The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-18
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH
Seven Persons Plunged Into the
Icy Waters of Black Lake.
Two Little Girls Break Through the 1ce-ThreS
cue Into the Water-A Woodchopper,
with His Little Son, After Them
Terrible Excitement

CoCaEoToS, Sullivan Co.., N. ", Feb II, 1877.
Thirteen miles east OF this place Hp among the
pine and hemlock hills of sullivan county IN the
town OF Bethel, Is Black Lake. one OF those small
inland lakes for which the county IS noted, %and
named on account OF the very dark color Of It's
waters. A tannery Is erected here, and scxtreVe
here and there the forest and clear,ngs are rAs
homes OF the labOrers at the tannery, making qtra
settlement about the lake. There, In Una; Qnier'
and solitary spot. was witnessed Within the past
week scene that
STRUCK TERRoS TO THE sToUrEsr HEARTs.
and which called forth the exhibition oil those
Qualities OF courage aud endurance which are the
pride or the backwoodsman. to degree that has no.
parallel IN The annals Of courageous deeds.
Tho children OF some OF the employees at tho tan
merry mad gathered at the house OF oae OF them,.
where they enjoyed themselves until nearly even
ing. one day this week. Two little girls. Helen
Brooks, daughter OF william G. Brooks,
foreman OF the tannery, and Hattie
Schoonmaker, proceeding home from the
party, took '.short CUT across the lake, which 49,
frozen over, and was considered sale. When lney'
had reached almost the other shore Hattie
BROKE THROUGH THE ICE,
ana IN trying 10 help ner out Helen slipped In too
they both sank, and when they came up, according
10 James Kilcain, lad fifteen years Old, VINO was
working q lew rods from the shore, they were en-
twined in eacn others arms. Young Kicaln at
once started towards the hole IN the ice, with the
intention OF giving the girls all the assistance his
power. When he reached them they. were strug-
got hold Of SA taem and had them Ee hall AWAY waY
out OF the water when the Ice gave way beneath
nm, and all three were plunged beneath the chill
ing water. When they came up the ad began
shouting for assistance. James Brooks VINO was in
his sister In the water with the Others and he ran
to help her. In reaching out
HE SLIPPED INTO THE WATER.
Both girls had been clinging to young Klcain,
and he was fast becoming exhausted with
ms efforts TO- keep them and MN above
hnu fall IN
sister let go Of Kilcain and wined herself around
her brother. He succeeded In freeing his arms and
would break away with the combined weight Of
him anu his sister, and tired him so that he de-
Thomas Burt, another boy. was attracted by the
cries, ana ran to the edge OF the ice, and instantly
broke through. There were now
FIVE OF THEM IN THE WATER
all struggling fearfully for lite. man named Max
Of the on%re When D he Mss wokns In e e
woods, ran down TO the lake Shore and Deheld the
SITUATION He had his little fve-year old son with
him, and telling MIN to remain quiet on the shore,
rushed to the struggling little ones IN the water,
only to share their tate. AS soon as
grasped iio!d of his coat, and he was Keeping
then afoat, when his little son, terrified at seeing
his father In the water, jumped In anc grasped him
around the neck. The whole settlement mad now
been attracted to the shore OF the lake and the
CRYING ana prayng; men Shouting. and The cnlIIeS.
falling persons In the water
BATTLING WITH DEATH,
that stared them Ill the face Men shouted to do
this ana do that and between 1t ali nothing
was done to and them. When DeseKer
iound hls little boy about his neck
he seized him In his powerful arms,
kissed him several times, and with look OF des.
pair threw him far out upon the Ice where he was
taken up and carried TO his mother The little
girls were now rapidly failing. but young Kicont
succeeded In climbing out on the ice and shouted
for a tanncry hook one was brought and he sue
Ceeded in pulling out
THE INANIMATE FORM
Of the SHOEMAKER girl as she was sinking beneath
the Ice. Thomas Dent, iather OF the boy VINO had
already fallen In III aiding the girls. now Jumped In
TO the assistance OF Deseker ana the rest and alter
him went Thomas Hanley. These TWO sustained the
almost exhausted anu frozen DeseKer and the boys
until plank and more tannery hooks were brought.
aud by their aid
ALL SAFELY LANDED.
The girls although believed to be- dead, were
reSuscitated. The others were restored by warm
fires and clothing. The affair created sensation
throughout this entire section OF country, and the
courage and noble conduct OF Deseker, Hanley.
Dent, father and son, anu the LADS KilcOnl and
Brooks, Is q theme or hundreds Of admiring C0ngues