Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-12-29
A BREAKUP
IN THE RIVER

lN LIE Nl|LN
| The ice in the river started to move
| last night at 9 80, aud was a seething
mass from bank to bank. The ferry
boat that was moored on the South
side was carried away by the foe.
1t was extremely fortunate that the
ice moved at night-at time when no
one was crossing the river. All during
yesterday many pedestrians and some
teams were using the natural bridge.
People were crossing a few hours be-
fore the ice passed away.
J The rain and thaw of Monday night
had caused the river to rise and weak
en- the ice. 1t was thought, however,
that the ice at this point was suffici-
emily strong to hold. AT Berwick yes
terday the river was clear until three
| O. clock in the afternoon, when the ice
started to come down from above.
The river started to rise yesterday
morning. From noon to O'Clock yes
terday afternoon it rose foot.
After that it rose more rapidly until
there was five foot food raging at 10
o'clock. With the first move of the
ice the false work between the fourth
and fifth piers of the new bridge, was
swept away with crash. 1t was too
dark for the spectators standing on the
north shore to see the heavy beuts be-
ing torn down, but the cracking and
swapping of the big timbers were dis
tinotly heard. As stated elsewhere the
iron girders which had been placed
been removed early Wednesday morn
ing in anticipation of the ice going.
The two coal diggers anchored at
the shore near the north end of the
bridge. had not been taken from their
moorings at II o clock, but an old fiat
boat, the property of the bridge COM
pany, and fine little row boat, were
both carried away by the ice.
The ice moved rapidly and caused
considerable crashing and grinding,
hut did no damage with the exception
of that mentioned above. None is ex-
pected to occur from the food, unless
gorge forms somewhere below and
causes trouble from backwater.
At midnight the water had reached
the s foot mark. TIE ice at that hour
was running slower and was more
broken up.
Indications pointed to a general
breakup in the river early Wednesday
morning, the result of the mild wealth
er aud rain of the previous day. This
caused no little dread aud alarm to be
felt in Danville and South Danville,
because of the outlook.
There were numerous predictions
that break up would occur. Tie
ice became covered with water, the re-
suit of the rain and mild winds melt
ing the snow. This, together with the
current wearing away the under sur
face of the ice, made it not only un-
pleasant to Cross over but exceedingly
unsafe in spots. Gum boots AMI high
rubber shoes were much in use. Those
who ventured across without these
preventstives against wet feet, were
subsequently obliged to make change
of foot wear.
AS result of the thin condition of
the ice few casualties occurred, but
none, fortunately, Of a serious nature.
A couple of teams broke through at
places where the water was low. and
where they succeeded in getting out
again without injury or much incon
genience.
The only footman reported as having
had an unpleasant adventure was
Frank Ross. While standing convers-
ing with friend near the middle of
the river. the ice suddenly, and with
out warning, dropped from under him.
Mr.. Ross went along and was submerg
ed up to his neck in the coldest kind
of water. When he succeeded in get
ting out he said he had no idea that
the water was half as frigld as it is.
Mr.. Ross was the first man to walk
across the river after it had frozen over
and the first to break through several
weeks afterward.
10 a. - ,,c,h .
rise sufficiently here to move the Ice
were based on the general outlook and
the reports coming from points up the
river. Near the headwaters of the
North Branch the indications were
bright for q good sized fre,het.
At WllkesbaIre the river rose five
feet during the morning, but tie
change in the weather ftoze the num-
erous tiny streams pouring into the
small tributaries and checked the flow
ing into the river to some extent
Some time during Tuesday night,
the ice broke at Tunkhannock and be-
gan to block at Nanticoke. Yesterday
afternoon the gorge broke and moved
quietly over the Nanticoke dam before
any damages from backwater occurred.
Before the gorge gave away, however,
many of the people on the west side of
the river, fearing that the water might
overflow its banks and inundate their
properties and homes, made hasty pre-
parations for flight
Big Trolley Traffic