River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-01-11
A WINTER RACE.
An Icoboat Adventure on the
Susque!anna River.

An IcobOat Adventure on the
Susquehanna River.
IL was a bitterly cold afternoon IN
December. On the river shore, III front
Of the it,le village of Port Treverton.
were assembled nearly "a score OF men
and boys. The latter were largely IN
the M 1fity, and they were as noisy
rs most boys are. There was some eN-
cuse for excitement This was the day
fixed fr- the race between the rival
iccboat~ The finishing touches had
been pat "a them only that morning.
Very fascinating they looked, with
their flutteri white sails and pol
ished runners. - they rested on the
CLASSY ice behind a Uniting promGatory
of roc's and timber They were alike
in size and construction Each had
movable runner behind, worked bv an
ordinary tiller. Each was fitted with
sloOp mainsail and Jill. The Alfratta
belonged - Andy Clayton ami Frank
Snyder; the Elf 10 Phil Wardie and
Jack Salyari-
The four lads were chatting together
in low tones, and paying no heed to the
impatient shouting ~ the crowd. The
advisability of pOstpouing the race
was the subject OF their conversation
Andy wanted 10 wait until the next
dag. Phil ami Jack vehemently OPP
posed this. and Frank was inclined to
side with them. Andy was less rash and
impetuOus than his companions. lie
was not coward as the others well
knew. But he had streak of caution
in his nature, and he hesitated to incur
needless peril for the sake of racing his
rivals icebOat.
The danger was more than imagin-
ary. Out beyond the shelterlng prom
ontory fierce wind swept aud howled
down the broad. fro zen surface of the
Susquehanna. Here and there il lifted
the white patches Of snow and drove
them forward in swiriing. mist-lil1e
clouds Such gale was rarely known
at this time of year. Ii had been blow
ing all day and showed 20 signs of
abating.
"a. come. said Phil What's the
use Of putting il of for little wind?''
THAT makes the sport all the bet
ter added Jacli I'VE can run down
10 Halifax like a streak.
But us more than a little wind" de-
clared Andy. Its a regular hurricane
Ten to one we won't be able to manage
the boats Wen be blown into some
of the big air holes that lie between
here and Halifax"
mo danger replied Phil. THE
wind amt that strong Jack and can
manage the Elf, I'm sure. What doyOu
think about il, Frank"
'-I'll leave il TO Andy. was the reply
''As far as the air holes go, think we
can steer clear of them"
Andy shaded his eyes with one hand
and looked ont over the ice. Il don't
want 80 spoil the fun" he said, but
we had better wait until tomorrow.
The wind NAV drop over night. 1t will
be really dangerous To race now"
You're making a big fuss about moth
ing replied Phil, half angrily. Its
a shame 10 disappoint every one.
guess you'r- afraid the Eff will beat
the Allrat,a in such gou.l wind. lie
turned his back On Andy. and moved
toward the crowd There won't be
any race to-day" lie shouted Don't
YOU hear the cyclone ont on the rivcr9
Andy Il g nd Well be blown down to
Chesapeake bay
The disappointed spectators began 10
hOCt ANA icer. Some few shook their
heads wisely. Andv> face flushed. lie
sat down on rock near the edge OF the
shore.
Amid tie confusion a plump. rosy
Checked little lad. about nine yedIs old
ran up 10 Phil and eau int hold of him
there vas only seven years difference
betweeu them, Deck regarded the eide.
as a .rll-e rOwn man, and looked up 10
him accordingly
Take ne for ride on YOUR iceboat-
Phil" h .eaded- Just little one.
PIease do
Phil ~h5os his head. H., was not IN
the hunor far sport Then, seeing the
shadow of disappointment On the lads
<ace. ne reIcuted
Come on. Dies" he ss-'. I'm give
you short spin Nou mustn't ask for
more"
NO I wont" promised Dick. as he
eagerly followed his brother over the
zee
Phil swung the Elf around until it
pointed straight across the river. He
lifted little Dick anon the plans. and
taking hold of the rudder he ran behind
the boat as he pushed i forward along
the base II the promOntory. Faster
and faster hespei. Dick clapped his
hands for joy and looked proudly at
the people on shore
Phil had no intention OF going be-
yOnd ;hc shelteriug bank OF rocks and
trees. lIut his plan misCalculated a.
plans often VIII. when the outernost
verge - the proJEOntOry was eight or
ten distant he concluded To slacken
speed just then. as iil-luek would
have il. his foot tripped on projecting
ridge OF ice The rudder was jerked
out Of his hand and he Sprawled head
long. re rose 70 mis- feet - quickly as
possible and started after the runaway
icebolt. which was gliding slowly to-
ward the open river. The loud cutlery
told hirl that the crowd saw and re-
allied Dic.4 peril Phil ran as he mad
never ran before. He strained every
muscle 70 Overtake the fugitive But
he was destined 10 fail Just when
another stride would have seen his
hand on the tiIler the Elf glided be-
y0nd the prOmontory. Then quickly
the wind filled her sails and swung her
around. Away she went at a frightful
speed, spinning diagOnally down the
river In almost less time than IL takes
20 tell She was fifty yards away. Little
Dick could be seen cliDging 10 the seat,
apparently helpless with fright.
At first there was wild excitement
The crowd ran out on the ice. No one
knew what 70 do or what To suggest
Phil was the picture Of despair and re-
morse lie started madly after the
boat. but seeing the folly of 1.-THE turned
back
''It's all my fault. he cried. hoarsely
"Poor little Dick don't know what to
do He'll run into an airhole and be
drowned Save MIN. some one. O! save
him
The appeal was answered unexpect
edly. One in thst half-stupefied crowd
did not lose his wits With life at