Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-03-01

.YThe following thrilling article
was handed ps by Seth Reeves, at our
suggestion, for publication. Mr.. Low
ingstone, the hero Of the article, will
undoubtedly be remembered by many
Of our citizens, having visited our town
about two years since, while in the en-
ploy of Messrs. Howe & Rablin:
AN ADVENTURE ON THE ICE-NAR-
ROW ESCAPE John 3. Livingstone
Il clerk in the lumber establishment OF
Howe & Rablin, East St. Louis, at
tempted to cross the river on the ice,
yesterday afternoon, and very narrow
ly escaped n watery grave in so doing.
He started from the opposite side of
the river about two O'Clock, intending
to strike the shore OH this side, near
the foot of Washington avenue. 1t
should be stated that the river had
been gorged with ice for two or three
days past for considerable distance
above the foot Of Washington avenue,
and the ferry boats have experienced
considerable difficulty in making their
regular trips. In the absence of any
information to the contrary, it is to be
supposed that Mr. Livingstone, being
rather a wide-awake young man, con-
Guided he could make much better
time crossing the river on the ice than
on the ferry boat; aud accordingly,
shortly after two o'clock, he started on
his venturcsomc trip. The ice had the
appearance Of being tolerabIy firm all
the way across, and no danger III this
respect was apprchended. The only
risk about the matter was the possIbll-
ity that tie ice might unceremoneously
take notion to move down stream at
any moment. Mr.. Livingstone didn't
stop to consider possibilities, but arm
ING himself with plank, set out on
his journey. He got on very well for
a considerable distance, but as he near,
ed the middle of the river it became
evident, both to Mr.. Livingstone and
the spectators who had gathered in
large numbers on either shore to wit
ness the performance, that the ice was
about to move. Great blocks of ice, in
the portion of the river where the cur
rent was strongest, began to give way
with sort Of dull, grating crash, and
a general commotion was everywhere
visible in the whole field OF ice. Sud
denly the whole field gave way, and
what but short time previous seemed
a solid block of ice, now divided up
into innumcrablc fragments, and went
crashing, surging and tumbling down
stream, in swift and some what terrific
manner. The crowd Of spectators up
on the lcvec on this side began to in
crease just at this point, and to watch
with the most thrilling interest the
movements of the solitary adventurer,
who was struggling all the while to
keep himself from being drawn under
meath the ice, or crushed by the surg
inc cakes of Ice lie could be seen
making lis way steadily forward, at
one moment ieaping from one block OF
ice TO another, and the next sinking
through the ice and almost disappear
inc from Veg, but all the while cling
ing courageously to his plank, and
struggling with the watery elemealt lac
roicallv. Six times he was seen to fall
through the ice and sink into the water
up to his shoulders, and six times to
skilltullv extricate himself from the
claws of DEATH" greatly to the reliet
of at least one thousand people, who
were compelled to stand on the shore
as helpless spectators. Finally, col
Of rope was procured aad throwH tc
him from the steamer Platte Valley
He caught it and chung to it with
dcath-like grip,and was speedily drawn
ashore, although in an exhausted and
almost insenSible condition. lis hands
and face were covered with blood, hi S
clothes torn, and his entire person Sc
verely bruised aud battered. He was
taken to Maguire's drug store anc
properly cared for, and when he re
turns to East St. Louis will, i'll all prob
ability, take ferry boat.
Cr,,,6 EssnidS Market