Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-11
AvIATORS AGAIN
Continued from p.se /


This gave rise to the opinion that officials
at Baltimore and also at the Aberdeen
proving ground thought the aviators with
their bombs should be able to start the
ice moving by opening a channel below
the gorged town. The aviators dropped two
large 500-pound bombs down on the ice
above the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
bridge late yesterday afternoon, after all
had given up hope Of seeing any more air
plane attacks that day, but the dtect was
apparently negligible. The bombs tore
large holes in the ice, about 30 to 40 feet
in diamater, but the ice around was ap-
parently not the least affected.
SOME APPREHENSION.
The dread of the people now comes
tions. Snow and ice in the hills cannot
long withstand the warm temperatures
that have prevailed for the last thirty-six
hours, so it is believed. Waters from the
hills may at any time cause freshet
that will pour another avalanche of water
down upon the gorged ice. There could
be but one result, people here predict,
and that is that this overflow OF water
would surely be backed up against the
shore of Port Deposit and cause moro
trouble. Last night the townspeople lived
almost momentarily in fear of downpour
of RAIN The skies were clear most of the
time, and yet there was an undefinablc
something in the air that seemed to pro-
tend a hard rain. The effect of such an
eventuality would be far harder upon the
town and its holes than that Of an ordinary
freshet resulting from thaw in the hills.
The rain would precipitate the flow down
the banks and add just so much water to
its own volume. The ice condition in
front of the place is Just such that it is
considered inevitable that hard rain
about now would probably cause heavy
loss and suffering in Port Deposit, at least.
There is one silver lining in this gloomy
picture. The ice blow, at Havre de Grace,
may give way before the rain or other
freshet comes. If it does the ice above
should move ON without damage anywhere.
1t is this ice that is still holding the gorge
tight opposite Port.
Yesterdays sun weakened the ice from
shore to shore In perceptible degree.
About noon a large sheet of ice, perhaps
l50 feet wide and stretching, for distance
of about mile, broke away and in view
of many of the townspeople along the
shores and on the bridges drifted on down
stream. This was hailed with shout m
good omen. The ice may yet move out
piccemeal in that manner and relieve the
tense situation upstream.
That the iSe boats in Baltimore could
break lIp this ice in short time, people
here confidently believe. The ice is only
about ten inches thick now and supposed
to be- very soft asd brittle. Once channel
is broken in the center II is thought the
ice gorged abo+e-SSould naturally be sluic-
ed out through this opening and move on
out to sea without further damage.
A southeast wind and high tide are
now the prayers Of people along the river
at this point. Such a wind would be sure.
old rivermen say, to food the tide and they
confidently predict that would break up
the ice and send it out in hurry. The tide
is now low and the wind altogether too
fair 10 satisfy the people at present.
The presence of the ice has Been blow
TO professional fishermen along the shores
Until the ice goes out their nets snd boats
are virtually useless. This is good fishing
time, Generally the fresh influx of the tide
of that follows the eftiux OF the ice brings its
schools of fish from the sea and then the
market fishermen get busy. 1t is near time
for herring to run and soon after that the
toothsome anadromous shad.