The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1877-01-17
MISCELLANY.
THE 1EaEEss FERRYmxx.
TERRIBLE NIGHT ON AN ISLAND IN THE
DELAWARE.

DELAWARE.
There are few Of the raftmen and lumber
operators Of the Upper Delaware who have
not been familiar for years with the eccentric
old man called the sLegless Ferryman, who
for nearly half a century, and until a few
weeks ago, gained livelihood BY ferrying
persons across the Delaware near Easton,
Penn. This man, whose name was Rinaldo
Moser, died ON Sunday last, aged sixty-six
years.
His history is singular one. 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
young Moser, Jacob, brother of his, man
named Jerome Miller, and boy about his
own age, called Shallow Courtwright, were
running one of these boats which was very
heavily laden. When near Bristol they were
caught in d violent storm, and being unable
to run their boat to either the Pennsylvania
or Jersey shore, were compelled to run it on
an island.
1t was getting dark, and the storm increas-
ed in a fury. There was nothing on the is
land with which to build fire, and nothing
that afforded them any protection from the
storm. It was bitter cold, and the stranded
crew tried to keep themselves warm by walk
ing up and down the island. This they found
was Intellectual, and they looked about for
some other means to derive comfort from.
Their boat was loaded with whiskey in bar
rels.
II was suggested 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 island. The
head was knocked in, SO that the liquid might
be set on fire. Then it was discovered, to the
horror Of all, that not one of the party had
match.
Fooled in this last attempt to save them
selves from freezing, Jacob Moser lost all
heart, and suceumbed to the cold, despite the
efforts of his comrades to keep him stirring
He died in short time. Shallow Court
right--not so shallow after all--climbed into
the barrel of whiskey, and when the party
was rescued by other boatmen next morning,
he was the least injured of the party. His
ears were frozen, so they afterward dropped
off, and his face was terribly frost-bitten.
Otherwise he was saved from the cold. but
the whislsey had made one compact blister of
his skin from the waist down.
Young Moser and Miller kept up their
fight with terrible death all night long
People who remember that night say 1t was
the most fearful ever known along the Della
ware. The wind blew gale and there was
storm, not Of snow, but actually Of pallets
of ice The mercury was at zero. Against
this awful war of the elements, the boy and
Miller bore up until daybreak. When they
were discovered, and they saw a boat htrryz
ing to their rescue, young Moser fell senseless
to the ground. Miller never lost conscious
ness, although his hands, ears and face were
frozen white.
The dead body Of Jacob Moser was remov-
ed with his late companions. Rnaldo Moser
was restored to consciousness, but his legs
were SO terribly frozen that amputation of
both of them at the thigh was found to be nes
cessary. He recovered in due time and be-
came as robust and hearty as any man on the
river. He was the last survivor of that awful
night, Miller having been drowned the next
Summer, and Shallow COPYRIGHT dying
few years ago in New Jersey poor house
Ever since he recovered from the effects of
that terrible nights experience, Rinaldo
Moser supported himself by fishing and ferry
ing people across the river. He was remarka-
bly, dexterous with the oars, and really
scientific fisherman. The facility with which
he got around on his legless body was won
derful. lie was sixty-six years old at the
time OF his death and was universally respect
ed
The widow of Jacob Moser still lives. She
was left with two sons, both of whom met
with violent deaths, one being drowned in
the Delaware and the other in the Lehigh
River. Mrs. Moser lives at Mosertown, near
Easton, and with her the crippled Rinaldo
made his home during the fifty years Of her
widowhood and his own great misfortune.
>--@as-->-