The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-02-16
THE STORY OF THE ICE.

The up-river papers of Thursday last
stated that ''people had been crossing on
the ice from lslesbOrO to Belfast since Sun
day.; but no one in this city had seen or
heard of them. Possibly they might have
crossed, but it would have been decidedly
risky undertaking. Wednesdays snow act
ed as blanket, stopping the making of the
ice and tending to soften what had made,
The open water at the draw of the lower
bridge began to extend down the harbor,
and Thursday had Overflowed the ice as far
down as Lanes wharf.
Ihe ice at the mouth of Castine harbor
went out Wednesday night, and Thursday
the eastern bay was reported clear to the
sea. The PenobscOt was clear from Bucks
port up to Winterport, and below to point
about half way between Standpoint and
Fort Point. The steamer Ralph Ross has
been making daily trips with lumber and
Other material for the contractors for the
Northern Maine Seaport R. r., but Feb. Sth
was unable to reach Fort Point on account
OF the ice and landed her freight at Sandy
point. 1t was reported that the Pemaquid
ana Ralph Ross attempted to break the ice
Jam at Fort Point Thursday, but failed
with that part of the river clear the Pema
quld could resume her route, omitting the
Belfast landing, and the Penobscot would
come on again.
The steamer Monhegan which arrived at
Portland Feb. Sth from Jonesport via Rock
land reported very good trip so far as
weather was concerned but bad as regards
Ice. Those on the Monhegan said that Pc
nobscot Bay, including both its east and
west arms,was completely filled with ice, and
Saturday morning it was frozen solid from
Rockland to the northern end at Fox Island
In some places this ice was from five to six
inches thick and the distance between the
two points is about IL miles, From Friend
ship it was impossible to see the salt water
and from the outer coast-line at that point
1t Was also Impossible to see open water.
portland harbor has less ice than any
other one along the coast, except perhaps
Southwest Harbor and Bar Harbor and
some OF those well outside" said CAPTAIN
Archibald. "The ice situation along the
coast at the present time is not so bad as it
was year ago, but this fact is due entirely
to the big easterly storms we have been
having which have broken it up before it
had chance to get too thick. There has
been more cold this winter, for it began
earlier and it is lasting about as late as it
did year ago."
The Monhegan has established great
record for herself this winter as an ice boat
and on her last trip at times was obliged to
break through ice that was II inches in
thickness.
The higher temperature Friday did much
to AID the tide and current in breaking up
the Jam which extends from Fort Point to
the Orland river and up as far as Odom's
ledge, and Friday afternoon this ice looked
black and rotten and the current was yjsi
Die IN places near the middle of the lam If
the fall OF damp snow had been followed by
rain storm the ice blockade might have
been broken; but it cleared off cold and
Saturday was cold with d high northwest
WIND, conditions favorable to making ice.
No open water was to be seen from here
Friday or Saturday, although the eastern
bay was reported clear as far up as Castpe
The ice in the western bay extends a mile
below Saturday Cove.
The mercury Saturday remained all dav
at about II above zero, but Sunday morning
it stood at zero. Sunday was a bright,
clear day, with rising temperature, and
while it thawed in the sun ice continued to
make in the bay and is foot thick in some
places.
1t began to snow Sunday evening. chang
ing In the night to rain with decided rise
III the temperature. 1t was foggy Monday
morning and at intervals during the tiay,
clearing at night, with a falling tempera-
ture, the mercury standing at zero Tuesday
morning. Yesterday the outlook indicated
continuance Of the ice blockade.