New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-02-06
4 Grave Deed.

CECIL, MD, January 2J.-Above aud
nearly opposite to Port Deposit, on the Sus.
quehanna river is q little island called Carr's
Island, having an area Of about forty acres,
and when the dreadful food caused by the
choking of the stream with ice some days
ago, was at its height, the island was Hooded.
This would have been a matter Of no particu-
lar Importance had it not been for the fact
that on that island were the Roberts broth
els, with their families Of women and chill
drcn. They had been advised to leave the
place before the freshet came, but, thinking
there was no danger, they neglected to DO
so. The Hood came, and throughout Mon
day night and Tuesday the cries Of the family
could be heard calling for help which II seemed
impossible to render them, for between the
mainland and the island the ice was rotten
and treacherous, and there were deep crew
ices between the hummocks. 1t seemed as
much as ones life was worth to attempt the
rescue. A purse OF one hundred dollars was
offered in Port Deposit 10 whoever would
make the attempt. \ party Of duckers and
fishermen in Hayre de Grace-about dozen
Of them, under the leadership Of John Leith-
eiser, decided to do all they could, and went
up stream little way for a good point Of de-
parture. This was on Wednesday. They
got two good Uncovered lfe-boats, placed
them on iron ruuners-three under each
boat-took boat-hooks and 800 feet OF rope,
and n spite of all warnings OF the fearful,
got their boats cut on the ice gorge, twenty
feet above the usual level Of the water
They then stripped their coats from their
backs, attached the ropes to the boats, and
nine Of the men went out on their desperate
ad, enture, leaving two on the shore to man
age the ropes. There was great excitement,
AMI 4 large crowd had gathered on the shore
to Itch the result. The men went on slow
ly =hipg the boats over the ice, no easy
ma ,rr. but certainly q dangerous one, for
when the boats were about three hundred
feet from shore John Cameron went through
the ice, and had to struggle to get out again.
He did so, however, and in 4 minute or two
down went John Mahan and was pulled out
cold and dripping, like walrus at the north
pole. A little further on the party descended
into q deep crevice and were lost to sight,
but before the ropes on shore were pulled up
they came again on their way to the island.
1t took them a good hour to reach Woods
Island, and here they made fast their rope
to tree for the return. Here was water,
into which they launched their boats and
made for Cars Island. They shouted, but
received no reply, and began TO fear that the
imprisoned family were dead. They rowed
on and reached the island, which was COW
cred eight feet deep with water. In mo-
ment or two they saw the Roberts brothers
padding about, and it may readily be be-
lieved that they were heartily welcomed.
The house, being on slightly rising ground,
wa. not then much under water, although IL
had been. In the doorway stood the women
and children, shedding tears Of JOY at the
sight Of their DELIVERIES. They had passed
the night In prayers for safety and their
prayers had been answered. At IL o'clock
they set out on the retlrn, Mrs Alfred Rob-