The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-02-20

4 dispatch from Clayton, y. Y, says that
George Penn, one OF the survivors of party
caught on breaking ice i'm the st. Lawrence
river while crossing from GanauOIUe TO
Grindstone Island last week, tells the follow
ing story Of the nights adventure
AT $50 r II. 1 started from GananrQue Tor
Watertown, by way OF Grindstone lslaus, wi-h
the followinG party q farmers. who came over 10
the forenoon ON tie ice with team and sleigh.
and made the crossing without difficulty: Ell
Stetson. Charles Kendall George CUmmi ings.
W nliam Rusho, Ben and Elmer Calhoun, David
Harwood, Lewis kittie. and W lizard Robinson
We had 4 grist in the sleigh. and had no trouble
We found the fc- shaky, and detachtnK the horses
We led them separately and pushed the sleigh by
in his struggles broke up the ice for about loo feet
before We got him landed. Seeing that our weight
was too great for he ice VIC separated, and also
soon found that had lest our course and were
heading above the island toward open water
Cummings Robinson and myself STAYED together
and pushed :he sleigh, which we had unlOaded.
and VIII ich soon went through, and We abandoned
The Wind blew G hurricane, and it was becom-
ing pitch dark. suddenly we all broke through at
once. and then each tried to save himself !
found a cake big enough TO sustain me in a knccl-
ing position, and Cummings and Robinson got on
another. we consulted. and 1 told Rob nson /
should 20 no further He said he would try tn
get ashore and get a boat, and he stripped oil his
coat and boots and plunged into the open water.
He swan shout hundred feet. crawled out on the
manned on my knees about TWO hours, when the
ice broke 10 pieces under me. snd again was in
the water and chilled 10 the marrow. The moon
had come out and padded to the ca ke ON which
Cummings stood and which I found to be about
twenty feet square and some five inches thick. I
found the poor fellow losing his mind and
perishing. 1t was thinly clad. so I took my over
coat off and wrapped it around him and got on the
wind ward side u protect him from the gale
ITO add TO my distress and terror the motion Of
the ice. it and fell with the and
ground against o;her pieces, made me sick. and !
began 20 fear that I should have TO give up
Cummings was growing weaker, and 1 strove 10
arouse him. I asked him about his iamily and
how many children he had. He said five, and I
begged him for their sakes to bear up. About
this time lights the shore apparently
about mile distant I told him 10 look help
See see There + one, two, three, II boats com
ing for Us = He was insane l told him TO cheer
up, they would be here shortly. He became uu-
manageable, broke away from me- aid ne 20
ing ashore and walked of the edge OF the ice.
caught him by the leg. but my hands were numb.
Kick. broke my hold and went down. l lying
nat on the ice, and ! watched tor him 70 come up,
bnt nothing but a few bubbles arose.
Il was now alone and supposed the whole party
had persisted and that such would be my fate too.
The lights had appeared, but I found my cake
had drifted against shore ice and was not moving
much, but those around crashing aud
backing and feared to trust myself upou them
1 thought would call, in hopes might be heard.
l did so several times. After waiting. {. seemed
and called again I was answered by william
RushO who had landed and was gong to the bars
: to take care Of his horses. lie got a boat and
some men and they pushed through the ice out To
ice nine hours, six and halt Of il floating ice.
Robinson reached the shore weak he could
scarcely crawl. He unable TO give any &C
count of what mad happened. The rest OF the
party, who took different course got ashore
without din1culty and saved the team besides"