New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-01-19
ADRrFT ON TEE ICE.

One Man Drowned ana Two "ohder-
fully sayod-The Survivors AGoat on
Cakes of ice for Three Hours, Drift
ing Seven Miles toward the Falls.
From The Buffalo Express, Jan. &c.
We have TO recount this morning one OF tne
most fearful and oxiraordnaIy stories OF perllous al
venture death and suffering that it has ever been our
LOT 10 make public. OF the three actors and sufferers
in IT, one is prominent and widely known gentleman
of this CITY William A. Thompson, ESQ., the proprietor
aud now Vice.President of the new Erie and Niagara
Railroad running from Fort Erie 10 niagara: we
have obtained our particulars OF the story from the Ups
peIenee as few men in the world have passed through
1t seems that Saturday afternoon the quantity oi
ice passing down the river from the lake cansed the
ferryboat plying between Black Rock ard FO7i Eric to
other side and desired 10 70 tbis accepted the
offer OF a cclored bov named William Bartlett TO row
him across IN n small boat, not ro9zing at the moment
the difficulty OF the passage occasloned by the move
ment Of ice. Subsequently he was coined ior the trp
By man named Warren, foreman under the contract
ois OF tie Erie and Niagara ltalI0hd VINO was f'iy
anxious 20 reach this side in time 10 take The p m
train 10 Suspension Bridge going home 10 bis family ~
Prescott, c. w. On reaching the riyer side MT. j;
saw the hazards Uf the attempt al crossing. and would
have receded, but Mr.. Warren pressed him TO go on
and he was prevailed upon 10y his companions AnAi'
About halfpast O'Clock tie three pushed out into
the stream They found much difficulty IN making their
way through the ice which ran close 70 shore. and
again Mr. Thompson advised return. But presently
rCttuQ through the shore pack Of Ice they found GEAR
Tate] and went forward confidently. meeting no Oh
staces until they again neared the shore on inc Ae
can side near the Erie Mills. when the ice pressed
about them thicker than in the first instance Mr.
Thompson then gave imperative order 10 ile Ooy to
back away and return, hut II was too late They had
entered far that return was impossible They were
caught by the ice wedged fast between iis grinding
eokes and could go neither forward nor back Another
moment and II had crushed the sides OF ther boat 80
t, that il began 10 I'LL rapidly and SINK.
The three Immediately leaped ont upon cake OF ice
nearest at hand which proved TO be but small one
scarcely larger than door, and drew the boat partly
upon it after them Their hope was in being able 10
turn the craft bottom up and mount It's keel IN which
position they might be oated by III but the mass was
. moi large enough 10 permit sneh an operation. MI.
Thompson then attempted 10 bail out the boa WIN ms
cop; bat while doing the boy Bartlett cred out thst
the loo was upon them again, ana they had Dhre'y
time 10 throw themselves into the hailled boat when
the piece upon which they had stood was crushed by
another mass coming down upon II. An instant more
! and MI THOMPSON and Mr.. Warren plunged into the
WATER The negro boy succeeded III leaping upon an
ice cake MIR. Thompson sank and came up, when
he clutched the boat maze his way 10 Inc stern ana
climbed upon the keel. Here lie saw bis companion
Warren sinking for the last time short distance away
and drowning before his eyes, while be was utterly
! nowerless 10 help. He had scarcely witnessed this,
when death rushed upon him again. The boat was
once more struck aud rolled over. Again he sank, and
agnip on rising he clutched the boat which egan had
riglted itself Climbing into its stern, which sank
with his weight two three feet below tie surface, he
sat for fine with the water 10 his chin.
By this time il had long grown dark. lie could see
but little ebout him. Presently cake Of ice drifting
down mon him he put out his hand to ward it away
and feeling TO be several inches thick and apparently
of some size lie concluded it best 10 escape If possible
from the boat to the ice. He very nearly failed IN
doing so barely getting his breast upon the cake when
lie sprang from tie boat, and finding il impossible 70
lift lis body above that position PrOVldenhdly, how
ever the boat in rising Just touched bis foot ard gave
him slight push forward, after which he was enabled
10y long and exhaustng Efforts TO crawl npon the cake
Here he stood upright and not knowing the size Of tho
ice raft dared not move. Hailing the boy BARTLETT he
found him still aioat upon his bit OF ice 100 or 200
yards away loudly engaged in almost frantic prayer.
And now began the wonderful voyage Of the riy e-,
through the darkness and the storm OF freezing seet
which fell upon their frail RATS Of ice. Those who
were out Saturday evening will remember what a
bitter night it fine rain, driven BY keen north
winds stung the face Of the traveller aud cased every
thing exposed with quick mail Of ice. To all this pet
ing storm these wet and exhausted casaways, drifting
along the cold waters Of the Niagara with the hOTid
dread Of imminent death TO freeze their hearts within
I them, were exposed for three mortal hours. MIR.
Thompson had lost both cap and gloves His clothing
was frozen into the rightly Of iron armor and he be-
came incapable Of motion, except as he slightly swung
lis arms to keep them flexible. All that he could do
for himself was TO shout ana cry Tor he when he dld
steadily and with the whole strength OF bis lungs for
hours Fortunately. possessed ramagniicen physiqne
in every respect bis voice was capable OF The c1eron
Once somewhere in the vicinity of Lower Black Rock,
he received response from shore, but 10 bis appeal
for rescue the voice, out OF the darkness. replied
that 1t had no oars and could do nothing. Tho
miserable fool or worse who heard and hailed seems 10
have made effort 10 rouse Lls nelghborho0d and set
It's energies TO work FOL the rescue Of the pcrcd
no appealed to him. And so they driiicd on beyond
Black Rock beyond Strawberry Island past the head
Of Grand Island and steadily toward those currents
of the great cataract where no hand could save them
Steadily the cry for help" rang out across the water
and through tic black night and no ear heard and no
tongue answered Three hours had passed-seven
miles Of the river trGvered-it was o'clock Of the
night. Hope began TO die in the heart Of Mr. Thomp
son. stout and strong as II was lie called 10 his com
paniOn the negro boy, and gave him message for his
wife ana children il it should be bis LOT to escape His
thoughts as he describes them were very quaint and
curious They we're 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 upon either shore nom
which help could before help should be too late,
were going by. But there. at the last by the good
providence Of God, help did come. Tie shouts were
neeru on the Grand Island shore. Lights began 10
move rom house 10 house. The neighbors were run.
nng together Presently the CLEAN Of lantern moved
out.
, M. thompson, when reached, had TO be rolled into
the poat hke log lie was taken off by Mr.. CharlJs
fopiar snu MT 6eOrge Glide. Another boat, manned
Dy MI. Mhnam W. Blaekney and SIR John Bacon
rescued the 10Y Bartlett. The bow being fhplv clad
hhd nearly pefished when taken Off; bnt Mr. Thomp.
son man OF large, robust frame and great vitality
felt D. sell capable OF enduring m hour or two more
Of the litter tTaL Astonishing 10 say neither we're
ttTious- bozeD and Mr.. THOMPSON whom We saw