Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-06
AFLOAT on A CAKE OF ICE,
The Thrilling Story Told by Chestertown
Il

The Thrilling Story Told by a Chestertown,
Nd, Man.
More than two hours on piece of ice at night
in the Chesapeake bay during a binding snow
storm was the experience of &. X. Atkinson of
Chestertown, Kent county. Nd, saws the Balti-
more san today. He was brought to Baltimore
yesterday afternoon by Capt. Alfred E. Collins.
ir.. on the tugboat Sidney. Mr.. Atkinson and
Capt. James S. Hill of Haydens, Queen Anne 8
county, owned the small schooner Wishton-
Wish. The vessel YVES sunk by collision with
ice. and Capt. Hill drowned. Young At
kinson had a marvellous escape.
I'VE lef: baltimore Friday" said he.
"with cargo of fertilizer loaded at The De-
trick fertilizer works in the Spring Gardens.
1t was consigned to Beck 4 Walker. Chester
town. At Las O'Clock FRIDAY morning we
struck Ice with great force and the vessel
brought up standing We we're then about five
miles from Love Point. The captain and l. the
only persons aboard, ran forward. but could
an examination. Both then went on board and
Capt. Hill lay down for a rest and kept the
lookout.
within half an hour noticed that the YES
sci began to leak into the cabin. called Capt.
Hill, who came on deck half dressed. The
Wishton-Wish began to sink and we imme-
diatey tried TO clear the falls of the boat which
on the stern. The falls had frozen so hard
that could not loose them with our hands,
l asked for a knife. but before Capt. Hill could
get his out the boat began to go down by the
head.
Seeing no chance for escape but to make
for the ice jumped overheard and swan to it,
as it was driven some distance off by the water
surging about the sinking vessel. Capt. Hill
followed me. AS the vessel went down two
oars and some litter about the deck foated of
and secured one of the oars and Capt. Hill
the other.
"By this help reached the main body of ice.
As forced my way along it broke beneath me
for several yards. Capt. Hill gave up follow
ing me, as the struggling with the broken ice
seemed to wear him out. When got on the
stronger ice lost my oar. Hay down fat on
my abdomen and begged him to try and reach
the foe was on. BY luck recovered the oar
l had lost and reached it toward him and
begged him to catch it SO that 1 could pull him
to me. In his effort to do SO the cake upon
which he had taken refuge broke into pieces
and he said goodbye and sank into the water.
Il remained on the ice foe and kept up my
courage as best could, hoping that when day
light came would be seen and rescued. Icried
out Often and at last the lights of tugboat
came in view and hearing nv calls came to my
rescue. Capt. Collins says it vas II minutes of
o'clock. The tug Sidney had a hard battle
with the ice after my rescue We returned to
where thought tine Wishton-Wish had sunk,
but we could see no sign of her.
Mr.. Atkinson says Capt. Hill had in his pock-
cts about S260. A reward will be paid for the
recovery of the body. Capt. Hill came from
Media, Pa, where his father lives Mr.. Atkin-
son notified the latter of the loss Of his son.
The captain leaves a widow who at present is
visiting her mother in Wilmington, Del Mr.
Atkinson will leave for Chestertowp today.