Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-02-10
A THRILLING ADVENTURE.
RESCUE OF A DUNG LADY FROM AN "AIR
HoLEn IN THE MISSISSIPPI.

RESCUE OF A DUNG LADY FROM AN GAIN
HOLE" IN THE MISSISSIPPI.
On the evening Of the 2Sth OF Decem.
per, party OF four persons started from
Winona to Trempeleau, Minnesota. The
party consisted of Mr. Sheldon Q. Carey
one of the publishers of the Winona Re
publican, and Miss Mary Harrington, in
one sleigh, and Mr. w. w. Williams and
Miss M. F. White, in another sleigh
They were out for pleasure ride on the
river When near Trempeleau they made
II mistake, which has often been made by
parties not perfectly familiar with the road
and instead of turning to the left short
distance above the village, and taking the
channel of the river leading to that place,
they passed TO the right of the island op-
posite the place, and discovered their mis-.
take only when, having passed the island,
the lights of the village appeared in the
distance 10 the left and behind them.
The party then turned and directed
their course across and up the river, guild
ed by the lights Of the village Mr.. Carey
was ahead, and driving at brisk trot, his
spirited horse holding his head high, and
depending wholly upon the bit for guild
aHce. He remarked to Miss Harrington
that, as they had strayed away from tho
beaten road they had been fortunate in
escaping air holes in the ice Hardly had
he finished the words, when the fatal
plunge was made, and the dark and ice
cold water closed over their heads. Mr..
Williams was only two rods behind He
instantly reined his horse, sprang from his
sleigh, and ran to the edge of the ice lie
saw his friend struggling with his horse
IN the rapid current, and called to him 4:
Where's Mary 2" ooh, God | don't
know - was the reply
Williams now saw the young lady on
the surface below him, floating rapidly
down. He ran below, and endeavored to-
approach the edge of the ice, but twice he
found himself sinking on portions of the
ice broken of by his own weight, and from
which he leaped back on the solid ice. She
was now so far under the dark current
that he could see but little more than her
cap, and this but dimly. lie succeeded
IN getting below her, discovered Il pro.
Jecting port ion ice, under which should
she pass all hope would be gone. 1t was
the work of an instant to postrate him.
self on the ice, and push out so far as to
reach beyond this edge He was now
ready, aud as the sinking girl loated to-
ward him, he could hear her repeating
prayer that she might be saved.
| can save you now, Mary was the
word of encouragement, and as she came
within his reach, firm grasp upon her
cap with his left hand was all that he could
get. The long reach which he was COM
PEELED to make, the sinking other body as
the weight of his hand rested upon her
head, and the force of the current came
near drawing him entirely off the ice.-
Bnt, carefully balancing himself, he sue
ceeded in getting her head out of the wa
ter. and by taking hold of her arm with
his right hand, and placing his left hand
upon the ice, the glove of which instantly
iroze fast, he was enabled to get her in |
such position that he could hold her un-
til help, attracted by their cries, arrived,
which was about half an hour. The vii
lage was about half mile of, but by the !
assistance Of Miss White, some one was
made to hear the cry
How long must have been those fearful |
moments before help arrived While
holding on in this way, the horse swan
by them, probably with the sleigh hang
ing below in deep water. There was great
danger of this coming directly against
them and sweeping the lady away from
the firm grasp by which she was now held,
but the animal passed them, and went un-
der the ice below. Mr.. Williams now call |
ed to Mr.. Carey, but received no reply.
He had also disappeared below the sur
face, Or under tho ice. Help at length
camo.
The people on hearing the cry, suppos.
ed it to proceed from an opening little
further down the river, and proceeded to
this place first This mistake heightened
the distance and the time. A rope was
first thrown, but Mr.. Williams was unable
to adjust it, A pole was next extened
to them, and in some way by the aid of
this, they succeeded in drawing the young
lady now unconscious, upon the cold ice,
and of rescuing her preservcr from his
perilous position. 1t was not until sew
eral hours after Miss Harrington had been
removed to q comfortable room in the
village that she SO far recovered as to be
conscious.