Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-04-01
A Terrible situation.

A Montreal paper in describing the loss
of mail stage il il, ice, followed by the
death of the driver, gives the following ac-
count Of the narrow escape from death bya
passenger:
"Ihe night was intensely cold and dark,
a drifting snow had fallen, which ohscured
TIE track, and as the stage was on its way
from Point ~. Claire 10 Lachinc the horses
got Oft the track, aud gradually edged TO
the unirozen portion Of Lake 81. Louis
here were bur two passengers, Mr.. Ogden
loi Quebec, and Mr.. Russell of Ancester.--
When the leaders plunged Into the water,
Mr.. Ogden and Mr.. Russell both leapcd
from the stages the first made good his loet.
lng on The main ice, but MIR. Rilssell's
cloak unfortunately got entanglod, and be-
fore he could extrcate himself be found
himself ~ deep water. faBnag
lie chung to the stage, but as the night +
was dara he could sec nothing OF his COM
lpanlons. The horses swan with tin stage
about two miles, until il grounded ON ati
shoal, near the Isle Doryal, whercIhe hor-
ses persisted. Owing TO the intense cold.
Mr. kussel's clothes were Immediately
frozen to The stage, otherwise he mlstlhayeal
been swept off, as the wind WINS blowing
strongly. Soon after the plunge, MIR. Rus
sell called out 10 the driver Nudge, who
answered that he was on sheet OF ice and
drifting down; but the night was 80 dark
that they could not see each other. Mr..
Russell aiicrward heard him shouting nc
intervals, some distance ahead of HIMSELF
and there Is every probability that the un-
fortunate man was hurried down the La
Chine rapids.
" Mr.. Russell lay on the stage, where it
grounded, exposed 10 the dreadful mclem-
lency Of the weather, for eight hours from
half past one in the morning to half-past
mine, at which honr he was rescued. When
Mr. Ogden escaped, he made his way to
the nearest house for assistance for his com.
lpanious. lie procured men and ropes aud
returned 10 the scene of the accident, but
could discover no trace OF the stage; hear
ing voices, as he thought, in the direction
lof the Isle Doryal he made the best Of his
way 10 Lachine, and aroused the inmates of
Lahamme's hotel.
number of men and canoes were inn
imediatoly put IN requisition, and the party
proceeded 10 direction IN which they thot
they heard Some one shouting: but owing to
the dense fog they wandered up and down
for Eve hours, and finally did not discover
hr. Russell until within thirty feet of tie
spot where be lay frozen to the stage
w hen found his situation was distressing
IN the extreme; from the continuous beating
OF the sarf over him as he lay, he had be-
come completely eucased IN joe, to such
an extent that It was found necessary To
clear il from him with axes, before he could
be detached from the stage.
=" lie was perfectly sensible when found.
but ~ a most exhausted state; both hands
and the left knee were frozen. Mr.. Rus
sell still lies IN d most precafious stare; and
We fear there bat fssisss Isofsss- ..ls his
recovery The body OF Nudge has not
been found. The mail bags were recover
ed. bat ap 70 Saturday, the cold was 50 "a
tense that The stage had not been removed
from the spot where it grounded"