The Ice Blockade In The St. Clair River

The present condition of St. Clair Eiver in front of this city is a matter of wonder, even to "the oldest inhabitant." - The north wind, cominencing two weeks since, and continuing for several days last weok, drove the broken and drifting ico on Lake Huron directly into St. Clair Biver, and 10 days ago it was packed full to a point some distance above St. Clair, and people were eroRsing at that point on the ice. until last Friday night, however, did the river fill opposite this city, but beforo morning the jam liad extended through the " rapids" and out into the lake. This condition of affairs has occurred but onco before during tha past 15 years, and thon the jam remained only a short time. The International was still lying in mid stream this morning, but her offioers were industriously trying to extricate her. On Saturday night she froze in solid, and all day Sunday nothing could be done, and she had to be reloaded with coal hauled out to her upon sleds. To-day she has got back to her slip on the American shore. The Spicer has kept a channel about 80 yards wide, opennearlyfrom shore to shore, but it is of no practical good, and sho has herself beconio disabled. At the Chicago and "Lake Hurón and Great Western crossing, the Saginaw kept running until lato on Friday night, when she with great difficulty reached tho slip on this side, where she remained until this raoming, t'rozen in solidly for most of the time. At 8:30 this morning Capt. Andrews bogan to get her under way, and before long she was smashing a path toward the Great Western doek in Sarnia. A reporter of the Times was on board, and watched the operations for a time, but when in the middlo of the river he saw that the accoinplishment of the difficult task was only a question of a few hours' time, and taking advantago of a time wben the staunoh steamer was crushed far into heavy ice, lei't hor, picking his way over the rough and perilous track toward the shore. The skill and pluck with whioh__Capt. Andrews managed the job was admirable. The boat would be slowly backed a few rods, thon at a signal from the captain sho would bo forced ahead into tho sold ice, 75 or 100 feet. - Tha ensrines would then bo stoDuod and reversed, and after backing out the samo operation would bo repeated. The second and third trials would be made soniewhat above and betow the flrst opening, and the result of tho threo eíforts would be a clear gain of' about 300 or 400 feet. At the time we go to press the boat ia within a few rods of the Sarnia wharves, and to-night navigation vvill be resuined again.