The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-02-24
Port Deposit Items

| parsonage TO canal STATION are SUB
merged and literally covered with
ice and debris.
The commissioners of the town
have had path dug from the hillside
for pedestrians, as the street from
David Bonds blacksmith shop to
Fox's mill is impossible from water
and ice.
John Coulson, the Rock Run mer
chant, who narrowly escaped from
drowning, removed his goods in
boats to higher ground, as did also
DR.. W. @. Carson, druggist.
McClenahan & Bro, of the granite
quarrles, used dynamite on Monday
morning, endeavoring to blow out
the gorge opposite their quarry.
ROBERTS AND HIS SON ON THE ISLAND.
A correspondent of the Ba .timore
Sun and two companions visited
Roberts Island on Tuesday and from
his account of the adventure, pub
ished in the Sun. we excerpt the
following thrilling sketch of the
adventure:
Shortly after 9 O'Clock a represen
tative OF the Sun accompanied by
Mr. Clarence Seabrook. of Baltimore,
and Mr.. L. Lawrence Paxton ofPort
Deposit. appeared at the river shore
near DIRT Bank, prepared for the
exped ton. Each carried a boat
hook and small coil of rope, copies
of the Sun and something for the
inner man.
The distances from the main land to
the Island is about three-quarters of q
mile. The gorge which resembled
ocean pillows frozen in gale, ex
tended entirely across the river. To
get over the hummocks was no easy
task At times the men could be
seen by those watching them from
the bluffs and then they would disap
pear. only to be seen again elm bling
to the top Of ice pi ed twenty and
thirty feet high.
When the centre of the river was
reached an extraordinarily beautiful
picture presented itself. A strata
extending for three miles long and
one eighth of mile wide was formed
If no low g obes of ice, each globe
about the size Of croquet balls. The
ice forming the globes was about
one sixteenth of an inch thick. The
sun was shining brightly and reflected
the most exquisite tints. giving the
strata a Kaleidoscope effect. The
= obes were piled in places thirty
feet high.
Just after passing this scene the
hi blocks of ice were again encou.
tered. In the midst of this one of
the party turned to look back at the
scene and broke through the ice, and
If he had not quickly dug his boat
hook into heavy block of ice be
would have been drawn into the
swiftly running current flowing
underneath. He escaped with
ducking.
When Roberts Island was reached
it presented a sight that made the
stoutest heart quail. The Sun rep
resentatiye, who was first to reach
the island. climbed up On a stone
wall and found himself cut off from
nearer approach to the dwelling by
roaring river that complete sub
merged the island and was in places
ten feet deep. Around the dwelling
the water was about five feet deep.
Loud yells for Mr.. Roberts failed
to attract attention, though the house
was not over fifty yards away. When
the Others of The party came up they
united their voices. and after few
minutes young Roberts stuck his
held out of door. He was standing
in two feet of water and so astonished
nat ue quickly withdrew his head
After lew minutes the father and
sen appeared at the door, and salts
fy ng themselves that their visitors
were mortals loosened boat which
vas made fast to SECOND story
"Indow and afver batting with the
current got the boat to the place
where their visitors awaited them.
AS soon as the boat was made fast
Mr. Roberts said: THANK God
there was some one who thought OF
us in our desolation. We have been
twenty three days on the island and
YOU are the first human beings We
have seen. know you dare not
linger here, SO we must talk quick
| have been twenty two years on the
sland and have experienced many
an ice gorge This is the worst |
ever saw. Sunday morning when !
awoke my meat house and al nv
meat had heen swept away, Four
hogs WHICH | had put in the second
story OF the barn were also gone. Two
of my COWS and my horse were also in
the second story and were vast deep
in water and ! only saved them after
treat effort. We have something to
eat in the top of the house"
Mr.. Roberts was then requested
get out of the r" - ."
IL ,vaJ and try and go
! uacK to Port Deposit with the party
Il can't CO. said he; l can't leave
my stock the horse and two cows"
The boy was then asked if he would
90, hui he answered, No; will stay
with my father"
The cover of the Washington's Birth
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