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Portland Gazette
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
What is this article about?
A letter from Kentucky dated February 15 reports an unprecedented severe winter. The Ohio River's ice breakup around January 10 caused incalculable damage, sinking multiple boats, canoes, and a house, with numerous deaths including 31 people from three emigrant families.
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"The oldest inhabitants in this country do not recollect a winter so severe as the present.
"The Ohio broke up about the 10th ultimo. and the damage sustained thereby is incalculable. It was my misfortune to be an eye witness to nearly all of it; in the course of one day I saw no less than eight flat bottomed and four keel boats, some of which were loaded, ten ferry boats, between sixty and eighty canoes, and a house, descending the river among the ice.
"To see trunks, boxes, &c. with people frozen to death floating down with the current, was sufficient to melt the stoutest heart.
"Three families from Virginia and Maryland, who were moving to this country containing thirty one souls in one boat, had it stove and every soul perished. Two boats besides were stove about two miles above where I was, boats, cargoes and crews all lost."
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Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Kentucky
Event Date
About The 10th Ultimo (Letter Dated February 15)
Outcome
incalculable damage; eight flat-bottomed boats, four keel boats, ten ferry boats, 60-80 canoes, and a house lost; people frozen to death; three families (31 souls) from virginia and maryland perished; two additional boats, cargoes, and crews lost.
Event Details
The Ohio River broke up amid severe winter ice around January 10, witnessed by the letter writer who saw numerous vessels and a house descending the river; trunks, boxes, and frozen bodies floated downstream; multiple boats were stove in, leading to total losses.