Father Frost and Sister Snow have boneyed my borders, formed an
idol of ice upon my bosom, and all the Lords of London came to
make merry: now, as you love mischief, treat the multitude with a
few cracks by a sudden visit, and obtain the prayers of the poor
upon both banks. Given at my press the 5th February, 1814. Thomas
Thames.”
It was evident that a thaw was rapidly taking place, yet such was the
indiscretion and heedlessness of some persons that one fatal accident
occurred.
Two genteel looking young men fell victims to their temerity in venturing
on the ice above Westminster Bridge, notwithstanding the warnings of the
waterman. A large mass on which they stood, and which had been loosened
by the flood-tide, gave way, and they floated down the stream. As they
passed under Westminster Bridge they cried out most piteously for help.
They had not gone far before they sat down, but, going too near the
edge, they overbalanced the mass, and were precipitated into the stream,
sinking not to appear again.
This morning, also, Mr. Lawrence, of the Feathers, in High Timber street,
Queenhithe, erected a booth on the Thames opposite Brook’s Wharf, for the
accommodation of the curious. At nine at night he left it to the care of
two men, taking away all liquors, except some gin, which he gave them for
their own use.
Sunday, February 6th: At two o’clock this morning, the tide began to
flow with great rapidity at London Bridge; the thaw assisted the efforts
of the tide, and the booth just mentioned was hurried along with the
quickness of lightning towards Blackfriars Bridge. There were nine men
in it, and in their alarm they neglected the fire and candles, which,
communicating with the covering, set it in a flame. The men succeeded in
getting into a lighter which had broken from its moorings, but it was
dashed to pieces against one of the piers of Blackfriars Bridge, on which
seven of them got, and were taken off safely; the other two got into a
barge while passing Puddle Dock.
On this day, the Thames towards high tide (about 3 p.m.) presented a very
tolerable idea of the frozen ocean; grand masses of ice floating along,
added to the great height of the water and afforded a striking sight for
contemplation.
Thousands of disappointed persons thronged the banks; and many a
’prentice boy and servant maid sighed unutterable things at the sudden
and unlooked-for destruction of Frost Fair.
Monday, February, 7th: Large masses of ice are yet floating, and numerous
lighters, broken from their moorings, are seen in different parts of the
river, many of them complete wrecks. The damage done to the craft and
barges is supposed to be very great. From London Bridge to Westminster,
twenty thousand pounds will scarcely make good the losses that have been
sustained.
An interesting account of an “Ice Festival” is given in the pages of
_The Champion_ of February 6th, 1814. It is chronicled that “Saturday
se’nnight afforded to the inhabitants of Kelso a scene to which there
has been nothing similar for the last 73 years. The late severe weather
having frozen the Tweed completely over, a number of the respectable
inhabitants were desirous of dining on the ice, and gave orders to Mr.
Lander, of the Queen’s Head Inn, to provide what was necessary for the
occasion. He accordingly erected an enormous tent in the midst of the
river, opposite Ednam House, and served up an excellent and hot dinner to
a numerous and respectable company. The tent, which was well heated by
stoves, was surmounted by an orange flag, and the union flags of England
and Holland were displayed on tables. From forty to fifty sat down to
dinner. The following toasts were drunk with glee:--‘General Frost, who
so signally fought last winter for the deliverance of Europe, and who now
supports the present company.’ ‘Both sides of the Tweed, and God preserve
us in the middle.’ The company were much gratified by seeing among them
an old inhabitant of the town who was present at the last entertainment
given under similar circumstances, in the winter of the year 1740, when
part of an ox was roasted on the ice. No accident happened to disturb the
pleasures of the scene.”
From a scene of rejoicing let us turn to a record of a painful death
occurring at this period. We find in the “Annals of Manchester,”
edited by W. E. A. Axon, (pub. 1886) a note as follows, under the year
1814:--“Miss Lavinia Robinson was found drowned in the Irwell, near the
Mode Wheel, February 8. This young lady, who possessed superior mental
accomplishments, as well as personal beauty, was engaged to Mr. Holroyd,
a surgeon, but on the eve of her intended marriage she disappeared from
her home in Bridge Street, December 6th, and owing to the long frost, her
body remained under the ice for a long period. It appears most probable
that the rash act of the ‘Manchester Ophelia’ was due to a quarrel in
which her betrothed had repeated some slanderous statements respecting
her. There was, however, a strong suspicion that she had met with foul
play. The slanders were shown to be baseless, and the feeling against Mr.
Holroyd was so strong that he had to leave the town. (Procter’s ‘Bygone
Manchester,’ pages 268, 269. ‘City News Notes and Queries,’ vol. I., p.
265.)”
We extract from the _Newcastle Weekly Chronicle_ the following lines by
an anonymous author:--