New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-03
PRICE THREE CENTS.
HEROISM OF MISS JAFFRAy
HER PRESENCE OF MIND SAVES LIVES
REsCUING PEOPLE WHO HAD BROKEN -HRoUCn
THE IcE-Two DROWNED IN SPITE OF
BRAVE EFFORTS

BRAVE EFFORTS.
The people of Irvington shad their New Yeas
celebration disturbed by skating accident which
resulted in the death Of two boys, both sons
of wellknown residents of the ncishborhood.
Ilamiltons Pend, sheet OF water eight or ton
acres in size, and dangerously deep, was thought
to have sufficient thickness Of Ice to be bear
ing, and consequently holiday crowd trooped
to it. Skating going on merrily about noon,
when some rash youths ventured on an unsafe
part of the ice. Their foolhardiness had tho
usual result The ice broke, and they Is well
as Others less deserving OF a cold bath were
plunged into the water.
If it had not been for the forethought of
Howard S. Jaffray, the well-known yachtsman
and man of business, and the presence of mind
of his daughter, a serious accident, involving q
large loss OF life, couh not well have been
avoided. A number Of young people who
were celebrating New Years at his Irvington
home, Fair Height, were among the skaters
The pond, which used to belong to Alexander
Hamilton. and is now the property CT David
Dows, lies about mile away from Dobbs Ferry.
Mr.. Jafray, when he heard that his family and
guests intended to visit it, told them that in his
opinion the ice not good, but as they were
bert on going, he sent rope in the wagon in
which they rode, so that in case OF accident some
means of rescue should not be lacking When
his daughter what happened she skated
quickly to the side of the pond and got the rope,
which was useful in saving all Of the persons
immersed except two Paul Cannon, a boy seven
or eight years Old ard Joseph Gibbons age about
fourteen. They had been particularly venture
some, and went down at place where no person
was ut hand to t-y to rescue tneni
Great credit is due to Mr.. Jaany and his
daughter; but three prominent young New-York
men are also entitled 20 recognition for heroic
efforts. They Norman Whitehouse, of the
firm of Whtehouse, Whitehouse & Co.; George
Stebbns COolsey, Of David DOws Il Co., and Den
nison Wood, whose father recently resigned
from from the Board Of Education; -, Accord.
plungng into the deep, cold water, risked their
lives IN the attempt TO reach some Of the people
rescuers in the case of an ice accident have
many more difficulties and dangers TO deal with
than in the case OF common drowning accident.
Chilled and exhausted, the three men had finally
the msel,ss to be helped out with the aid of Mr.
JaIrays rope
Paul Cannon, the younger of the two boys
drowned, was the of H. Cannon, who has o
feed-store near the Irvington railway station.
Joseph Gibbonss father keeps hotel at Abbots-
ford. Both men are popular, and yesterday re-
ceived many expressions OF sympathy from their
neghbors
should not readily be forgotten, Is recent debu-
tante in New-Yorll society. Mr. Jaifray brought
her up he brought mp his boys impressed in
theory and practice with the value OF the training
of the body as well as of the mind. lie is fond
of manly sports and has a great reputation around
Irvjneton as good shot. His beautiful place ad-
ioins those of Jay Gould and other noted and rich
Sew-Yorkers, and he ard his boys are keen and
constant pursucrs of the game which the locality
affords.
Miss Jaffrny is an excellent swimmer, and need
feel 30 fear in any accident on water. Her
father disclaimed any credit whatever in regard
to the occurrence at lIamilton's Pond when
Tribune reporter spoke to him about it yester-
day But such prudence as his, which un-
do1btedly saved human life, and such presence
Of mind as his daughters, which brought the
provision dictated by his prudence into swift
ties among l. people which yearly has to record
thousands of lainentable accidents like that at
Hamilton's Pond that they can be allowed TO
remain umoticod, if only for the sake OF the
that Mr. Jadray keeps his household prepared
for the emergency of a fire, and has rope and
other means of escape in readiness for use should
an occasion for their use ever by any chance
arise