Evening star., 1918-02-10
BIG ICE AVALANCHE
CRUSHES VESSELS
Sweeping Down MonongaheIa
Toward Pittsburgh-Another
Gorge Smashes Bridge.
FLOODS AT OTHER POINTS
By the Associated Press.

oy the Associated Press.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, February 10.-An
avalanche Of ice, probably millions of
tons In weight, is coming down the
Monongahela river toward this city
crushing river steamers and coal tip
pies in its path. The great gorge at
Brownsville, Pa. that has been threat
ening to let go for two days. went out
at O'Clock this morning. The gorge
was nine miles long and the ice pack
was piled thirty feet high.
Ihe four-span Baltimore and Ohio rail-
s9ad ofiage, steel structure, at Point
Marion, was carried away by the ice
when the Cheat river gorge broke.
The brownsville gorge reached Bridge
port. Pa, shortly after l O'Clock this
morning, where the ice piled up on abut-
ments. The pack will hold at this point
Tor short time, when it is expected to
give way again.
Organize to Fight Ohio River Peril.
COLUMBUS. Ohio. February s.-For-
nation of permanent statewide food
prevention organization was effected
here today at a meeting of approx
mately thirty county surveyors, with
John I. Miller. state superintendent of
public works. The meeting was called
by Gov. Cox as a safety measure, fol-
loving warning by the weather bureau
that the present thaw might cause
floods in some Ohio rivers.
although the present situation was
reported as not critical, the surveyors
reported that present conditions are a
big foods They arranged to report
imm mediately to Supt. Miller on flood
conditions in their sections of the state
The surveyors We're urged to return
10 .nelr MONIES, obtain supplies of dyna-
mite and break up all ice gorges as
quickly as formed. They also We're
urged to organize home guards for the
purpose of patrolling rivers. Supt
Miller was elected president of the
new flood prevention organization.
Warn of Ice Danger.
PITTSBURGH. February with q
warm rain that set in last night, and
still falling, the nine miles Of ice eorees
In the Monongahela river at Browns
vile. Pa. and Morgantown, W. Va,
were expected to let go during the
day, and the weather bureau has sent
warnings to all river interests to watch
for the breaking up of the thirty-foot
piles OF ice and do what they can to
protect their property.
II the rainfall continues # Is fea,ed
the ice gorges will come out in such
volume on rising river that the
bridges in this city will be carried
away. IheSe bridges are arteries of
trafhc connecting populous residen-
tial and mill section of the city with
the downtown business section.
Ohio Gorge Moving.
WHEELING. W. Va. February o
The great ice gorge in the Ohio river.
extending from New Martinsvillc. w,
Va, to Wellsburg. W. Va. began mov-
ing at Wellsburg early today under
pressure exerted by the rising river.
River men believe the gorge will move
only short distance and then will
form dam behind which the rising
waters will again gather and force a
new movement. Lowlands along
Wheeling creek. which empties into
the Ohio here. were under water to-
day.
PADUCAH. KY. February s.-Tele-
phone reports from Rosiclaire, Ill, saw
that the ice gorge in the Ohio river
broke there early today carrying away
a feet of barges and other small yes
sells valued at $4,000.
While the gorge held. 1t was stated
the town was threatened with fnunda-
ton. Just before it broke the situa-
tion was said to be serious.