Morning journal and courier., 1888-02-02
l EHEyR FLOAT Os AN ICE FLOE. Rhe Experience of the Four Chicago Youths Who Found Themselves

z Rhe Experience of the Four Chicago
 Youths Who Found Themselves
 AdriEe.
 lFrorn the Chicago Tribune.l
 A stiff breeze was blowing off shore yes terday, but the ice in the lake was very inviting for adventurous pleasure seekers. It extended out further than the eye could reach, and from the crib to South Chicago little groups of skaters spent the afternoon just beyond the rough piles of white ice which were banked against the shore.
 At nightfall nearly all of the skaters re- turned, but at about o'clock a cry of dismay, an agonized appeal for help, came faintly to shore. The cry was repeated again and again. At times it seemed echoed by other voices. A woman's shrill soprano answered the cry.
 seWhat's the matter?' she screamed frolA the shore, repeating it so that she might surely be heard. The woman had run from the Lakeside Sanitarium across the railroad tracks to the foot of Thirty-serenth street.
 "We're adriftin came the cry across the l ice.
 Four young men, friends, had gone to the l lake early in the evening to look at the ice. l They ventured out upon it, and went sliding along, conversing gayly, until long after nightfall. It was nearly o'clock when they 1 started to return. They were nearly oppo- l site the Douglass monument, and about quarter of mile out. The ice was clear I and smooth, having almost the glassy ap- pearance of water itself. One of the young men was about to take 8 slide, when he l felt dampness to his shoes. An examina- l tion showed that there was film of water on l the ice It could not be melting, and they were puzzled by it, A few feet further, and l they discovered the truth the ice upon which they were standing had separated l from that nearer the shore. They were adrift in the lake, with stiff breeze carry | ing them further and further from shore The breach widsned as they looked, and l in the darkness they soon lost sight of the other side. The young men were Marcellus 1 T. Ash, 20 years of age, and residing at 3,811 l Cottage Grove avenue; Paul Paulson, g years of age, and living at the same number; John Johnson, IS years of age, also residing l at this number, and friend of theirs, James | M. Whitesides of 1, ,343 Fortieth street. Ash are employees of the Chicago City Railway 1 company.
 l Several citizens in the neighborhood were 1 notified by the woman who had heard the l shouts of the men. and vigorous measures were at once adopted te rescue them. Two of the gentlemen ventured out upon the ice until they got within good talking distance, and told them to cheer up. The Hoe of ice
 had then drifted away nearly 300 feet. Sev-
 eral clothes lines were brought, and it was the
 first intention to throw line and drag the
 unfortunates ashore. The two gentlemen
 were warned by those on shore to be careful
 and they soon retired without accomplishing anything.
 The Stanton avenue police had been noti-
 fed, and patrol wagon load of officers were
 soon added to the group upon the shore. The police notified the life saving station, and
 they, through the telephone to the crib, sent
 the city tug J. H. Haekley to cut through the
 ice, if possible, to the scene.
 Various measures for rescue were discussed
 by the party at the foot of Thirty Seventh
 street. Besides the wagon officers were Ser.
 geant George Sanford, Sergeant John L. Ma
 honey, and Officer William Goggin. A boat
 was procured, but found to be trustworthy
 and it was some time before good boa
 could be found. It was nearly half-pas,
 eight o'clock when four sturdy officers
 shouldered another boat and carried it across