The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-18 00:00:00

ESCAPES AND INCIDENTS.

The "Man with the pipe" writes to contradict the
statement that be offered rkl. to anyone who would fetch
him out. " I merely," he says, " called for help
when I felt myself becoming benumbed, after waiting
quietly for fully twenty-five minutes, watching the boats
picking up others, who were, if possible, in greater
danger than myself ; and also watching the futile, and I
must say, blundering efforts of the Royal Humane
Society's men to reach me, or even to throw me a rope. I
am truly thankful to the two gentlemen who so courage-
ously threw themselves among the broken ice for my
rescue, but who failed to reach me. I think it only an
act of jirtioe to George Charles Matthews, of 139,
Caledonian-road, who eventually did save me, that his
name should be made public, and I consider that if
anyone is entitled to a Society's medal he is, considering
the courage he displayed, for he is not able to swim."
Among the incidents recorded is a display of patient
endurance on the part of a man who stood alone for
upwards of an hour on a detached piece of ice in the
middle of the Broad Water, not uttering a request for
succour until he found that be was the last of the survi-
vors. A pleasure boat was pushed to within about 50 feet
of him, when, amidst the breathless suspense of the
beholders, he walked quietly along his dangerous path to
the boat, which he happily succeeded in reaching, and ,
having done so, coolly took up an oar, as if nothing bad
happened, and assisted his preserver in propelling the
craft to shore.

The evidence as to the Humane Society's men differs in
character. Mr. Winterbourn, of Little Guildford•street,
says that while he and others were deep in the water, and
were pulling people out, neither the park•keepers nor the
society's man who was there would wet themselves or even
keep back the crowd from the bank. On the otherhand, Mr.
Hanwell, who was up to the neck in the water for 30
minutes, and also caught a rope which was thrown to
him for the third time, and was drawn through the ice to
the bank side, tenders his hearty thanks to the society
men for his rescue. He adds that the house surgeon of
the Middlesex Hospital refused his admission when he
was taken there in a cab ; he was turned out into the street
without a hat.

Mr. Blotter, who was engulfed with some 2i others
while skating, says that when he had waited in the water
about 15 minute*, he begun to feel a stupor creeping over
him, and being well aware how fatal such • symptom is,
he advised a friend who was in the same condition at his
aide, that they should strike out and swim for it. " This,"
he said, "we did, and after • struggle of another ten
minutes, by God's help, we reached the shore. We were
taken to the receiving house, which at that time was
quite full of people rescued from the sides. I was after-
wards removed to the Volunteer Tavern, where I met with
the most kind and philanthropic treatment from the hands
of Mrs. Selby, the proprietress, who supplied me gratui-
tously with brandy, restoratives, &c. To her I beg moat
sincerely to render my heartfelt thanks."
"T. T. H.," on coming to the surf►ce, struck out for
the nearest island, clearing away the ice as well as he
could, and reached it after hard struggling in ►bout 15
minutes. On his way he saw several poor fellows nearer
the island than he was suddenly sink exhausted. This
gentleman and almost all the correspondents who write on
the subject say that men were busily engaged in breaking
the ice round the islands, and that there is no doubt that
this had much to do with causing the catastrophe.
Mr. Spencer says, "All went on till about 3 o'clock, when
my attention was drawn to one of the society's men, who
was occupying himself industrioualy breaking the ice ACM/
the northeast part of the water. He was sitting on a boat,
with two or three hula, their feet on the ice, pushing the
boat up and down as they broke the frozen edge. He was
engaged at this work for about • quarter of an hour or 20
minutes. I saw several gentlemen speak to him, but he
still continued. He next took out of the boat an axe,
and made • large hole in the centre of the ice. My
brother and I then skated up to him, and asked hint
what he was doing this for. He said, 'To let two or
three in.' A little more conversation took place, and on
my telling him the danger of what he was doing, he said
that he was breaking the ice for amusement."
A gentleman namedStack,referring to an incident which
has been often mentioned, says :—" When the three girls