194 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

CHAPTER III.

THE VILLAGE FROM 1817 TO 1834, INCLUSIVE.

1817. January. The good people of Brooklyn were, at this time, under much apprehension from certain powder magazines or storehouses on Fort Greene; and a special town meeting was held, at which a committee was appointed to obtain relief in the matter.1

February. The winter was very severe and the ice so thick in the river as greatly to obstruct the passage of the steamboat employed on the ferry. “On the 4th,” says the Star, “the thermometer stood at twenty-six degrees below freezing point. Our steamboat and barges crossed the ferry as usual, until a large field of ice came in on the flood tide and wedged in the ferry between Peck slip and the steamboat wharf. On this natural bridge, we believe, thousands crossed, among whom were some females, and the novel and beautiful spectacle attracted general attention. After about two hours the ebb tide started the ice, and those who were on the ice found no difficulty in getting ashore in boats. Such an instance has not occurred in thirteen years past.” For about two weeks, the ice was so solid between Governor’s island and the Long island shore that it was crossed by sleighs and horses, and on the 19th, the harbor was closed by ice, both at the Narrows and at Hurlgate. As was to be expected, disagreements arose between the public and the ferry company, which gave rise to several town and public meetings on ferry rights. Flour at this time wag as high as $15 per barrel, and there was also much distress among the poor, which aroused the generous sympathy and exertions of the citizens. A Brooklyn Humane Society was formed March 26th

1 C. and J. Sands established a magazine for the storage of powder at about northwest corner Jay and Water streets in Brooklyn, in 1780. In 1804, they were indicted before King's county sessions, for storing that article within the fire limits.