helpless
group were the Southfeld. the Robert Garrett.
the Northhed. the Middetown and the Castle
ton Of the Staten Island Line; the Mauch Chunk
and Easton Of the Central Railroad of New
Jersey. and couple OF the Pennsylvania An
mex boats The Staten Island ferryboats. after
landing their passengers. We're towed out Of
their slips to the open water on the New Jersey
side of the Bay 10y a powerful tugboat
VESSELS STUCK IN THE ICE
While there was general stagnation at the
mouth of the East River and off the Battery,
vessels OF all sorts were for hours stuck in the
fee fields OF the North German Lloyd docks
on the Brooklyn side. big floating derrick was
hemmed i'm and unable 10 move. Tugs and
lighters held firmly in the ice pack dotted the
East River as far up the Navy Yard. From
the Brooklyn Bridge the helpless vessels looked
as II they AT anchor.
The Fall River freighter City Of Brockton
made her appearance off the Battery at 1890
a m. and after much putting and pushing sue
ceeded I'm working her way through the fast
forming gorge The BroCkton remarka-
bly, good time for mdwinter trip through the
Sound. in face of furious gale from the west
which prevailed all night. The last trip Of the
ferryboat Montauk. of the Hamilton-ave line.
on Wednesday took nearly five hours to make
One of the passengers. telling Of his unpleasant
experience yesterday said
The Montauk was scheduled to leave the foot
-
minutes later before she started out OF her slip.
The boat soon caught in the ice. and, be-
coming helpless. drifted down the Bay as far as
St George. Staten Island There the Montauk
got clear of the ice for while and was turned
in the direction of the city Approaching Lib
erty Island the ferrvboat again ran into the
d,istinr zee eoes and Could not move either vav
Two tugboats signaed to for help. and
finally. with their aid the ferryboat. at 1880 p
m. got back 70 her slip at Whitehall-st. with
out having landed at Brooklyn at all.
While the Montauk. at the mercy of the ice.
drifting helpessly about the harbor. what
nearly terminated in riot took place on the
boat. Several men, badly intoxicated. began TO
fight among themselves. and afterward assault
ed peaceable passengers. Others interfered,
however and the quarrelsOme and intoxicated
men were held in subsection until the boat re-
turned 10 New-Nork The beiated ana hungry
passengers on the Montauk had to return to
their homes by way of the Bridge. and in some
cases II was midnight before they reached home
and got their suppers.
The ice cakes which were quite thick. made
sad havoc with the propeller blades and the
paddles of the vessels. When the breakup oc-
ours most of the tugs and ferryboats will have
to he laid up for repairs. The Fulton was the
only one of the lower East River ferries in
operation yesterday and that line boats
were only run when the condition of the ice in
the river permitted.
THE DAKOTA HAS A HARD TIME.
The Grand-st. ferryboat Dakota. which left her
slip at o'clock yesterday morning for Williams
burg. was two hours in making the trip across.
and at time had to call on her sister boat.
the Columbia, for help. The tow lines parted
several times. and finally the Dakota had to so
1t alone. In midstream the Dakota ran into
an iceield and became firmly wedged. The pad
die wheels We're kept going at full speed. but
the boat did not bulge. Then the Columbia was
signalled for help. and in the effort to save the
Dakota the Columbia got caught in the ice her.
self. Afterward tow lines were passed to the
Dakota. but all Of them parted under the strain
and then the effort abandoned After drift