Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1918 — BOATS RIDE GORGE AND STRAND IN CORNFIELDS [ARTICLE]

BOATS RIDE GORGE AND STRAND IN CORNFIELDS

Ice in the Ohio river thus far has caused several million dollars damage between Louisville and Cairo, the priignpal damage being at Paducah,Ky., last week. Several- boats were carried down when ice gorges broke and are stranded in cornfields and may be saved, unless a flood comes soon.

The heavy ice that passed Evansville Monday afternoon until its movement stopped dragged the bottom of the river forty feet down. The oldest river men in this region said they had never seen such heavy icebergs. They tower above the water and scrape the bottom of the river forty to fifty feet deep. The scene is weird and impressive as the Ohio is dotted with these bergs. Several coal docks and barges between this city and Newburg were wrecked. Great concern is felt by the residents in the lowlands of Wabash and White rivers and it is feared a serious flood will result with the breaking up of the ice. Practically all of last year’s corn crop along these streams is either stored in cribs or is yi shocks in the fields.