The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-01-22

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had entertained hope that perhaps the,
had landed on some island and would re
turn. But on yesterday this last hop
died out, and they were mourned q
dead.
That mourning was changed to 10,
when the dispatch was received, and a
the glad news spread about the city
many q fervent 'sThank God" was uttered
while in the houses of each there wer'
such rejoicings rs are seldom heard. I
was, in fact, as If the dead had returned t.
life.
The telegram announced that Messrs
McEwen and Smith would arrive home
on the evening train on the jackson, Ian
sing & 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 81
the most peril0us 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'
i A4VAOuS IL 1CuuS "ClO awaiting NACA 0AA i
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 a full &C.
| count of the perilous voyage of himself
and comrade, 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, prefac-
ing 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 Feb
ruary.
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 lett 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 Iis-
covered that the ice had parted in line
extending across the bay and down the
east shore, they being about six rods from
the break. McEwen called to his CON-
rade, 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 in
between the held on which
they were and the ice which remained
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
did not startle them in the least,
as they knew that on the ice which re.
attached to the shore were several
boats, and also knew that Rundeil 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
nd I,fc oft nrS1 s,ho
dOned.
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.
and Sunday the ice drifted to
the eastward, and on the latter 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,
whtn 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
shore at last, having been out six
days, and having eaten nothing but q
small amount of raw fish (which they ate
on Tuesday morning) since Wednesday
last. They slept none whatever for the
first four nights.
Then they started off for the west shore,
thinking that perhaps the ice there had
not separated from shore. The field on
which they were was several miles in ex-
tent, but as they travelled westward they
found it had broken up considerably, and
at length, on account of this, they were
to stop their journey. They
then to the place from which
they first started and lay down for the
night, covering themselves with blankets.
The next day Thursday they started |
westward again, and discovered that the
shanty that had floated with them had
They then went to the west
shore, hoping that the ice would DRIFT
that way.
The mems feet are slightly frozen, and
they are quite thin: but aside from this
deserted his (R's) partner, who
was with him when the ice broke, and, |
upon reaching shore was afraid
to give the alarm. Afterward, when he
found his partner had reached shore, he
was obliged TO say something. He did
not mention having seen them until Sat