Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-30

ing, and Accident
A correspondent OF the New York Times,
writing from Equinunk, Pa, July 70, says
Elizabeth Mcsler, who was drowned IN thr
Delaware river near Portland one day last
week. at the age OF seven.y.fye years, was
tho last OF the welI.known family oil water
men and raffmen In tho Lower Delaware
valley. nearly every one OF whom met yio-
,ent deaths. Jacob Mosier. her husband,
was frozen 10 death. His father. George
Mosier. was drowned. A brother OF George
uosler was killed In lumber Jan
on Inc Easton bridge. Thrce sons
"a Mrs. Mosier were drowned. A
bro,her of hers was killed by fall
ing tree. Her own tragic death recalls
one of the most terrible incidents In the
history OF the valley, by which she was
made n widow and her husbands only
brother was left q cripple for lie.
Fifty wears ago the Delaware was nayi-
gated by craft known as Durham boats by
winch freight and passengers were trans
norted between Philadelphia and points
along The river. One Of these boats belong.
ed 10 Jacob Mosier. His crew consisted OF
a man named Jerome Miller, Rinaldo Mo-
,,er. and young man named CortTight.
RInaldo Mo'ier was Jlco1s younger bro
tier. One day, in December, 1897, they
started for Philadelphia with load OF
freight. whennear BristoltheY were caught
In violent storm, and being unable 10 run
their boat 20 either the pennsylvania or
New Jersey shore, they beached II on an
island. 1t was nearly dork when they sue
cecded in doing this, and the storm IN
creased In fury. There was nothing on
tie islapd with which 70 build fire and
nothing that afforded them any protection
from the storm. IL was bitter cold, ana
the stranded crew tried TO keep themselves
warm by walking up aud down the island.
Tlns they found was Intellectual, and they
looked about for some other mems by
which they might secure some measure OF
comfort and shelter. Their cargo was
wbjskey In barrels. II was suggested by
one of The party that one OF the barrels
be rolled ashore and set on fire. BY
this time both OF Jacob MOsicr's feet
were frozen, and the intense cold was be-
ginning 70 tell on the others. The barrel
OF whiskey was taken from the boat with
great difficulty. The head was knocked in
so that the liquor might be set on fire.
Then the appalling discovery was made
that not ore OF the crew had match.
Fciled in this last attempt to save them
selves from freezing, Jacob MOsier. the
Oldest and strongest OF the party, lost all
heart, and in a short time suCcumbed to
the cold In spite OF the efforts OF his com
panions 10 keep him stirring about. lie
died in q short time.
Young CortTight. as last resort, climbed
into the barrel Of whiskey. Miller and the
Mosier boy kept up peratestruggle for
Iife all night long. People who remember
that night say It was the nost fearful one
ever known in the Delaware Valley. The
wind blew n gale, aud the storm was OF
SOLID ice pellets, some OF them OF enormous
size. The mercury was several degrees be-
low zero. Against this frightful war OF
fbe elements Miller aud the boy bore up
until GaybreaE, when they were discovered
Nv men on the Pennsylvania shore, and a
boat was sent at once 10 their rescue.
When the rescuers reached the island both
miller ard.young Mosier Fell senseless 10
the ground. Cortright, who had remained
covered by the whisky all night, his head
elcne being exposed, had both OF his ears
frozen so that they fell from his head. His
lody was one compact blister, owing TO the
action OF the whiskey on his flesh.
Einaldo MoGcr was restored to conscious
ness, but Miller, whose face, hands, and
feet were frozen white. died before the
boat could be rowcd back to Pennsylvania.
Einsldo Mosier was so terribly frozen from
his waist down that both his legs were am
putated at the thigh. lie recovered in
time ard became rs robust aud hearty as
any man on the river. Cortright also re-
TUNED. but was subsequently burned to
death in New Jersey. Rlnaldo MOsier
supported himself and his brother
Jacobs widow, with Whom he went :"
live, by fishing aud ferrying people
across The river, until December 1915,
~aen lie was injured by a fal!
which resulted In his death in few days.
He was remarkably deXierous with his oars,
and few fishermen were as expert rs he.
The facility with which he got around on
his legcss body was wonderful. lie was
known from one end Of the river 10 the
other, and no raft ever passed his boat
without its crew contributing something
to the purse Of the "legle's ferryman."
After bis death his aged sister-in-law rowed
his boat on the river. and made enough TO
support herself. Her boat was c1psized
by running on a rock one day last week,
and she was drowned before aid could
reach her.