The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1873-02-05
NINE BRAVE MEN.

A special correspondent OF tne bal
timore American, in letter from Port
Deposit dated 22d January, gives the
particulars of the rescue Of the Rob
erts family from their perilous situa-
ton on Kerr's Island He says:
In MY description Of yesterday l
gave an account of the situation of
w. w. Roberts and family. 1t seems
that there were two families, two
brothers, and their families being on
Kerrs Island, the rising water encom-
passed them, and they feared the total
submerging of tho island. Their cries
for help were heard upon the shore,
but it seemed impossible to traverse
the river so closely packed with ice,
and no effort was made to save them.
Towards evening, however, infor-
nation Of their peril was received at
Havre-de- Grace, and great interest
in their behalf was excited. Measures
fer their relief was discussed, but it
was to late in the day for making any
attempt to rescue them. Preparations
we're made for an endeaver in the
morning; and, so early in the morn
ing, while the skies were yet gray with
darkness still lingering before full
influx Of light, q party of nine brave
men set out to make the hazardous at
tempt to bring the imprisoned families
to the shore. Their names were John
Mahan, John Leithiser, Charles w.
Herbert, William II. Dobson, Albert
Reasin, John Kurtz, John Tepish,
Grafton Day and James Cameron.
They were men accustomed to the riv-
er in all seasons and weathers, as their
calings were the shooting of ducks dur
ing the fall and winter, and sailing
and fishing the rest of the year.
Two eighteen-foot boats, together
with an adequate supply of ice hooks,
grapnells and rope were hauled along
the shore to a place opposite the
island Their proceedings were watch
ed with great anxiety; many endeav-
ored to dissuade them from the at
tempt, but nothing daunted, they
showed their boats into the ice and be-
gan the seemingly hopeless task. In
my description of yesterday ! endeav-
orcd to portray as far as words can
convey the vivid impressions of vi
sion, the manner in which the broken
ice was packed and jammed together
by the current. 1t may be readily
imagined thai it was an arduous en-
deavor to push the boats between the
abrading masses. a constantly in
creasing crowd of people stood on the
bank watching the struggles of those
brave men against the vehement op.
position of the grinding messes. After
three hours of strenuous eXertion they
finally succeeded in reaching the island,
where they found nine persons, three
men, two women and four children,
who had been suffering great priva-
tions, and were filed with dread at
their perilous condition.
Renewing their labors, after severe
toll thoy succeeded in getting back to
the shore again, landing at Lapidum
on the west side of the river. The
news of the attempt had spread over
the country, and when they got back
to the shore some hundreds were gath
cred upon the bank on that side, who
filled with admiration at their cour-
age, cheered them repeatedly. A sub
scription was made, and d.. Virden,
of Lapidum, handed the leader of the
party a purse Of $50. l am glad to
say the reply vas consonant with the
noble self abnegation that marked the
whole enterprise. He simply said :
eve did not risk our lives for money;
give it to the unfortunate family"