Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-08
.zIzAN|A BREAKS
PASSAGE THROUGH
|F|DDLER'S REACH

Bath. Me-, Jan. I'm answer to the
appeals of Oliver Moses, chairman of
the local fuel commission. Hon. Edward
w. Hyde, president Of the Chamber of
Commerce. acting for Mayor Small and
others, the nevy department started
the ball moving Saturday by which
determined efforts were made for rid
ding the ice jam at Fiddler's Reach
which threatened to tie up navigation
between this city and the sea. Seeking
the cooperation of the lighthouse de-
partment, plans were made for dyna-
hitting the jab if such a course be-
came necessary. With this end in view
through the combined effoSts Of En-
sign Arthur H. Stetson, L. S. ~ r. F.,
acting section commander Of the Bath
naval station, and MIR. Hyde, the prom
Use of 1000 pounds of this explosive for
this purpose was obtained from various
sources.
On Sunday morning, Lieut.. c. +.
Snow L. S. ~, in charge of Maine ma
val stations, arrived at the mouth of
the KennebeC river aboard the patrol
boat Satilla. one of the largest in the
fleet of patrols on the Maine coast and
awaited at Popham the arrival of the
lighthouse tender Zizania
together they came up the river the
latter part of the afternoon, the Zizania
succeeding in blowing her way through
the former passage made last week, but
70 attempt was made to push the Satilla
through Lieut.. Snow briefly viewed the
situation from the lower end of the reacn
H.,
the night.
The Zizania worked for several hours
after dark breaking off big junks from
the jam during the ebb tide that they
might float down the river and out to sea.
She was at it again early this morning
and preceded the Popham steamer Vir-
ginia on her upward trip this morning
capt. [. f. Sherman, inspector of the
lighthouse district, is aboard the Zizania
and is directing her work of breaking up
the ice and keeping the track through
go out on the ebb tide
1t is generally understood that the liza
ma VIII continue at her work in the Ken
nebec just as long as possible The navy
department states. however. that it is
practically swamped with calls all along
the coast for just such work az is being
done here and it is not known just how
long the Zizania may be kept here
Should there come an urgent call from
some other locality where it is considered
the situation is mores critical than here
1t is likely TO be sent to that spot.
1t was announced this morning that
urgent calls have already been filed for
similar work on the Sheepscot river
and at Boothbay Harbor, Wisca sset' S
harbor having been frozen for the first
'lme IN many years, while it has been
many years since there has been such
an Ice pack in Boothbay as at present.
Ensign StetSon of the local naval
station was in communication this,
morning with Lieut.. William T. White.
/. > \. X. F. aide to Capt. A. l.. Kew.
chleI or stan ut the Boston navy ward.
Lieut.. White expressed the opinion of
the commandments office that every
thlnS possible will be done for Bath
mat circumstances will permit.
IL has been many years since the
river has been covered with such a
field and hundreds Of people ventured
out upon it from South End wharves
on sunday and experienced a great
treat in being able to cross the river
TO tue Woolwich shore and return.