The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-01-26
From the Duna,o Express, Of January lO.]

fOF--One Man Drowned.
From the BuiIa'o Express, Of January lo.1
We have to recount, this morning, one of
the most fearful aud extraordinary stories
Of perilouS adventure, death and suffering
that it has ever been our lot to make pub.
lie or the three actors and sufferers in 1t,
one Is q prominent and widcly-known gen.
tlcman of the city, WIN. A. Thompson, Esq,
the protector aud now the Vice President
of the New Eric and Nirgara Railroad, run.
ming from Fort Erie to Niagara. We have
obtained our particulars OF the story from
the lips Of Mr.. Thompson, who survived to
relate such an experience as few men in the
world have passed through.
1t seems that on Saturday afternoon the
quantity Of ice passing down the river from
the lake caused the ferry boat plying be-
tween Black Rock and Fort Erie TO suspend
her trips. Mr.. Thompson, who was on the
other side and desired to cross to this, ac-
ccpted the offer Of oolOred boy, named
WIN. Bartlett, to row him across in u small
boat, not realizing at the moment the dilh
Guilty of the passage occasiOned by the
movement of ice. Subsequently, no was
Joined for the trip by a mar named Warren,
foreman under the contractors OF the Erie
and Niagara r, R., who was very anxious
to reach this side iu time to take the 6 7. NJ.
train to Suspension Bridge, going home to
his family at Prestcott, G. w. On reaching
the river side, Mr.. 7. saw the hazards OF
the attempt at crossing, and would have re-
ceded, but Mr.. Warren pressed him to go
on, and he was prevailed upon by his com'
pauion's anNieties.
About half.past five o'clock the three
pushed out into the stream. They found
much difficulty in making their way through
the ice which ran close to the shore. and
agan' Mr. Thompson advised a return,
But presently getting through the shore
pack of ice, they found clear water and
went forward confidently, meeting no obsta-
oles until they again ueared the shore, on
the American side, near the Erie Mills.
when the ice pressed about them thicker
than in the first instance. Mr.. Thompson
then gave an imperative order to tho boy
10 back away and return, but it was too lato
They had entered 80 far that return was i'm
possible. They were caught by the ice,
! wedged fast between its grinding cakes,
and could go neither forward nor back.
Another moment, and it had crushed the
sides of their boat, 80 that it began to ill
rapidly and sink.
| IuC tiiIec iHill' iSupCu Oub upOu ~
cake of ice nearest at hand, which proved
to be but small ono, scarcely larger than
a door, and drew the boat partly upon It
after them. Their hope was in being able
| to tura the craft bottom upwards and mount
it's keel, in which position they might be
aoated by it; but tho mass was NOT large
enough to permit such an operation. MIR.
Thompson then attempted to bail out tho
boat with his cap; but while doing so the
boy Bartlett cried ont that the ice was up
on them again, and they had barely time to
throw themselves in the halfGlled boat,
when the piece upon which they had stood
was crushed by another mass coming down
upon it. An Instant more, and tho boat was
also struck, turned bottom upwards, and
Mr.. Thompson and Mr.. Warren plunged in
to the water. 1.-The nerrn Wv succeednA.fT
leaping upon an ice cake. Mr.. Thompson
sank once and camo mp, when he clutched
the boat made his way to its storm and
climbed upon the keel. Here he saw his
companion Warren sinking Tor tho last
time, short distance away, and drowning
before his eyes, while he was utterly pow
erless to help. He hal scarcely witnessed
this, when death rushed upon himself again.
The boat was once more struck and rolled
over. Again he sank, and again, on rising,
he clutched tho boat, which again had
righted itself Climbing into it's stern,
which sank with his weight two or three
feet below the surface, he sat tor time
with the water TO his chin.
By this time it had long grown dark. lie
could see but little about him. Presently,
a cake of ice drifting down upon MIN, he
put out his hand to ward it away, ami feel
ing it to be several inclcR thick and appa-
rently Of some size, he concluded it best to
escape if possible from tho boat to the ice.
lie very nearly failed in doing SO, barely
getting his breast upon the edge of the
cake, when he sprang from the boat, and
found it impossible to lift his body above
that position. Pro, ,identialiy, however, the
boat in rising, just touched his foot and
gave him slight push forward, after which
he was enabled, by long and exhausting Ell
stood upright, and not knowing the sizo OF
his ice raft, dared not move. Ilailing the
boy Bartlett, he found him still ailoat upon
his bit of ice, hundred or two yards away,
loudly engaged in almost frantic prayer.
And now began the wonderful voyage
of the two down the river, through the
darkness and the storm Of freezing sleet,
which fell upon their frail RATS OF ice.
Those who were out Saturday evening will
what a bitter night it was. A
fine rain, driven by keen north winds, stung
thu face Of the traveller, aud cased every
thing exposed with quick mail of ice.
To all this pelting storm these wet and ex-
hausted castaways, drifting along the cold
currents of the Niagara, with the horrid
dream Of imminent death TO freeze their
hearts within them, were exposed for three
mortal hours. Mr.. Thompson had lost both
cap and gloves. His clothing was frozen
into the rigidness Of iron armor, and he be-
came incapable of motion, except as he
slightly swung his arms, to keep them tlex
ible. All that he could do for himself was
to shont the cry for help which he did
steadily, with the whole strength OF his
lungs, for hours. Fortunately, possessed
of a magnificent physique in every respect,
his voice was capable Of the exertion.
Onoe, somewhere in the vicinity of Lower
Black Rock, lie received response from
shore, but TO his appeal for rescue the
voice out Of the darkness answered that 10
had no oars and could do nothing. The
miserable fool, or worse, who heard and
hailed, seems 10 have made no effort to
rouse his neighbOrhood and set it's energies
to work for the rescue Of the perilled men
who appealed to him. Aud 80 they drifted
on beyond Black RocF, beyond Strawberry
Island, past the head Of Grand Island, and
steadily onward toward those currents Of
the great cataract where no hand could
save them. Steadily the cry for help
rang out across the wafer and through the
black night, aud no ear heard and no
tongue answered. Three hours had passed
seven miles of the river tTaversed--it was
nine o'clock of the night. Hope began TO