Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-02-24
How q Nam Fssls when he's Frozen to
naoth

How . Nan Eeels when ne EToAen 70
Death.
Many years ago wanted to 60 a'ross
the Hudson river from New York TO Jersey
CITY one cold night, 10 take the stage Tor
Trenton at O'clock next morning II was
midnight OF cold bitter. night in December.
The ferry boats had all ceased their trips
The ice vas running rapidly. must cross
or wait Till aylight, and could not ththK
of that; so hired boatman, with heavy
bride, and promise OF more 1t we erossde
successfully within an houi, and we lell the
shore. 1t was very dark and blusterlng.-
The tide was not as furious IN the RIVER as
now, for the piers were then fewer, and did
not extend into theh channel; but The Mort
west wind added heavy sea TO the danger
of the night, and taking all things together,
he prospect was poor. But | had been
in heavy seas and running iee before,
then taking an oar | pulled stroke that
evidently surprised my boatmsn, and adj
ded to his hopes OF successful voyage.
II was one O'Clock when we LETT The
shore. At half past three we were under
the lea OF Governors Island, coming up
the Buttermlk Channel on the return OF
the flood. At o'clock we were making
the shore near the old Brooklyn dis,il.ery,
when cake Of ice came in on the sea, and
closed around our egg-sheli Of boat, and
it cracked and crushed precisely as you
have crushed an almond in nut cracker.
Unfortunately there was no one to PICK Tue
valuable contents out Of the broken shell,
and ii we had not been remarkably q,ick,
and the ice remarkably strong. | am not
altogether certain that | should have been
here to-day. On the coatrary, 1 think l
might have gone out to sea, on the next ebb
tide, under water Instead OF above It. on
cake oil ice. as now seemed probable. BY
this time | was cold, as yon may imagine.
Rowing wus cut oil the question, and had
been forced 10 beat my hands until they
were sore, in vain efforts u keep up some
sort of warmth in my numb fingers. And
now, on this cake of ice | must keep still
and motionless, or should g through -
So | sat down, holding the oar which had
never lett my grasp, and lock about for my
boatman. He was missing. shout
brought back reply. The ice had parted
and we parted company, and e did not meet
again till some weeks aiterward. We
had no time or inclinatoa 10 exchange
parting salutations or good wishes. In
truth | had no good wishes for him
reserved them all for myself. was
thinking. of no one else, aud his fate
formed no part OF my apPrehensions.
Let me tell you that freezing to death is
painful affair. after all. Ii has none of
the delicious sleepy qaiet about it that
some persons i'm CINE. It's no iotus-eat-
ing death, passed away into dreamy ls,-
lessness and then into pro ouni slumber -
Il, b.. = - ND f.,if
1t is the struggle OF the prisoner in an iron
cell, fierce, furious struggle, mad strng-
gle, a terrible struggle. ic Il the grasp ri
death. cold, lightning, chilling, deadening
on wrist and ankle, on neck aud waist, on
brain and heart. sat m0toniess, and
fought no man ever dreamed of battling
except in just such a case, bat OF what avail
is il To resls, when the weight OF world
is pressing you steadily down! twas just
thatfe cling. ! saw star over me, and 1t
seemed TO cone down to me, aud TO grow
larger aud larger, and the silver bail, q
globe, sphere. world, hiding everything
else and all couldsee was, taat one great
CLEAN of starlight silvering my eyelids. and
then ten thousand pains darted through cy-
ery part OF me, and | tancied | shrieked
aloud, lonesome cry that might startle
the guls in the harbor, from their nest on
the floating ice, and mpmentary.
fIshipg thought Of the startled sea-bird
rising on his white wings was on my
mind, ana then a bla khess of hides
cribabe agony ending in insensibilty took
possession OF me. | was frozen to death
Ny next sensations were The thrilling
pains Of recovery, sharp, shooting, piercing,
stabbng, twisting, in fact every sor, of pain
conceivable. | was surprised to find my
self alive. This was my first ineligible
thought, for / believe | had known that
was frozen: and having deliberately given
up after struggle. | was rather as,onshcd
at finding myself likely to thaw out after
all. Blu, had fallen into good hands
had gone ashore below Red Hook, and be IN
picked up by some scamps, who cleaned
out my pockets, and took my coat and the
chief part of my clothing, for certainly did
not seem to need any part OF il But bet
ter specimen Of humanity followed them,
snd took me into hi house, where Dr.. Dt-
wilson, who then lived in the neghborhood,
found me and rcsusciated me. His attention
was unwearying, and believe be sgved my
life dozen times that day. shall always
remember that night. am now past the
meridian of life. Then was young and
full Of hope.
u, Uan,,tlt. .,..e g. >