New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-22

jefferson. Long Island. last Sunday night
saved two men from drowning at great
personal peril end exposure to herself.
The two men are Henry Deickman and
Fritz Kramer, Germans, who WORK In the
rubber factory in Setauket and who live near
the Sharp house They crossing the ice
on Conscience Bay. a branch of Port Jefferson
Harbor some two miles long and about mile
and half wide. Sunday evening, IN squall Of
snow. 1t was just dark and the strong north
east gale blowing the binding snow fur
oualy.
The men had reached a point about halfway
across the Bay when, without warning. the
ice gave way under Henry Deickman. who was
walking in advance of his companion. and he
found himself struggling in Icy cold water ,p to
his neck His companion Fritz. fastened to
reach a hand out to him. Henry grabbed 1t. but
in his eagorness to get out he pulled Fritz into
the opening with MIN. Deickman was
able to swim. and managed to keep his head
above water but Fritz. unfortunately. could not
SWIM and 1oundered about helplessly until he
reached cae OF ice. md by It's aid kept his
head above water.
LITTLE HOPE OF BEING SAVED
It was then so dark that 1t was impossible to
see the shore about three-quarters OF mile
distant. and there was little chInce Of any one
hearing a cry for help. as the bitter cold had
KEPT the people hugging their fires all day. But
the two men began shouting for help IN an al
most forloyn hope.
The Sharps live In humble fshermans cot
on the edge Of Conscience Bay far away from
the nearest house. and about half mile from
the spot where TIE two Germans struggling
in the water Mrs. Sharp IS an expert SWIM
mer. handles an car perfeC tly. and is an all
around water woman Sic has lived in the
neighborhood many years. and knows every nook
and corner Of Port Jeffsr on Harbor and It's
branches and all OF their many pecuarities
Just before nlghtfan she happened to glance out
Of her window which overlooked the Bay. and
noticed two men on the ctLer side start ng to
walk across This was not an unusual occur
rance as tina. portion OF the Bay had been
frozen over soUdly and there was no danger II
the persons taking the shot CIT across the ice
knew the track ar how to avoid the dangerous
spring holes where fresh Na;er from Setauket
Pond caused the ice to rot.
THE FAINT SOUND OF THEIR CRIES.
supposing that the two men knew the track.
Mrs Sharp gave the matter no further thought
until sbou, forty minutes later. when 1t sud-
denly occurred 20 her that the two men had not
passed her house yet they were compelled 10
do II they took the usual and only safe route
across the ice. The thought that they had
fallen into ore of the spring holes instantly
flashed across her mind, and putting on her
shawl she stepped into the freezing cold
night and placing her ,ar close 10 the frozen
surface OF the bay listened. Her quick ear soon
detected the cries for heip. in spite OF the nerce
northeaster that was bowling and wh!stling
round her. Mrs. Sharp at once grasped a
long pole. used by her husband for ceiling, and
hastened over the ice 10 the rescue.
p-aN hose greatest dangers.
FOR there were many spring holes. and 1t was
pitch-dark. Ii vas only with the greatest difr-
Guilty too. that she could distinguish the amp
in the window Ct her cottage. Placing her ear
close TO the ice every moment or two, so as to
catch the cries for help she soon came upon the
struggling men. She shouted announcement to
them and they gasped they could hoid out little
longer.
Seeing at glance that one of the men. Fritz.
was near some solid ice, Mns Sharp cautiously
approached the place. lying down at full length
and gradually working her way toward the
spring hole. pushing her eel-pole ahead Of her.
THE sKILTUL RESCUE.
She at last reached place where Fritz could
seize one end of the pole and. cautoning him to
go slowly. she worked her way backward over
the chilling ice. dragging the heavy man after
her. until he also reached the solid Ice. Once
there he painfully rolled himself on to the Ice
and made his way toward his rescuer
All this time Deickman was crying for help.
declaring tia. he would sink the next moment
# he were not rescued. Mrs. sharp promptly
started out 10 rescue this man as she had the
first one but Fritz insisted that he should take
the eel-pOe and rescue his mpanion. The
woman consented the operation had been q
painful and perilous one for her. She directed
Fritz at every point. and he finally rescued his
friend in the saine manner in which he had been
saved.
Under Mrs. Sharp's guidance the two men
made their way across the ice In the blinding
snow and reached the Sharp home. where a
change of clothing and stimulants were given
TO them
Mrs Sharp. when seen by Tribune reporter.
declined to say much about her heroic piece OF
work. and passed 1t off as a matter Of little
consequence. When asked II she were not afraid
of the exposure in 'he bitterly cold night, she
said: "Oh no. We fishermens wives have
to be accustomed 70 all sorts of weather"
But did you not take pretty big risk In
venturng out or that treacherous ice on such
a dark night" persisted the reporter.
"Oh, goodness. gracious, no." she replied Il
know every inch Of that bay. both above and
endured staying in my comfortable home when
I thought those two men might have fallen
through the Ice and were freezing to death"
FAMILY OF LIFE-sAvERs
This Ia no' the only instance OF life-saving
that Is credited 20 the Sharp family. Charlie"
Sharp has rescued number Of people from
in :he years he has fshed In these
waters while his twelve-year-old son
George has come In for a good share OF praise
in this line. II only last summer that three
young men from Brooklyn fishing in the
Narrows OF Conscience Bay. where the water
is the deepes' and the tide the swiftest. The
boat they were in was of the fla bottom kind.
and It happened to be an old and rotten one.
At all events. the bottom OF the boat suddenly
fell ont and the three young men. not one OF
whom could SWIM found themselves struggling
in the water. Little George Sharp happened
to be fishing near by in his fathers boat. and
to the place he adroitly picked up
the young men. one after another. and landed
them safely. This. especially considering the
,ize OF the little boat the Sharp boy was in
was a feat requiring the utmost skill, adroitness
and caution For this service George received
no reward except a scant Thank YOU"
NEW GOTERNOR INAUGURATED.
Jackson, Miss. Jan. H.-Ten thousand people to-
lay witnessed the Inauguration OF Governor Nc.