New-York tribune., 1888-03-26
AFLOAT ON DRIFTING ICE.
HEROIC RESCUE OF A WOMAN FROM PERIiOus
POSITION IN THE NORTH RIvER.

HEROIC RESCUE OF WOMAN FROM PERIrous
POSITION IN THE NORTH RIVER.
Mrs. Jane Donovan, the wife Of Captain John Don
ovan the chief officer Of boat No 10, belonging
to the Manhattan Transport alton Company, had a
novel experience yesterday floating around the North
River a large cake of ice. and receiving severe
.shock which will probably have fatal ending Tho
canal boat came from Port Johnson Sa urday and tied
up at the foot of West Ninety slxtl-st. Captain
Donovan and his wife slept on board Early yes
terday terrific crash followed by the sound Of
swft-rushing water awakened the captain The
boat rocked from side to SIDE The captain jumped
from HIS bed, aroused his wife, and they both ran on
deck Just the water broke through the cabin win
dow. They made rush to get OFF the boat, but be-
fore they could get the pier 1t sank under their
feet and left them foundef1ng in the wafer Their
loud cries for help attracted the attention OF Thomas
Clemens. switchman on the Hudson River Railroad
and he rushed down to the pier The ifver was hlcd
with heavy cakes of ice, OF which had smashed
big hole in the canal boat Clemens threw long
rope and It was caught by the captain. His wife had
been carried out of his reach By the tide and Clemens
pulled him ashore Mrs. Donovan was too far away
to reach the rope when It was thrown TO her the
second time She could not swim, but the Ice kept
her from sinking. She seized piece OF the cabin
roof which came near her. II rested upon Lig cake
OF lie. 1he struggling woman managed TO get par
TALLY out Of the water on the fee. she had ohiy
nightdress on and suffered severely from cold.
Seeing that he was unable to aid the woman with
the rope, Clemens 10 the foot Of Ninete' hist,
and with the aid of Thomas Nevins, broke open
boat house. After consider able labor they got
small boat into the water. 1t leaked badly but both
men jumped into 1t and started for the woman Tho
current had taken her out into the middle of the
river aud she was being carried rapidly away by the
food tide She screamed TOR help until benumbed by
the cold and exhaustion, and then lay on the 100 as
II dead. The two men had peIiiOus journey
through the ice 1t struck the little craft 50 hard
that Il started the seams, and one man was Kept
busy baing the wafer while the her pushed the ice
away. 1t seemed useless several times TO try and
get the boat into clear wafer but the two men stuck
10 the work manuIly, and in about a quarter OF an
hour they reached place where they could make
good neadway.
Mrs. Donovan by this time had dlited up to Ono
hundred and fifth st. The woodwork had slipped
partially from the ice lowering Mrs. Donovan into the
water nearly to her neck but she clung TO the wood
with the grip OF death When the rescuers got to
her. her eyes were closed and her lad had dropped
so that In a few minutes the water would have run
her. She was unconscious when th'y SO zed
the two men TO break the wOmans grip on the plank,
and tho boat nearly upset I'm getting her into IT,
The Trip back to the bOat-hOdSe was also dangerous
bu, Tie Shot finally reached. B0th Clemens
and NeVins gave up their clothing TO the unconscious
when they got her out of the water Al The
boat house an attempt was made to revive her, Dut
when the ambulance sr |. ed from the Ninety ninth
: IInsDifa he still in cOmatOse condition.
1t took TWO hours heroic treatment to resusc ate her
SO that She Dita nUd HeelN. IJf LaNlOl. ne mousse
surgeon. had hopes OF saving he -wOmans life but
was OF the opinion that she W0uid nave pneGh%iVna %
and this would celtsiny have ftt9l enGl.g. MS
luu a,