The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-07
r..rr OF A Hoor.sKIRr-[Corre-

tyr y.ruR OF 4 Hoor.sK!RT-tGorI,e'
>anScnce of the New York Sanl--ttdt.s,,
sp,,pah. n. Y.-An incident 30 romantic anu
unusual. and with n. denostesse'N 80 ple .,1,
ing, occurred near here one DAY recena NY
f,hsmnlsin. on which this place is slto,
ated. Is one Of the most beautiful shee,s o.
water, probably, in America. ana Gn aat
herland Bay. where one OF the HOS
hrflliant naval engagements OF tue Wa
az 1914 was fought and won ny CoIn-
Ynodore McDonoueh, Of the American
Acct. against the British, under Comno.
dore DoWnie, Furnishes one of the grahs,e.s ~
skating parks or ponds one couia VIZ. n,,no
see. It IS the favorite resort OF .iie .u" ~
ladies and gentlemen OF TINS vlci"t sbnrt
moonlight evenings. One evenius ;o',on of
the vilisee. who had frequently been ska
ting upon the bay before. Went OUT upon
the bay. but believing in the oio aA 1s,u
that 1<fwo is company went 10 an uht,e
nnented mart. where they could enjoy the
skating and each others society unmo'
After skating for some little time near the
shore the gentleman proposed that tney
should go further out, where the ice was
smoother, to which she consented, ana
they accordingly ventured out about TWO
miles. Here they found the Ice IN beautl-
full condition. and the gentleman was pro
ceedug to the grapevine. forward ano
backward roll, together with many other
fancy figures only known to accomplished
skaters, when suddenly the ice gave way be-
meath him, and in q moment he found hlnn'
selfstruscling in the water and unable 10 eN-
tricate himself, the ice breaking as fast as
he attempted to raise himself on its edge.
The young lady, true to her womaniy IN
stincts, began to scream at the top OF heI
voice, but the privacy they had sougnS hau
taken them beyond the hearing OF all VINO
could have been OF service to tnem. lie
besought her to 60 to the shore and endea.
yor to procure assistance; but she well
knew he must perish before she could get
back, even if she found no difficulty in pro.
curing assistance. Then an idea came into
her head, and she Immediately put it into
execution.
She first took off her jacket and dress,
and, tying them together, undertook to
reach him with one end; but it was toe
short, as the yielding ice warned her when
she moved toward him, and endeavored 10
throw him one end. What more could she
do? She hesitated moment ; then slip
ping off her CATERS, both stockings were
soon tied to the end Of the dress and jacket,
and yet it was too short. Meantime the
Young man was rapidly becoming eX-
hausted. and If she was to save him no
time was to be lost. For a moment
her hands disappeared in the drapery
about her waist, and then something
fell on the ice about her feet-it was
her hoop.skirt. This was quickly severed
into half dozen pieces and added to
the jacket, dress, and stockings, and, to
her great delight, this made the line long
enough to reach him. Bravely she tugged
at one end of it, while he clutched the
other with the grip of man whe knew
that that was all which stood between him
and eternity. In few minutes she landed
him safely on the solid ice, and then the
red jacket and dress were wrapped about
her as best they could be, and the two
started for home, where they arrived with
out being noticed by any one. Few were
the words spoken on the journey home !;
but they must have been to the purpose,
as the wedding suits are ordered, and be-
fore the ice shall disappear from our beau
tiful lake this spring they will be married.