Daily Kennebec journal., 1873-12-10
From VassalbOrO'.

The month so far has been with US, one
of events. On Saturday evening, the 9th inst,
couple of young men, Mr.. Elisha Ward and
Warren McCorrlson, who live at Stanley Hill
in China, thought they would avail themselves
of the fine skating on our lake, and therefore
make a trip to East Vassalboro', which lies
about two and half miles west from their
homes On their way to this place, Mr.. Ward,
who was taking the lead, broke through thin
ice, which left him in a dangerous situation.
His companion by GOODNESS and pluck rescued
him from a watery grave, whicn he certainly
would have found had he been alone. They
proceeded to the Revere House where Mr.. w.
got ''thawed out" and dry clothing. He then
returned home overland, rejoiced at his de-
liverance.
While writing the above this afternoon, we
were startled by an unusual stir in the village,
people hurrying to and fro. We thought the
cause might be fire, but upon inquiry we
learned that Mr.. James E. Gates with team
loaded with wood had broken through the ice
about one mile down the lake, between here
and Bradley's Island. Cries for help were
heard here, on shore. Immediately thirty or
forty men and boys, some on skates aud some
spot. Upon reaching the place all help was
of no avail, as both the horses of Mr.. Gates
had drowned and sunk, and the top of his
load was just sticking out above water. Fur
,her details are as follows Mr.. Gates was
hauling some wood from his lot bordering on
the lake some miles down, although it was
quite imprudent, as many thought, the lake
not being frozen uniformly. A young man,
Mr.. Edwin S. Bragg, was driving the team
while Mr. Gates sat upon sled not loaded,
attached in the rear. The team had passed
over before during the day the spot where the
accident occurred, and they were trying to
retrace their steps as near as possible. But
there was a large seam caused by the upheay-
ing of the ice during the day, and the ice be-
ing so thin that when the whole team passed
near the crack the horses began to cut
through, when they were urged to greater
speed. The ice being broken by the horses
CauSSu tllt lOdueU elSO " cut tuIOuku mOEe
easily, and when the sled came along upon
which was Mr.. c., he was thrown into the
water. immediately the teamstsr jumped for
the horses heads to keep them from struggling
and was doing all that a man could do under
similar circumstances to save the horses,
when Mr.. Gates, in the water in the rear,
called for help. Mr.. Bragg drew him out
on to the ice and then returned to the horses
heads, telling Mr.. c. to catch the axe and cut
the harness straps. But Mr.. c., being some
what chilled and quite excited, in getting
the axe from the load slipped and fell into the
water agair, when Mr.. Bragg eft the horses
to rescue Mr.. C. again; the horses being
fatigued went down before help a rived Mr..
Gates loses a valuable pair of horses by the
accident, we are sorry to say, but that is moth
ing compared to the loss of his own life, which
was very much imperiled. All join in prais-
ing Mr.. Bragg for his efforts to save the
horses. The people are all going down to-
morrow to raise up the horses and load.
Happily no lives were lost in either of the
above cases.
Yours respectfully.
ONCE WEEK.