The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-01-25
A NIGHT OF SUFFERING.

A NIGHT OF SUFFERING.
A Man saved from Freezing by Taking
Refuge in a Barrel of whisky.
[From the Middletown (Del.) August
Few of the raftsmen and lumber opera
tors of the upper Delaware have not
been familiar for years with the legless
ferryman, who for nearly half CEN
fury, and until few weeks ago, gained
a livelihood by ferrying persons across
the Delaware near Easton, Pa. This
man, whose name was Rinaldo Moser,
died on Sunday last, aged sc years.
When he was a boy the Delaware
river was navigated by the now almost
forgotten Durham boats, and young
Moser was employed in running one.
Forty nine years ago this winter, Moser,
Jacob, brother of his, q man named
Jerome Miller, and q boy about his own
age, called "Shallow" Courtright, were
running one of these boats, which was
very heavily laden. When near Bristol
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 az island.
It was getting dark. and the storm in
creased in fury. There was nothing on
island the with which to build q fire,
and nothing 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 suggested by one OF
the party that they roll one OF the bar
rels out on the island and set fire to it.
Jacob Moser had his feet badly frozen
by this time, aud the cold storm was
was beginning to tell on the others.
others. The barrel was with difficulty
taken from the boat and stood on end
on the island. The head was knocked
in, SO that the liquor might be set on
fire. Then it was discovered, to the
horror of all, that not one of the party
had q match.
Fooled in this last attempt to save
themselves from freezing, Jacob lost all
heart and succumbed to the cold, despite
the efforts of his comrades to keep him
stirring. He died in a short time.
Courtright climbed into the barrel of
whisky, and when the party was rescued
the next morning he was the least in
jured of the party. His ears were frozen
so that they afterward dropped off, and
his face was terribly frostbitten. Other.
wise he was saved from the cold, but the
whisky had made one compact blister of
his skin from the waist down.
Young Moser and Miller kept up their
fight with death all night long. People
who remember that night say it was the
most fearful ever known along the Dela-
ware. The wind blew gale, and there
was a storm, not of snow, but actually
of pellets of ice! The mercury was at
zero. Against this awful war of elements
the boy and Miller bore up until day
break. When they were discovered,
and they saw boat hurrying to their
rescue, young Moser fell senseless to the
ground. Miller never lost consciousness,
although his hands, ears and face were
frozen white.
Rinaldo Moser was restored to con-
seriousness, but his legs were so terribly
frozen that amputation of both of them
at the thigh was found to be necessary.
He recovered in due time, and became
as robust and hearty as any man on the
river. He was the last survivor of that
awful night, Miller having been drowned
the following summer, and COPYRIGHT
dying few years ago in New Jersey
poorhouse.
Ever since he recovered from the eff
fects of that nights experience, Rinaldo
Moser supported himself by fishing and
ferrying people across the river. He
was remarkably dexterous with his oars,
and scientific fisherman. The facility
with which he got around on his legless
body was wonderful. He was 66 years
old at the time of his death.