The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-02-03

Running ice in a river as broad and
deep as the Columbia, is not a trifiing
matter for navigators. 7. w. Patterson,
a bank cashier of Goldendale, Wash, can
testify TO this fact, after having had a
very trying experience. Mr.. Patterson
left Goldendale on Monday afternoon,
and after drive of u miles by sage
to point on the river opposite Grants
station, on the Union Pacific, found that
the Ice in the river was running In such
quantities that the regular ferry-boat did
not dare to venture across. 1t was about
4 o'clock In the afternoon; the wind was
blowing gale. and the snow flying In
binding clouds Mr.. Patterson was in n
hurry to reach Portland, SO he secured an
! open boat and two strong boatmen to
take him across The stage driver also
took a seat in the boat. and the four
men, after waiting some time for an open
| space through the Ice, started across
| All went well until u point about 50 feet
from the south bank was reached, when
they suddenly found further progress re.
| tarded by an impossible barrier of shor
Ice. After trying In vain to break thro lgt
the mass, which was not strong encugh
to bear the weight of a man, they ct
tempted to retreat, but, to their amaze
ment found that field of Ice had sur
rounded the boat to the rear and was
gradually Carrying them down stream. TIL,
roar 70 the rapids about mile below was
very plainly heard by the imprs1n
men. Night was coming on, the snow wa
falling more heavily, they were becomin
chilled through and through, arS heir
shouts for help met with no response
Gradually the boat moved down .re.lil.
and the men were beginning to lose hop
of rescue. Suddenly they hard an answer
Ing shout. Looking up they were sur
priced to see coming toward them, dow
the river bank an Indian astride cay
use. The little horse was without saddl
or bride and was running at break nee
speed. AS they neared the water the In
dian, unable to check the onward cours
of his steed, suddenly swerved 10 Tn
side and throwing himself from the lac
of the cayuse, rolled over and over like
rubber ball to the very waters edge; then
picking himself up, he inquired calmly
what the trouble was. The men in the
boat were not long In acquainting him
with the danger of their position. The
Indian, who was by that time joined b.
some OF his companions, camped near by
stalked majestically away, returning in a
few moments with plank and piece of
rope. The planks he laid end to end up
on the fee until he was within 30 feet III
the boat, then deftly catching a coil of
rope thrown to him from the boat, tied It
the piece he had brought, and, with the
help OF his companions, pulled the boa
containing the four half-frozen men over
the ice barrier and clear out upon tn
shore. Meantime one OF the Indians ha
run TO the town with the story that the
boat had been upset and all four me.
drowned, a report which brought the
whole town to the scene. some on horse
back, some in wagons and a large num-
Der afoot The rescued received q warm
reception, which was more than enough
to repay them for the hour and half
of suffering they had undergone. Mr. |
Patterson says 1t will be some time be-
fore he win again attempt to cross the
Columbia when the ice is running.