The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-01-25
wo or three feet below its surface, he sat for

two or three feet below its surface, he sat for
a time with the water to his chin.
BY this time 1t had long grown dark. He
could see but little about him. Presently,
cake of ice drifting down upon him, he put
out his hand to ward it away, and feeilng IL 10
be several inches thick and apparently OF some
size, he concluded it best to escape II posi-
HE from the boat to the ice. He very nearly
failed in doing so, barely getting his breast up
on the cake when he sprang from the boat,
and finding II impossible t. lift his body above
that position Providentially, however, the
boat in rising Just touched his foot and gave
him alight push forward, after which he was
enabled by long and exhausting efforts, to
crawl upon the cake. Here he stood upright.
and, not knowing the size Of the ice raft, dar-
ed not move, Hailing the boy, Bartlett, he
found him still atloat upon his bit of ice, loud
ly engaged in almost frantic PRAYER.
And now began the wonderful voyage of
the river, through the darkness and the storm
OF freezing sleet which fell upon the frail RATS
OF ice. Those who were out Saturday even
ing will remember what bitter night it was.
A fine rain, driven by keen north winds stung
the face of the traveller and cased everything
exposed with quick mail of ice. To all this
pelting storm, these wet and exhausted cast
always, drifting along the cold waters of the
Niagara, with the horrid dread of imminent
exposed for three mortal hours. Mr.. Thomp-
son had lost5both cap and gloves. Lis clotn-
ing was frozen into the rigidity of iron ar1nor,
and he became incapable of action, except as
he slightly swung his arms to keep them fieXi-
bic. All that he could do for himself was to
shout and cry for help, which he did steadily
and with the whole strength OF his LUNGS for
hours. Fortunately, possessed of magnifi-
cent physique in every respect, his voice was
CAPABLE of the exertion. Once, somewhere in
the vicinity of Lower Black Rock, he received
a response from shore, but to his appeal for
rescue, the voice, out of the darkness, replied
that it had no oars and could do nothing
The miserable fool, or worse, who heard and
hailed, seems to have made no effort to rouse
his neighborhood and set its energies to work
for the rescue ofthe periled men who appealed
to him. And so they drifted on beyond Black
Rock, beyond Strawberry Island, past the head
OF Grand Island, and steadily on toward those
currents of the great cataract where no hand
could save them. Steadily the cry for Hhelp"
rang out across the water and through the
black night, and no ear heard and no tongue
answered. Three hours had passed-seVen
miles oil the river traversed-it was nine
o'clock of the night Hope began to die in the
heart of Mr.. Thompson, stout and strong as
it was. He called to his companion, the ne
gro boy, and gave him message for his wife
and children, lift should be his lot to escape
His thoughts as he described them were very
quaint and curious. They were too busy to
give an opportunity for fear, and death was
faced calmly and coolly.
And so they drifted steadily down, between
Grand Island and the American shore, until
Tonawanda was passed, and the last houses on
either shore from which help could come be-
fore help should be too late, were 60
ing by. But there, at the last, by the good
providence of God, help did come. The shouts
were heard on Grand Island shore. Lights
began to move from house to house. The
neishbors were running together. Presently
the CLEAN of a lantern moved upon the river,
and they knew that boats were coming out.
MIR. Thompson, when reached, had to be
rolled into the boat like a log. he was taken
offby Mr.. Charles Poplar, and Mr.. George
Glide. Another boat, manned by Mr.. William
w. Blackney and Mr.. John A. Bacon, rescued
the boy Bartlett. The boy, being thinly clad
had nearly persisted when taken off; but Mr..
= Thompson, man oflarge, robust frame and
great vitality, felt himself capable Of enduring
an hour OF two more of the bitter trial. AS
tonishing to say, neither was seriously frozen
and Mr.. Thompson, whom We saw yesterday,
appears little the worse for his extraordinary
experience.
MIR. Warren, who was drowned, was an ell
DERBY man OF abous So years of age. He resid-
ed at Preston, c. W., where, we understand,
he leaves family.