Evening star., 1902-02-22
BREAKING UP THE ICE
Work of Harbormaster and
His Tugs.
POTOMAC Is RISING
THE WATER rs HIGH AT HAIR
PER'S FERRY.
Inconvenience and Damage Caused by
P0TOM AC Is RISIN c
Inconvenience and Damage Caused by
the Sleet and Rain Yester-
day and Today.

Commodore Sutton, who has charge Of
the fleet of tugs employed to break the Ice
on the river, said this morning that he
could indications of flood at that
time, while reports received from the upper
river indicate that the ice Is breaking and
the water rising. The outlook at Harper
Ferry, it was stated. was rather gloomy.
and residents of the West Virginia town. as
we'll as railroad men, seemed to think that
the high water and ice will do some dam
age. Yesterdays rain storm, following the
downpour Of hail, washed SO much snow
and ice from the streets that the openings
of the catch basins were choked. This con-
dtion of affairs rendered it impossible for
the water to reach the sewers In many
places and the flooding Of sidewalks and
cellars resulted 1t was due to this condi-
tion of affairs that pedestrians were COM
PEELED to wade through puddles Of water
and street car passengers had to go through
water over their shoe tops to reach their
homes yesterday afternoon. Late at night
this uncomfortable condition had greatly
improved, although in some sections OF the
city the puddles were as deep as ever.
The superintendent of the sewer depart
ment was informed of the condition of the
catchbasns. and this morning number of
men were sent out with shovels to remove
the ice and slush from the basin openings.
1t was stated by the superintendent Of the
sewer department today that no serious
damage had been reported because of the
failure Of the water to find its way
through the slush.
Telegraph Wires Down.
Telegraph and telephone wires throughout
the city, as well as between this city and
points east and west, We're in bad shape
last night. and 1T was impossible to get
messages from New York for several hours.
Many wires were reported down. having
been unable to stand.the weight of the ice
that formed around them during the day.
Steam railroad traffic seriously inter-
fered with. trains from New York and the
west running as much as five and SIX hours
behind time.
Some trouble was also experienced by
the local electric roads in hauling passen-
gers during the afternoon hours. Traffic
just after office hours unusually
heavy. but the roads it is stated, did Well
under the circumstances, as office holders,
although they may have been delayed
short time. We're not put to the task of
walking through the slush. While the sleet
was heavier than usual yesterday the trees
In the city suffered practically no damage.
In some instances dead branches We're
broken from the trees and the shrubbery
in the parks sustained some little damage.
Steam Car Service Crippled.
More inconvenience was caused the steam
railroad companies and the telegraph and
telephone lines than has been caused since
the storm of 1899. The train service on all
roads was badly crippled yesterday and
last night. Considerable delay was caused
in the movement of the trains on account
of the damage to the wires. An accident
on the Baltimore and Ohio road near Sir
Johns run caused additional trouble last
night. The bottom dropped from freight
car, derailing eleven other cars. The block
ing Of the tracks by the accident caused
delay of several hours to the trains from
the west. WOrkmen were sent along the
lines Of the roads last night and things
were in better shape this morning. The inn
proved condition of the telegraph service
rendered it possible for the trains to make
better speed, and some of the local trains
with commuters from Maryland and Vir-
ginia were about on time.
Along the line of the Metropolitan branch
Of the Baltimore and Ohio road, between
this city and Harper's Ferry, train dis
patchers were placed on duty to give orders
to engineers and conductors. In this way
the railroad officials managed to save time
in getting the trains through.
Condition of the Potomac.
Local interest is centered in the condi-
ton of the Potomac river just now, for
much depends upon the result of the vol
ume of water which must necessarily come
from the mountain districts Of maryland. .Vr-
ginia and West Virginia. Reports from points
all along the line of the upper Potomac in
dicate that the ice is moving and several
heavy gorges have formed. In the neigh
hood of Williamsport, Md, there was an
immense gorge yesterday. The rain and
sleet played havoc with the ice. and when
the mass of ice breaks damage along the
loWlandS will probably follow. Reports
show that the river was rapidly rising yes
terday. and some of the residents of the
,l. ,f-t
ground to save their property In the
vicinity of Williamsport. as well at
points all along the river. the ice is from
five to ten inches thick, and the water
from the mountain streams is increasi sing
the volume of water that is destroying the
ice.
Work of Harbormaster.
Harbormaster Sutton's fleet of tugs, with
their heavy ice plows attached to their
bows, started out this morning to continue
the work of breaking the Ice, which was
started yesterday. The fleet returned to
the city last night shortly after dark, hav-
ing gone as far as White Stone Point, about
eighteen miles below the city. The ice
was thick, but had rotted SO much that the
tugs experienced no trouble in breaking it.
The drowning Of William Washington was
the only mishap during the trip. He was
drowned off the tug ]. c. Carter, as pub
.
iceman IAry superintended the dragging
Of the river, which was continued until
dark, no trace of the body was found.
The search was resumed today.
On the way down the river yesterday the
channel as far as Alexandria was practi-
cally free Of ice. which probably resulted
from the work done by the boats Of the
Washington and Norfolk Steamboat Com
pany. The last wind and ebb tide proved
favorable and Harbormaster Sutton was
very well satisfied with what was accom-
plished This morning the ice fleet moved
up the river as far as the bridge at
Georgetown. while the afternoon was de-
voted to breaking some Of the ice on the
flats below the city. 1t is the intention of
the harbormaster to start out tomorrow
morning and break the Ice above George
town and also to make another trip down
the river. Near River View yesterday an
ice gorge was encountered. but the boats
soon broke through the barrier. During
the trip down the river yesterday the men
on the boats saw no Wild ducks Reports
from up the river give information Of the
freezing OF thousands OF fish, including
many bass. At some points along the canal
where pools Of water were left when the
water was drawn of schools Of fish were