, 1866-01-19
ADGIFT on TIE ICE.
Fearful Advcnture On Niagara Riror-
Ono MNN SFo&Aeu nnd Two Wonder
fully Saved

Fearful Advcature On Niagara Riror-
Ono MRn arosgAeu nnd Two Wonder
fully saved
From the Buffalo Express, 1ath.) ;.
We have to recount, this morning, ono o. d
The moss fearful npd extraordinary s.ol1et o.
pe5tAous adventure death aud soue1lus LII. r.
It has ever been our LOT to mase pnelc. ~
three nctors and sufferers In II, one Is promi-
ncut and widely known gentleman ot the
city, Vim. i. Thompson E@l.r the protector,
and now Vice President of tho New Ere ana
Niagars Rallroad, running from Fort Erie to
OF t6e story from the lips Of afr. thompson,
who survives to relate such an experience as
few men ia the world hare passed through.
Il seems that on Saturday afternoon The
quantity Of ice passing down the river from
the lake caused the ferry boat plying bstTeen
Black Rock and Fort Enc to suspend her
trips. Mr. Thompson, who was on the other
eide md desired to cross to this, accepted the
oticr of Il colored hoy named Wm. Bartlett to
row him across In snnli hoat, not realizing
ut the moment the difficulty Of the passage
occasioued Iy the movement Of ice. Subse-
quently he was Joined for the trip by 1nan
named Warren, foreman under the contract
ors OF The Enc & Niagars Railroad, who whs
rcry anxious to reach this side IN time To take
the =. N. train TO Suspension R1idrc, rrotpc
home to bis fninily ut Prescott, e. " "a
reaching tht river side, Ms. T. saw the haz-
ards OF. the attempt ut crossing, and would
have reccded, but Mr. Warren pressed him to
paIlion's anxietfe8.
About half past firc o'clock the three
pushed but into the stream. They found
much difficulty In making tbrir way through
the Ice. which nm close TO Shore, and sEain
Mr. Thompson advised return. But pres
Gully getting through the sAofc pack Of ice,
they found clear waller and went forward con-
fdcn4ly, meeting no obstacles until they
n~Aiu ucnred shore on the American sade, near
The Eric Mills. when the Ice pressed about
THIN thicker tha1 III the first instance. Mr.,
Thompson then gave an imperative order to
too late. They had entered so far that return
was impossible. They were caught by the
ice, wedged East between its grinding cakes,
aud could 20 neither forward nor hack. An
Other momcot, md It had crushed LAc side Of
their boat, SO thnt 1t began 10 I'll rapidly aud
sink
The three Immediately 1capcd ont upon q
cake OF ice nearest 1t hand, which proved TO
be but small ono, scarcely larger Than q
door, md drew The boat purity up It after
tLcm. Their hope was in being able 70 turn
the craft Bottom upwards and mount Its keel,
in which pueitign they might be aoatcd by
II. but tho mass WITS not 1argr enough to
permit such m operation. Mr. Thompson
then attempted to bail ont The boat With his
cap; hui, while doing 80, tue boy nort1et.
cried out that the Ice was upon them again,
and they bad barely time to throw them
upon which they Ind stood WAS crushed BY
another Tnnss coming down upon It
An Instant moro, End The boat was
also struck, turned bottom upwards,
md Ar. Thompson and Mr. Warren
plunged into the watcr. The negro boy snc.
ceeded IN leaping upon anice cake. III: Tlonp,
SOC 6anE once and came up, when he cln:chsd
The boat, made llfs way to its stern and climb
cd upon the keel. Hire he s2w his comnan-
ion Warren sinking for the last time, short
distance away, aud drowning before his eyes,
while lie was utterly rowerless TO help. He
ed nron himself nsain. Tic boat was once
more struck and rolled over. Again he sank,
aud again, On rising, lie clutched the boat,
Which again Ind rityhted itself Climbing into
it's stern, which sank with his weight two OF
three feet below the suEface, lie sal for 4 time
with the water to his chln.
By thls time # had Long !grown dark. lie
could sec but little about hin. Presently, q
vcnke Of ice drifting down upon him. he put
out his huu1stn ward II a:say, and iceling II
to Lc several inches thick and apparently q
eolnt size, he concluded II best to escape 1
nearly falled IN doing so, barely getting hi!
breast upon the edge o1 the cake when ht
sprung from the boat, and finding 1t imposs1
Bile to lit lis body above that position. Prov
idcniially, however, tic boat, in rising, JUS
touched lis feet and gaze him slight pnsl
md cxLausting effort, to crawl upon inc cake
Here liz stood npl5ght, ard. not Knowing tht
size OF his icc-rntt, dared not move H1iling
the boy Bartlett, lie found him still adoai
upon Ills bit Of ice, o hundred or two yard.
away, loudly engaged In almost frantic prarer
$ the two down tie river, through tue dark
nes. ard the storm Of Hcezing slest which
fell u1,ou their frail rails Of ice. Those wiz
were out Saturday cvenluE will remenbel
Whist o bitter night it was. A tine rain
driven by keen north winds, stung the fac!
Of thc traveller and casc1 everything cSpose!
with quick mail Of ice Through all thi
pclting storm. these wet md exhausted cast
awsys, drifting aloug the cold currents Of til
Niatua with The horrid dread Of iu1mlneu
death to freeze their hearts within them
wcrr exposed for three mortal houra. Nj
Thompson had lost boih cap and gloTcs
His clothing was frozen into The risidness Q
iron azmor, and he became incapable O
motion. except AZ he slightly swnns
his arms, to keep them flexible. al
that he could do for hinself WAS to shou
tho cry for help, which he did steadily Will
the whole strength Of his lungs. for hours
fortunately. possessed Of magnificent PHI
%iYue III every respect, Iii voice was capahl
OF the cxcrtiou. Once, somewhere IN the VI
cfnity of Lower Black Rock, tic received re
fTonse rom shore, hut 10 hts appeal tor re-
cue tee voice oal 81 tae 11 asskness aaswSses n;c
tAat IL Aaa 10 oaIs auu coula 20 nosnlhss
ing mlsefabse l9ol, o. Horse, "1o nea1o @ ans
haascd sesanS 10 nass Maae s no eaoa 70 lpoS s,
hs' nctghnoi hooa ano ~. rs encIs1cs 70 "of!
1or the rescue oi the pcfillea Ineh Wno 4p
pcalsd ~, TO ,, MN: ana 60 teey o1u.en on p
yoho M nlaek h9chf peyono i.,e aasaH .sxuu e,aaa;
paat Ae nsaa Q! 1iano tsiaaa. aaa saaa,
!! onward 1o*afn ha noSs sons snsaehas adg1s s,,s
the geas a,a;, IT, No .thai,,, so H, ear ~,
1hen. stenualy Inc e.y io1 t, nell tanS oG
OIL, ON acto s ,ae "a1ea ana ~ aatonen aac o.H Nc,
aar hros ~ eht ho.s bad aou ,,,p H
IT, mas n;oe o,c9ort %
81 tne .nvcF l1assfsca-n VIZ niut ~, vtaov4 s.a4
INC nrsht. noEc oe7an = ~ ~ tas Isat T. -.
s.ous aau s'11n tp .s 90 ~ ~, w.
s nc camsa - 10 n.s con,a1luu @ sot sId IN; ~
o taxe n an,a aS - ~ IN 's ~ "ts asaan. e -
~ euo1.. =. deecs;s.cn ~. +bn,, 49, -.
tnotso!s' ar y ues.14es 114c., tasm, nusr 1
Qnaant nha cu!au1s: tney Meso Wy S.ssG r1
eve e u in1V nn1Vor1das ~ n,o tof 'eai' an"
And 70 they arifseS sscadlly down, betwee
Grand Llaad aud Tie American shore, INIT
Iouowanda was passed, aud the last house