The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-01-26
From the Buffalo Express, Jan. l6.


From the Buffalo Express, Jan. l6.
We have 10 recount this morning one of
the most fearful and extraordinary stories
OF periloilSFalventurc. death and suffering
that Ii haS ever been our lot TO make pub
liz. OF the three actors and sufferers in
ii. one is a prominent and widely known
gentleman OF this city. VIM. A Thomp-
son, Esq, the proprietor and now Vice
President of The new Erie and Niagara
Railroad, running from Fort Erie 10 Nj
agar,. We have obtained our particulars
OF tie story from the lips OF Mr.. Thomp-
son. who survives TO relate such an expo
riencc rs few men in the world have pass
ed through.
1t seems that on Saturday afternoon the
quantity of ice passing down the river
from the like caused the ierrv-boat plving
between Black Rock and Fort Erie TO slIS-
pend her trips Mr.. Thompson. who was
o,l the other side and desired Ia cross 10
this. accepted the Offer oi' a colnrei boy
named William Bartlett Ia row him across
in a small beat. not realizing ri the mo-
meni i;le difficulty of the passage OCCASION
ci hv the movement OF icr- Subsequent
IL hc NILS JOINED for the trip by man
named Warren. foreman under the con-
tractors ot the Erie AMI Niagara Railroad.
who wl- VERY anxious 10 reach this side
IN time TO take the t. p m tram 10 Sus-
pension l!rii-cr. "nin- h"me To his family
al Prescott. {. ". On reaching the river
side Mr. T. SAW the hazards oi the attempt
AT crossing ana would have recedel. but
Mr, Warren pressed him TO 90 on. and ne
WAS prevailed upon toy his companions
anxirtic>
About halt-pa~t ) o'clock the three
pushed ont into the stream. They found
much difficulty in making their way
through the Ice which ran close 10 shore.
and a@ain Mr.. Thompson advised a return
But presently getting through the shore
PACK "l ice they found clear wafer. and
went forward confidently. meeting no ob-
>lacie> until they again ncirel 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 the boy
To back AWAY and return. hui it WAS too
laIc, They had entered 50 far that re-
turn was impossible. They We're caught
hy the ice. wedged fast between lis grind
i'm cakes, and could 90 neither forward
nor back. Another moment. and ii had
crushed the sides Of their boat, so that il
began 10 till rapidly and sink.
The three Immediately leaped out upon
a cake OF ice nearest nj hand, which
proved to be hut a small one. scarcely
iarger than door. and drew the boat
partly upon ii after them. Their hope
WAS in being able TO turn the craft bottom
up and mount It's keel. in which position
they might he tioaied 10y ii but the mass
WAS not large enough 10 permit such an
operation Mr. Thompson then attempt
ed 10 bail out the boat with his cap; but
while doing "a. the boy Bartlett cried ont
that the ice WAS upon them again. and
they had barely time 10 throw themselves
into The half-iiilcd boat when the piece
upon which they had stool was crushed
10y another mass coming down upon il.
An instant mere and the GOAT was also
struck. turned bottom upward. and Mr..
Thompson AMI MIR. Warren plunged into
the wafer. The negro boy succeeded in
leaping upon an Ice cake. MIR. Thomp-
son sank once and came up. when he
cluiched the boat. made MS WAY 10 the
stern and climbed upon the keel Here
he SAW his companion Warren sinking for
the last time. a short distance away. and
drowning before his ewes. while he was
utterly powcrleSS TO help. He had scarce
iy witnessed this. when death rushed upon
him again. The boat was once more
struck and rolled over. Again he sank.
and AGAIN. on rising. lac cluiche,i the buaf.
winch ;l"ain had riehie,l Itself Climhin.
INTO liz stern. which sank with his weight
two or three feet below The surface. he s;li
Tor time with the wafer TO his chin.
by this ;Ime it had LONG CROWN dark
lie could see bat little about him. Pres
ehtiy. Il cake OF ice drifting down upon
HIM. he put out his hand TO ward ii AWAY.
and feeling it 10 he several inches thick
and apparently of, some size. he conclud-
cd ii be-; 10 escape. If possible. from the
boat 10 the ice. lie Very nearly failed
in doing -. barely getting his breast upon
the cake when he sprang tr"m the boat.
AMI finding ii impossible TO lit his body
above that position. Providentially, how
ever. the boat in rising just touched hi
foot and gave him a slight push forward.
after which he WAS enabled, 10y long am
eAhausiing efforts to crawl upon the cake.
Here he stood upright, and, not knowing
the size of the ice raft. dared not move.
lalllng the boy Bartlett. he found him
still atioat upon his bit of ice, 100 OF 200