Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-02-01
Twenty Skaters Drowned.

wSAtH tJhoLSAS A%AS~ASNAs
About three weeks ago some twenty
persons were drowned in London while
ska,ing. II was most sad affair and we
copy the particulars from the London
Times of January 9th:
"On that part of the Ornamental Water
in the Regents Park Immediately opposite
Sussex terrace, several thousand persons
had been skating during the forenoon
without any accident taking place, although
the ice was looked upon by the experienced
icemen on duty as very unsafe, from its
being principally snow ice. About half
past three o'clock in the afternoon there
were near the same spot about five hun
dred skaters, among whom were many
ladies. Suddenly and without any warn
ing, the ice at the sides of the bank be-
came loosened, and was drawn from the
edge. Within a minute the whole sheet
of the ice over the full width of the lake
gave way and split into fragments of few
yards square.
Numbers of persons fell through the
C evices into the water, which is at least
twelve feet deep, and several appeared at
| once to be sucked under the ice. At least
two hundred persons were struggling in
the water and screaming for help. A few
with great presence of mind, threw them
selves fiat upon the surface of the pieces
of ice, and were thus not only instrumental
in saving the lives of many of those in the
water, but preserved their own until assist
ance came to them. The screams of those
struggling and sinking in the water, and
the shouts of the people on the banks, ad-
led TO the horror of the scene.
She icemen, the park keepers and spec
tators rendered all possible aid, and more
than 100 persons within few minutes Of
the accident were got on shore. While
this was going on several persons who
were in the water in the middle of the
lake, and whom it was impossible for the
icemen 10 reach, the ladders and boats be-
ing rendered almost useless, owing to the
state of the ice, were seen to sink back
exhausted, evidently benumed with cold,
after vainly endeavoring to support them
selves by clutching at the rotten ice, which
crumbled away in their grasp.
What made the scene the more Dire adful
was that the female relatives of many of
those who fell into the water saw their
struggles from the bank without the posi-
bility of saving them. One lady saw her
husband sink and lose his life, while two
sisters were sending forth piercing screams
and calling on the people to save their
brother. He was drowned and the two
ladies were taken away in the most pitt
able state. As soon as the ice was cleared
a body of icemen and laborers, with great
difficulty, got out the boats to that portion
of the water where it was known several
had sunk. Before dusk several bodies had
been recovered, but it was known that
many more were under the ice. 1t is the
opinion of the icemen who witnessed the
accident that there are at least twenty
persons drowned.
Many instances Of individual gallantry
took place. One man at the most immi-
nent risk, plunged in and brought several
children safely out. A gentleman who
broke through near the southwestern shore
fell so that his head and chest rested on a
large block of ice while his feet were in
the water. There he lay smoking his pipe
for long time, while the boats we're fur.
Their out picking Cup as fast as possible
those in worse position. He began, how
ever, to realize his position, and, removing
his pipe from his mouth, he called ont !;
ESQ to any one who will fetch me out !"
Several aborive attempts were made to
reach him with ropes, poles and ladders.
Eventually man striped to his shirt and
trousers, and rope having been fixed 10
his waist, he desperately fought his way
through the ice, and seizing the skater
round the body they were both dragged
to land amid tremendous cheers.
just as one of the boats approached a
sufferer he sank, but a young man in the
boat plunged after him into the water and
brought him up. They were both got into
the boat.
A young man stood on solitary piece
of ice in the centre of the lake for an
hour and halt, and was at last fetched
off by man who reached him in boat.
All this time the excitement was kept up
by the frequent sinking of those who had
ost all power to support themselves