The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-09
A Night of Peril.

IS gOfgDg anu ABOUT 10 close up. Oll / fuIy
and Saturday several pcrilous passages of tic
river We're made to and from Vancouver, but
the most trying ordeal was that passed
through by Charles I. Troup and Frank
Goolhue of this place Saturday morning
they went over with the mall leaving their
boat at the sand-bar near the head OF the
Island. crossing to the Oregon side on the
ice from the Island. They started ON the
return trip about three o'clock. In getting
to the boat from the bar Goodhuc broke
through. and was wet to the waist nearly.
| They soon encountered the sush ice running
heavily, and the progress of the boat through
it was very slow The boat was every mo-
ment rendered heavier by the water freezing
upon the sides. Another party Of eleven
men i'll larger boat succeeded i'll getting
through the slush ice to an open channel a
couple hundred feet ahead of them. but rem
| dercd The small boat no assistance. which
was needed and would have been gladly ac-
cepted. As the young men worked the
hours passed by, and night found them only
hundred feet advanced, and the boat nearly
frozen in. Many people were on the shore
watching them, among whom was at least
one anxious mother, and ut dark all left the
bank with only hope to cheer them and
drive away the thoughts OF what might be
us they listened to the roar and crash of the
gorging ice. The young men worked bravcly
| until nina n'rlonl- vbpu all ounn ,-o+..r bnv
ing disappeared, and their boat become fast
frozen in the slush, they sat down exhausted
with their toll. 1t was not pleasant stu
alton. for they We're without food since morn
| ing; one was wet, and there was but one
overcoat to shelter two. The confines of the
boat were too narrow for sufficient exercise
to keep up warmth, and there was no get
ting away from it for hours to come. Ii
strong wind should spring up there wonld
be no doubt as to their fate. Slowly the
hours passed away, and through the roar of
the grinding and crushing ice came the faint
sounds OF the garrison bell as it tolcd the
passing hour, each seeming like a week to
the shivering occupants of the boat. 1t was
hard work to keep warm, to keep awake.
when they knew that to sleep was to die OF
the cold. 1t was with great difficulty that
Troup could keep Goodhue from giving up.
He was SO wet and thoroughly chilled thlt
before morning he lost all sensation in his
feet, and the water inside his boots froze
At three o clock the roaring Of the moving
ice had ceased, and they determined to start
for shore in the light of the MOON BY
using a board, the oars and a pole, they
Travelled some distance out on, the rough
lee when they discovered it was moving
again, and back they went to the boat. At
four O'Clock they made second attempt, rs
the cold was getting intense, and they were
suffering terribly, but the moon soon went
behind the hills leaving them in darkness,
and they again returned to the boat, where
they remained until seven o'clock, broad
daylight. They made the third start full
of determination, encouraged by having thus
far been preserved from harm. 1t required
the greatest care to pick the way over the
slush ice, there being very few solid cakes,
and only the pole and oars saved them from
sinking through dozens of times. As it was
their feet went through many times, and
henumbed with til F.. cold and exposure it
was with the greatest officially that Good
hue could get himself up again. An hour Of
such difficult work brought them nearly to
shore, half mile above the government
dock. and here an open space from eight to
forty feet wide greeted their gaze. There
was no way to 90 round it, and once more
they perIled their lives, using the pole to
aid them in springing across, which they did
safely, running the mail sack over on the
pole. AS they climbed up the bank they
found Mrs. Troup and her eldest daughter
anxiously awaiting Them they having
watched the entire trip from the boat On
proceeding home, where they had rest and
food, as well as congratulations by the hum
dred, it was found that both of Goodhues
feet were frost bitten, hut not so badly as
to lose any portion OF them After days
rest Mr.. Troup was all right This is BY tar
the most perilous and tedious crossing OF the
Columbia ever made at this point, and the
young men may well congratulate themselves
ON their fortunate escape from Its many dan.
gers.