Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-02-14
IFom the New York Herald ]
A Brave Deed.

He'd neer been found hanging there. I"
tFom the New York Herald.l
A Brave Deed.
AN EXCITING ADVENTURE ON THE ICE
GoRGED sUsoUEHANNA.
Above and nearly opposite to Port De-
posit, on the Susquehanns river, is lit
tie island called Carr's Island. having
an area of about forty acres. and when
the dreadful food, caused by the chok-
ing of the stream with ice some days
ago, was at its height, the island was
flooded This would have been mat
ter of no particular Importance had it
not been for the fact that on that island
were the Roberts brothers, with their
families of women and children. They
had been advised to leave the place be-
fore the freshet came, but, thinking
there was no danger, they neglected to
do SO. The flood came, and throughout
Monday night and Tuesday the cries of
the family could be heard calling for
help which it seemed impossible to rem
der them, for between the mainland and
the island the ice was rotten and treach-
erous, and there we're deep crevices be-
tween the hummocks. 1t seemed as
much as ones life was worth to attempt
the rescue. A purse of 500 was offered
in Port Deposit to whoever would make
the attempt. A party of duckers and
fishermen in Havre de Grace-about a
dozen of them, under the leadership of
John Leitherser, decided to do all they
could. and went up the stream little
way for good point of departure. This
was on Wednesday. They got two good
Uncovered life-boats placed them on
iron runners-three under each boat
took boat hooks and 800 feet of rope,
and in spite Of all warnings of the fear
full risk, got their boats out on the ice
gorge, 20 feet above 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 adventure, leaving two on the
shore to manage the ropes. There was
great excitement, and large crowed
had gathered on the shore to watch the
result. The men went on slowly, push
ing the boats over the ice, no easy mat
ter, but certainly dangerous one, for
when the boats were about 800 feet from
the shore John Cameron wens through
the ice and had to struggle to get out
again. He did so, however, and in q
minute or two down went John Mahan
and was pulled out cold and dripping,
like walrus at the north pole. A lit
tie further on the party descended into 3
deep crevice and we're lost to sight, but
before the ropes ON shore were pulled up
they came again on their way to the is
land. 1t took them good hour to
reach Woods Island, and here they
made fast their rope to a tree for the re-
turn. Here was water into which they
launched their boats and made for Carr's
Island. They shouted, but received no
reply and began to fear that the impris-
oned family were dead.
They rowed on and reached the island
which was covered eight feet deep with
water. In moment or two they saw
the Roberts brothers padding about, and
it may readily be believed they were
heartily welcome. The house, being on
slightly rising ground, was not then
much under the water. although it had
been. In the doorway stood the women
and children, shedding tears of joy at
the sight af their deliverers. They had
passed the night in prayers for safety,
and their prayers had been answered.
AT IL o'clock they sat out on the return,
Mrs. Alfred Roberts and two little girls
in one boat, and Mrs. Charles Roberts
with her baby and little boy in the 9TH
er; then all the men set to work with q
will, rowing back to Woods Island,
and then set out over the ice. When
J those ON shore saw them, cheer after
cheer went up, and when at last, with
out serious mishap, all stood once more
on terra frma, huggIng and kissing and
crying were the order of the day. A
purse of $50 was instantly offered the
gallant fellows: but they refused it with
Give it to the women and children. .
i They will not, however. be allowed to go
3 without money reward. Their names
deserve preservation. Here they are :
, John Leitheiser, Albert Raisin, John
Mahan,. John Kurtz, Grafton Day, Wit
liam Dobson, John Cameron, John Tep-
$ pich, Charles w. Hubbard, Robert
: Mitchell, and John /. Ives.