Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-02-06
DEMOCRAT & NEWS
TrsgI cal Result ef istt npsraRcs.
Two Men Frozen TO Death, asA . hiid
Nearly Perish

From the Keithsburs IL Observer. Jan. 20.
One OF the most mournful Tragedies,
resulting from intoxication, which We
were ever called upon TO chronicle, oc'
Cured on Friday night last. A father
and his only son were frozen TO deatl'
aud comrade with them nearly PET
,shed from cold, while oil three we're
senseless from iDtoxicanon.
On Friday afternoon three men,
Charles Carter, who lives on the Iowa
shore, about four miles below town, his
only son, John Wesley Carter, youth
about twenty years Of age, and John
Somers, man who has been living nj
CATERS the present winter, came to
town on spree.
About shutdown, all three Of them be-
ing rseling drunk, they started to return
home, taking with them two gallon jugs,
each flied With whisky. They started
Nth two skitf., Carter and Somers III
one, and the boy, Jack" in another.
Tho weather WAS growing cold at the
time, and the wind blowing quite fresh
from The vest.
About eight O'Clock Saturday morn
ing Mr.. Samuel Zerby, OF this place,
when about six miles below town, on
tn,s side OF the river, head som one
calling Jack; Jack get up, Jack;
.ppareutly in tones Of distress. 6ol"c
towards tie sound, be soon discovered
,omers leaning against tree, aud saw
skitf slowly floating along the edge OF
he ice, which was here about tw" Iods
vide along tho shore. Com, TO hun,
to ascertain what was the matter, Som
crs said to hmm, "Ihey are both asleep
~ the X fl, aud cau't wake them up.
ZsIby then went to the skitl, and saw the
NO men lying in the bottom. lie pull.
ID the boat up on the ice. Tho father
Az on the bottom, on bis face, about
half COVERED With water, which had Teen
blown into the boat from tho waves,
which were running very high. The
son lay on top OF him, with bis arms
.bont his neck. Tue boy was not quite
lead, but breathed Tor soae five minutes
after being if,ei up. The father had
been dead for some lime, bong stark
aud stiff.
Finding that nothing could be done
fr them, Z.,by turned his attention 10
Somers, who was nearly dead, beng
tho, oughly bennml,ed, aid had he no.
been fund, would not have survived
nany hours. He frat tiled to build n
fire, but failing IN that he commenced
waking HIM around, until he got his
blood il eli cua.ion, when he sent him
10 town with the news, himself remain.
,og to watch The bodies.
Somers arrived here about noon, ana
told his story.
OF the occurrence Of the night Som
err can give but q very confused ac-
count. All he seems to know is, that
the boy having lost his oars got into
| heir skiti; that he ay down in tie bot
tom and went to .lecp, leaving the fash
r and son rowing; that some time IN
the night he woke up and found them
wing by HIM, and the boat drifting slow
" along the shore,upon which It had
been blown by the wind that he ttied
TO rouse them, but he could not; that
ne then tried to pull tho beat out, bu'
vas benumbed, and not yet perfectly
sober, that he could not; that he Ia,
Town on log, holding :he tx # with
one hand, to wait for morning; IN this
1osition be tell asleep, when the boat
got away from him; this wakenel him,
and he seems 10 have followed it along
occasionally trying TO draw it on sho'e
and then striving to wsken the men
whom he supposed asleep. until he wn'
ound by Ze,by. lie had poa'ly per
,shcd f,om cold and exhaustion When
f,und, his feet being ire zen, and hi
hands frozen and Gu, with the ice trom
he attempts to &c. the boat ont. How
ne managed to reach town alter Lci'g
sent by Z.rbv ia mystery.
| Coroner Hall, who bad been sent Tor
held IN inquest, by which the SUITS anc'
# the above fac 8 Was elected, aud
We, d ct of "DcAlh from iatemperaDce
.nd exposure" rendered.
TIKI TERRIBLE Cosr OF THE WAR :