Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-02-21
ECHOES OF The LATE STORM
Thrilling Experience of Two
Citizens of Laurel.
FEARFUL TRAMP THROUGH SNOW
The Pilot Boat E. c. Knight
Has a Hard Time.
Driven Out to Sea by the Gale People
Walking on tho Ice from the Shore to
the Breakwater--Two Citizens of Laurel
Have Terrible Time.
speeI.l oorrssp0nasnce OF .iazelle ana journal

Special Correspondence OF Gazette and Journal
LAUREL, Feb. 14.-While the people in
New York were rejoicing over the ill-fated
and tardy La Gascogne's arrival in port
yesterday, the inhabitants of this vicinity
were INDUCING in prayer, handshaking,
congratulations and merriment over the
return of Ira Melvin aud Charles Orwell,
two prominent merchants of this town.
On Monday of last week they decided to
5 take trip down the river on their little
steam launch Flora, which has Just had a
complete overhauling. They stored pro-
visions and fuel in the craft to supply them
for two days and also equipped themselves
with cunning and fishing paraphernalia:
A lad known as Punch" Cannon begged
and entreated for berth on the trim little
vessel and he was shipped as cook.
After clearing port they met with no
hishap until they were almost to the
mouth of the Nanticoke river, about 80
miles from home. Here they encountered
severe storms and the weather became
extremely cold. They became alarmed at
this turn of affairs and changed their
course, making for Hay Inlet or Deep
Water Point. Before they reached this
place they were hemmed in ana were
soon enyironed with four inches of solid
Ice. They remained there until the weather
became unbearable, the thermometer reg
istering 70 below zero. Realizing their
at all hazards and wrapping themselves up
we'll started, facing a binding storm.
Almost frozen and exhausted they reached
farmhouse, after having tramped seven
miles through drifts of snow in some
places as high as their waists. They were
almost unconscious when they arrived.
The farmer and his family got tiibs of
cold water ready and soon relieved the
wanderers of their clothing and gave them
an unpleasant bath. They demonstrated
against this treatment, but afterwards sub
mitted. Wet cloths were also kept about
their face and ears and by this means
were saved from freezing. Messrs. Melvin
and Orwell both stated they thought theiI
time had come. After lingering five days
with their benefactors they left to gel
home the best they could. The roads
were impossible in some places and al
last they reached Laurel, last night, in
good health. General rejoicing is INDUCED
in here and the incident is the town talk.
AT THE BREAKwATER.
Special Correspondence OF Gazette and Journa
LEwEs, Feb 15.-The cold snap hold:
on. The ice is still jammed into the
harbor and people have been walking
ashore and back from vessels for the pas
few days. Tugs and other vessels at the
Breakwater and government pier have
been short of water John Marshall
well-driver of Lewes, has driven well a
the pier and is supplying them at the rate
of two cents per gallon.
Food for cattle is short and some have
persisted from exposure and starvation
7 The roads leading into town have been sc
badly blockaded very little could be pro
Cured from neighboring farms.
Birds and wild animals are perishing il
consequence of the snow, which com
pletely covers the fields and the extremely
cold weather, causing starvation.
The Rev. Albert J. Thompson, rector o.
st. Clements +. Il. Church. New Yorl
City, died in Eustis, Fla. few days ag,
Sged As years. Mr.. Thompson has beef
Sick for several months. He returned t.
the old homestead, near Rehoboth Beach
an invalid, early last summer, and gettinl
no relief went to Florida in Novembe
last. His remains will be taken to New
York, placed temporarily in a vault, an,
later brought here for interment. He wa
genial and popular gentleman and sue
cessful minister of the church.
The pilot boat Il. T. Knight of Cape Ma
was caught in the late blizzard and drive
off the capes over 100 miles. During tn
gale she was damaged by the loss OF he
tib and the cracking of her iib-boom
On of her pilots apprentices, Georg
Douglass, while in the act of cutting ava
the jib was badly frosted in face and ear,
The seas swept over her and iced her u
terribly. She returned towards the cape
under reduced sail and was towed in t
the harbor Tuesday evening by tug SamuC
McCaulley.
The office of the Breakwater Martin
Exchange is now at the Marine Hospitu