The sun., 1898-02-13
ESCAPED FROM DEATH
Crew of Il Government Launch
Face Destruction.
RESULT OF THE LATE STORMS
Tons Of Ice Pounded the Boat and
Threatened to Ovcrwhclnl Her
N Any Ninutc---Saveh
by tn. Juno.
RESULT OF THE LATE STORMS

The 80 loot government lAunrll, with
three men on board had a narrow r>-
cape from destruction in the ice last
Sunday.
The men were Captain l.iuwood
Spicer, William People and William
Bugger.
Captain Spiccr relates the thrilling rN-
/ prrnc2 in his own words.
/ I'VE started from Reedy Island ON
Sunday morning last and reached Egg
Island soon after. There We resolved to
stay until the ice should clear little to
allow us to pursue our course in safety,
The provisions gave out and we haI
to start on again or starvc to death. After
we started Il heavy northwest gaIr set in
and we were soaking wet and the clothes
which we wore were soon stlfirned hN
the cold so that we could scarcely move.
( ''Grcat cakes of ice six feet high,
driven by the force of the wind and cur
rent came crashing into our flail craft
threatening to sink it any moment. The
ice a. it swept on It's way tore the copper
from the bottom Of the boat and she Dr-
gan to leak
The men worked hard and soon had
the launch clear Of water. Cur engine,
which is but four horse power, failed 10
resist the force of the ice. which seemed
to come against our bow with force
enough to crush IA gun-boat. Then oun
slalllng gave way and we were Il, the
mercy Of the wind and sea. Our boat
was tossed aside by the ice ~ if it had
been feather. Then our rlddcr was
lost and we were deprived OF our only
means Of safety.
The men began to despair OF cvcl
reaching land alive. Darkness was com
ing on, and the huge cakes OF ice might
at any time pile up over our boat. The
tug Juno happened to be coming down
! the river and made straight for our dis
/ tresscd boat and the unfortunate men
who were in that frai craft.
/ ">hc reached them just in time and
putting ont Il line She towed them NJ
4 the rNrr.'
The launch was damaged u little aitcl
/ the Juno took hcr in tow. Wien they
reached the creek they had to steer with
an oar. As soon as they reached tHt
dock the men sprang ashore and the
craft stared to sink After several hours
work the boat was made last.
She Is now undergoing repairs il tn,
jackson X Sharp Company'- yard.
The steamer Willie, of the W. 4 \. t.
r., had narrow escape from destruction
liz .he ice which fills the river.
Captain General DolboW j. III com
nlauN.
They started for Bridgeton on Monday
evening about $ O'Clock The icr was 81
thick i'll the river that hey had t" tie "
at burna Vista.
They could pr'srrd no iurthrr lha
night. At six o'clock the next mornln.
they went on to Eridgct"n,
i heavy northwest wind was BLOWN!
and they were unable to get out tor tive
days.
They then started for C,ilansrv an'
stayed there until last Sunday. They
started to break their way through til,
Ice inthe creek with No. float.
They got through the ice in the crrrl
and started for Wilmington, but g"
janmcd in the ice again.
The water washed over the rail. an,
soon the galley was ih,udcd with waite
'u''''' tiI''' '''t 'lttp' l''S tIl'i III w
fer shore and had to tie up again. Tho
Laura Is. WAS sent ont to their relief
Size got them rXtricatrd once more ant
lett there 1T II o'clock. On Saturday the,
Ici! i"r Hridgrton, in tnw OF Laura t.
and got the iloa, uut ui the ice.
The ice came with 50 much fore,
against the boat that her waist was tori
I ont and water began t" pour into th'
cabins
The r,lutlcr was broken in half by til,
ice which crushed against tn" sides an,
bow Of the boat.
They lad great difficulty in rcachin!
the mouth Of the creek, but finally di,
So with the aid Of the Laura B.
The workncn have repaired nearl,
all the damages.