Ohio River Freezes Over

Ah, But You Ought to Have Seen

the River in the Winter of 55-56.

When the weather in the last few days filled the Ohio with huge ice formations and threatened to freeze the stream over, river men recalled the events of the winter of 1855-56, the most severe on traffic within the last 50 years.

From Pittsburg to Cairo "the beautiful river" was frozen to a depth of more than three feet for over two months. A loaded railroad car, drawn by oxen, was hauled across in safety near Louisville, and similar tests of solidity of the ice were made at other points. Traffic was so completely tied up during the time that the price of ordinary commodities went soaring, and much suffering resulted. Pittsburg coal was retailed at $1 a bushel, and no greater quantity was to be had even at that price.

When moderating weather came, and the ice subsequently broke up it swept furiously down stream, wreaking awful destruction. Coal-boats and barges and all sorts of craft were wrecked at many points, and little of the wreckage remained. Steamboats were crated in log cribs, and thus protected partly until the danger subsided.