Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1877-02-15
A Night of Suffering.
Man Saved from Freezing by
taking Refuge in q Barrel
Of whisky.
from tho Middleton (Dol.) Argus ]

From the Middleton (Dsl.) Argus.
Few Of the raftsmen and ium4
Der operators of the upper Del
aware have not been familiar for
years with the legless ferryman,
who for near half a century,
and until a few weeks ago, gain
ed a livelihood by ferrying per-
sons across the Delaware near
Easton, Pa. This man, whose
name was Rinaldo MOser, died
on Sunday last, aged 66 years.
When he was a boy the Del
aware river was nayigated by
the now almost forgotten Dur
ham boats, and young Moser
was employed in running one.
Forty-nine years ago this win
ter, Moser, Jacob, 4 brother of
his, a man named Jerome Mill
er, and boy about his own age,
called Shallow" Courtright,
were running one of these boats,
which was very heavily laden.
When near Bristo! they were
caught in a violent storm, and
being unable to guide their
boat to either the Pennsylvania
or Jersey shore, were compelled
to run it on an island. 1t was
getting dark, and the storm in
creased in fury. There was
nothing on the island with
which to build a fire, and moth
ing that afforded them any pro-
lection. 1t was bitter cold, and
the stranded crew tried to keep
themselves warm by walking up
and down the island.
Their boat was loaded with
whisky in barrels. 1t was sug-
gested by one of the party that
they roll one of the barrels out
on the island and set fire TO it.
Jacob MoSer had his feet badly
frozen by this time and the cold
storm was beginning to tell on
the others. The barrel was
with difficulty taken from the
boat and stood on end on the is
land. The head was Knocked
in, so that the liquor might be
set on fire. Then it was discoy-
cred, to the horror Of all, that
not one of the party had Il match.
Foiled in this last attempt to
save themaelyes from freezing,
Jacob lost all heart and succum-
bed to the cold, despite the eff
forts of his comrades to keep
him stirring. He died in Il
short time. Courtright climb
ed into the barrel Of whisky,
and when the party was rescued
he next morning he was the
east injured of the party. His
ears were frozen so that they
llterward dropped of, and his
ace was terribly frostbitten.
Otherwise he was saved from
he cold, but the whisky had
made one compact blister of his
,kin from the waist down.
Young Moser and Miller kept
Up their fight with death all
hight long. People who re-
member that right say it was
he most fearful ever known a.
Ong the Delaware. The wind
blew a gale, and there was a
,torm, not Of snow, but actually
If pellets Of ice ! The mercury
vas at zero. Against this aw-
'uI war of elements the boy and
Miller bore up until daybreak.
When they were discovered,
nd they saw a boat hurrying
o their rescue, young Moser fell
enseless to the ground. Miller
lever lost consciousness, al
hough his hands, ears and face
we're frozen white.
Rinaldo Moser was restored
0 consciousness, but his legs
fere so terribly frozen that am
Of both Of them mt the
high was found TO be necessary.
Ie recovered in due time, and
ecame as robust and hearty as
ny man on the river. He was
be last survivor Of that awful
light, Miller having been
the following summer.
nd Courtright dying a few
cars ago in New jersey poor
Ousc.
Ever since he recovered from
le effects Of that nights expe-
ence, Rinaldo Moser support
/ himself by fishing and ferry
lg people across the river. He
as remarkably dexterous with
is oars, and a scientific fisher
ian. The facility with which
g got around on his lcgless
ody was wonderful. He was
) years old at the time of his
cath.