Evening journal., 1904-01-21
With Hole Stove in Her
Hull by Big FIoe, Tug
boat Jansen Is Rushed
Aground
Delaware River Scene of
Exciting Race Against
Disaster Yesterday At
fernOOR

Prompt acti on on the part Of Cap
tain Smith undoubtedly saved the tug
boat Frederick Jansen. of this city, be-
longing to the. Philadelphia & Reading
Railroad Company. from going 10 the
bottom OF the Delaware river off Ches-
ter yesterday afternoon.
About > O'Clock the Jansen and tug
Laura e. veIe passing up the river
Opposite the Sea board Steel Castings
Works. in mid channel, the Jansen,
which was in the lead, struck heavy
ice foe. There was a. crash and a
grind and the crew discovered that the
tug was listing TO port. her bow Dip
ping, and later that she was settling.
The captain gave the signal for full
speed ahead and pointed the Jansen
straight in sllore. Full speed she
ploughed through the ice and finally
buried her prov i'm the mud.
When the tug had been beached, an
examination by the captain and crew
showed that a hull plate below the
water line had been ripped open, max
ing a hole about eight inches in diam
eter. Temporary repairs were made to
keep the boat from settling further
and she will be lowed to this city prob
dOlN TINS dlleI1OOii dIlQ IdhtM 10 the
dock OF the Harlan & Hollingsworth
Company, where the repairs will be
made.
Laura B. Fro'zen-up.
The tug Laura B.. also Of this city,
is disabled and frozen tight in the ice
at Tlapmpson's Point. Yesterday the
boat went there TO take q car float out.
While battling with the ice the pro-
peller was wrenohed off and the boat
put out OF service. The Laura b. is
also the property Of the p. 6 r. Rail-
road and this morning the tug Har-
riet was sent to liberate the boat and
car r lat and bring it to this city for
repairs.
IS Worst in Twenty Years.
Rivermen claim that the present win
ter is one Of the hardest on. shippinr
: for at least twenty years. Not since
Thanksgiving has the river been free
from floating ice and it has increased
in thickness until it has reached from
eight to twelve inches The blocks
vary from two feet square 10 twelve
feet. and propelled by a swift current
+ have caused much damage to craft
The smaller boats quiver from stem tc
stern when struck by the big cakes
and many OF them have temporarily
stopped cunning.
Trappers Affected by Cold.
Smyrna. Jan. p. = Trappers are perhaps
more affected by cold weather. than an,
one else in Thoroughfare Neck Nan,
muSaSrats have been kihed and frozen an,
most of those caught are so poor they ar
UNIT Tor market. Several trappers hav
pulled up their traps to wait for NOR
favorable weather. while those who con
tinue at work experience many hard
ships.
The regular mid-winter fur sale wa
booked 10 take place at Taylor's Bridg
last Tuesday. The trappers met there an,
had about seven thousand furs for sale
For some reason only ono buyer put in al
appearance. He bought as many as nj
stock OF worldly goods would permit a
twenty cents each straight. which wa
satisfactory to ttappers. The spring sal
VIII no doubt be much better. The Lon
don fur quotations will not be known un
I'll February %. and buyers do not seen
anxious 10 risk any more than twent,
cents until this is known.
Skating on Wheat Fields.
It has been many years since the publ
roads have been I'm such an icy condition
making traetic dangerous even with horse
rough shodA in many Instances boys ar
skating om what should be wheat fields
but are really dee fields. The snow driftel
along roads and fences closing all drains
and made tt impossible for the water 4
run of after the recent heavy rain, AM
farmers fear much damage will result.