Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-22
Afi0at for Six Days and Nights on an
Ice Raft.

Afi0at for Six Days and Nights on an
Ice Raft.
The Tribune has already contained the
annOun cement by telegraph that William
McEwen and George Smith, who 1oated
out into the BAY on Wednesday, Dec. 81,
had succeeded in reaching land, after
being carried hither and thither over the
bay for six days, with no boat but cake
of ice and no covering save the broad eX-
panse of heaven above them.
The proclamation in this city of their
residence of their safety spread like wild
fire, and the gloom which had been cast
over the entire community by their disap-
pearance, and which had continued to in
crease as day after day rolled around and
no tidings of them were received, was
dispelled by the simple telegram which
flashed over the wires from Piaconning
yesterday afternoon, eve are safe" Up
to Monday night the young mems friends
had entertained hope that perhaps they
had landed on some island and would re-
turn. But on yesterday this last hope
died out, and they were mourned as dead.
That mourning was changed to joy
when the dispatch was received, and as
IllG SIdu uGNS StJlGdu dDOuG VIC C1Jf, ludIN
fervent Thank God" was uttered, while
in the houses of each there were such re-
ioicings as are seldom heard. It was, in
fact, as if the dead had returned to life.
The telegram announced that Messrs
McEwen and Smith would arrive home
on the evening train on the Jackson, Ian
sing 81 Saginaw railroad. Accordingly,
as the time for the arrival of the train ap-
preached, large crowd gathered at the
depot to get sight Of the heroes of one of
the most perilous voyages on record, and
congratulate them upon their narrow es-
cape. Upon reaching this city they were
Immediately conveyed to their homes,
where their wives and children and nu-
merous friends were awaiting their arri-
val. Physicians were in attendance to
render the men whatever medical aid was
| necessary.
In an interview with VIM. McEwen this
| morning, we were given full account of
the perilous voyage of himself and com
rade, the hardships endured, and their
final escape from their treacherous boat.
AS it will be of interest to all our readers,
we give full summary, prefacing it by
saying that Mr.. McEwen was twenty-five
years of age on the day on which he was
carried out into the bay, and Mr. Smith
will be twenty-five in February.
These two young men left Bay City on
Wednesday, Dec. 81, at nine O'Clock in
the forenoon, for trip to the bay Mr.
McEwen intended to return on the fol
lowing day. Mr.. Smith intended to re-
main several days and locate fishing
ground. Accordingly quantity of pro-
visions was taken along in addition to
blankets, spears, two hand-sleds, and
other paraphernalia requisite in fishing.
The provisions were left on shore, and
taking the other articles, the men pro-
ceeded out on the bay. They went about
three and one-half miles from the light
house, and to point about one mile from
the east bay shore, where the ice was
about five or six inches in thickness.
Here they commenced to fish, and were
so engaged when, at half past four O'Clock,
McEwen looked up and saw a man
named Rundell, of Wenona, running from
the ice toward the shore. He also dis
covered that the ice had parted in a line
| extending across the bay and down the
east shore, they being about six rods from
| the break. McEwen called to his cOmrade,
| and the two ran toward the crack with
the intention of escaping to the shore.
When the discovery was first made
| that the ice had parted, the distance inter
vening between the field on which they
were and the ice which remained attached
to the shore was only about eight inches,
but by the time they reached the edge OF
| the ice, the distance had increased to such
| an extent that to jump across was an utter
| impossibility.
Accordingly, they called to Rundell,
but he paid no attention to them. Their
situation did not startle them in the least,
as they knew that on the ice which re-
manned attached to the shore were several
| boats, and also knew that Rundell had
| seen them, and were confident that he
| would raise the alarm and come to their
rescue. He did not, however, and they
then set to work to help themselves. The
water where they were then drifting was
about eight feet in depth, and they &C
| cordingly commenced chopping out a
small cake of ice, on which they intended
to pole themselves ashore by means of
their spear-poles. They had drifted into
deep water before the ice was chopped
off, and this attempt was necessarily
abandoned.
After discovering that Rundell did not
come to their assistance, they expected
that he would give the alarm in Bay City,
when search for them would be instituted,
but on Friday they gave up this hope
Saturday and Sunday the ice drifted to
the eastward, and on the later day they
were in sight of Fish point. The storm
of Sunday cut up the ice and reduced it
to about three inches in thickness. At
this time the wind shifted to the north
west, and as they had drifted toward the
east shore, they again started eastward
On their way they discovered small
boat, but did not attempt to move it.
They continued on until noon of Sunday,
when they were compelled to stop, the
wind having parted the ice. They again
set out westward, and, coming up to the
boat, put it on sled and drew it about
mile and half. Here they both got in
the water, and finally gave up their
Journey and returned to wait for
colder weather, which would join the ice
together sufficiently to enable them to
cross. They saw the smoke of the tug
which went out on Sunday, and were in
spired with new hope, but this died away
on Monday, when no assistance came.
Monday night the weather was colder, and
Tuesday morning ice had formed about
one inch thick, and on this (although it
| bent at every step) they crossed to the
shore. On the last night, while lying
down, the ice was broken off repeatedly
by the storm outside, in several instances
very close to them. They succeeded IN
reaching shore at last, having been out
six days, and having eaten nothing but
small amount of raw fish (Which they ate