Evening journal., 1902-02-28
GORGE OF ICE
FIFTY FEET HIGH
This Condition Of SuSquehOnna
at McCalI'S Ferry
Water Reaches Beyond the High Water
Record But All Danger Now Be-
lieVed to be Passed

Lancaster Pa. Feb 2S.-After hav'
ing risen 10 feet and breaking the |
high water record established in 1889
during the Johnstown food, the Sus
uuehanna river yesterday began to
fall. The feeling of alarm has passed, /
and it is believed that the worst is |
over The big gorge in the vicinity
of Washington borough and Turkey
Hill. however, is still n menace but
the channel that has opened along
the York county side is thought toI
be large enough to carry off the food
water. It is being constantly widened
by the grinding of the ice passing
down and by the mud and sand in
the water. The danger is that it may
be choked up with ice, but from the
way the ice is now coming down this
peril is not thought to be imminent
The jam against the Pennsylvania
railroad bridge still holds, but its tri'
angular formation prevents any alarm
ing increase in its size, the floating
ice being turned aside. The ice is
now piled up eight feet above the floor
of the bridge in a solid mass fully 500
feet long, with a wide channel on
either side.
Advices last night from McCall'a
Ferry which is along the gorged sec
ton, state that the ice is so feet high
and extends up the river eight miles.
The tracks of the Columbia and Port
Deposit railroad for two miles above
McCalls Ferry are covered with wa
ter and ice.
The water here began falling late
Yesterday afternoon, and It is report
ed that the channel which is carrying
off the water extends all the way to
the bay. but reports from down the
river are unreliable, direct communs
cation having been destroyed. The
electric plant at Slaciwater, which
lights Lancaster city, was so badly
damaged by the flood in the Conesto
ga Yesterday that last night the city
streets are again in darkness.
The condition of the river at Co
lumbia changed suddenly about seven
I o'clock last night, when it was no
ticed that the water was again rising
In a short time it had risen three feet
The freshet had spent itself by II
o'clock last night and then the rivel
again began to fall, very slowly. Il
is reported that great quantities o
ice are floating in the water some dis
tance up stream. If this proves tru'
and this ice is piled against the gorgeI
already formed there will be serious
trouble.
At Pittshurg.
Pittsburg, Pa, Feb. 2S.-The ALE
gheny river ice at this point has no
moved in any great degree and Pitts
burg and Allegheny are still menacel
with flood and great damage. Tn
disquieting feature of the slight move
ment above here yesterday is the fac
that the gorge moved in a solid mass
and should it continue in this wa
until it reaches here great damag
will result. as the Fort Wayne Raj
road bridge will surely stop il an
hack the water over the river banks
Should this occur the lower parts q
both cities will be badly flooded.
The flood situation at Oalmont an
other points above is very serious
Boat houses have been swept ava.
boats crushed and all descriptions {
river craft destroyed. Ice moved in
solid mass from Logan Edy TO Oal
mont. a distance Of FIVE miles. 1t the
4 stopped and began to gorge at Black
4 Run, at which place the ice began
. roll and toss until the gorge was
least 100 feet high.