The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1866-02-20

A TERRIBLE ADVENTURE IN THE
NIAGARA RIvER.-Last Saturday after.
noon, very large quantity Of ice passed
down the Niagara river from Lake
Erie, suspending the trips of tho ferry
boat which plies between Black Rock
and Fort Erie. William A Thomp
son, Vicc-President of the new Erie and
Niagara railroad, was on the Canadian
side, and attempted to return with a
man and a boy. They had nearly reach.
ed The American shore, when the ice
crowded round and they were caught by
1T and wedged fast they could neither
go on nor return. The sides of the
boat were crushed, and it began to fill
rapidly. The three leapcd upon the
nearest cake Of ico and drew the boat
partly upon it. q
MIR, Thompson then began to bail out
the boat with his cap, but the ice camo
again upon them and they had just time
to spring into the half,flled boat when
the sheet on which they had been stand.
ing was crushed by another. The boat
was struck, and capsized, and both the
men thrown Unto the water. The boy
ieaped on an ice.cake. Mr.. Thompson
sank, rose, olutohcd the boat and climb.
ed upon its keel, The other man sank
ana drowned. The boat was again
struck and upset; he sank and rose
again clutched the boat and climbed
into its stern, where he sat in water up to
his chm. 1t was now dark. A. cake
OF ice drifted against the boat he put
out his hand to ward it of, and finding
it to be several inches thick, crawled
upon it. But not knowing the size of
the ice.raft, he dared not move it. He
called to the boy whom he could hear in
loud prayer, and found that he was still
ailoat on his bit of ice.
1t was bitter night. A storm of
sleet was falling, driven by keen north
winds, and freezing as it fell. All he
could do for three mortal hours in that
darkness, storm and extreme peril was
to cry for, help, He was heard. In
the vicinity of Lower Black Rock, there
was an answer from the shore. but no
help. The man who answered said he
was without oars and could do nothing
They still drfted on between Grand Is.
land and the American shore till they
mad passed Tonawonda and were pass
ing the last houses upon Sitter Shore
whence help could come. They had
reached, the very last when their shouts
were heard and lights were seen NOV.
ing from house to house. The neigh
bors were gathering. atThere was the
gleam OF lantern upon the river and
they knew that boats were coming.
When they were reached, MI. Thomp.
son had to be rolled into the boat like
log. The boy, who was thinly glad,
had nearly perished. But what is most
astonishing is that neither Of them was
seriously frozen.s
How TO SELECT FLoUR.-First, look
to the color; if it is white, with a yellow.
ish or straw-colored tint, buy it. Ifit
is very white, refuse it. Second, exam.
inc its adhesiveness wet and k1ead a,
little oft between your fngersS if it
works soft and sticky it is poor. Third,
throw little lump Of dry flour against
dry, smooth, perpendicular surface lift
falls like powder it is bad. Fourth
squeeze some Of the flour in your hand
ifit retain the shape made BY the pres.
sure that, too, is good sign. Flour
that will stand all these tests it is safe to
buy. These modes are given by old
-four dealers, and they pertain to mat
ter that concerns overwhelmingly,
the staff Of life.
A little girl was, lately reproved for
playing out doors with boys, and inform.
ed that beinp seven vears old she yvaa