The evening times., 1900-02-19
ADRIFf ON an ICE FLOE
TIVE Mems Perilous Experience ON
the Hudson River.
The Unfortunates Seen by Many Per-
sons on Their Ten-Hour Trip Down
Them-The Pair Finally Rescued
i'm Greatly Exhausted Condition.

NEW YORK. Feb. 1.-Two men afoat
on an ice foe made the trip from Nonkers
to New York yesterday and were rescued
of the Fort Lee ferry. From half-past
: O'Clock in the morning to halfpast 5 in
the evening they sat in an open skiff,
which had been nipped between two big
ice cakes and hoisted upon one of them
by the closing press of ice.
All the way from Yonkers they were
seen at intervals. by persons on shore, who
made futile attempts at rescue. The Hud-
son was so fun of ice that nothing short
of some stout craft like a blunt bowed
ferryboat could have reached them.
Charles Jones and Walter Leggett. who
are employed by Leider Bros. in their tai
low factory, across the river from Ionkers,
are the men who had this adventure.
They rowed across the river early Satur-
day evening with a load of material for
the factory. At that time the river was
comparatively free of ice and the drift was
not dangerous. They delivered their 10 ID
and shipped two barrels of tallow, which
they were TO take back 10 Yonkers. While
they were ashore the floating ice in
creased so much that they concluded il
was dangerous to attempt to a return
trip in the ski6.
They had had nothing TO eat and neither
had an overcoat. They slept in a shed on
the west shore until half-past Z O'Clock
yesterday morning, then thought that the
condition OF the river would permit of
their crossing.
Once in the middle of the river, they dis
covered that the ice foes were growing
larger and larger. The closer they ap-
preached Nonkers the greater became the
hurrying press When they were within
hundred yards of the shore they were com
pletely surrounded by drift so closely ana
composed OF such heavy ice that their oars
were useless Closer and closer the cakes
pressed upon them. until at last two, clos
ing together On either side of the skiff.
forced il out of the water and left ii rest
ing upon one Of them.
Then the current switched the whole foe
out into midstream. and the men could only
put their hands in their pockets and sit
stin Houses and villages went by. Some
times men ran to the shore and made sig
nails. but the voyagers on the ice cakes
were out OF reach. Formerly rowing had
kept them warm. but now, without their
overcoats and without exercise, they slowly
became benumbed.
II was a hour journey. during which
they figured the chances of being swept
out to sea but always held the hope that
somewhere in New York harbor some one
of the many ferryboats forcing their way
through the ice would rescue them. IL was
hslf-past 3 in the evening when they
reached Fort Lee.
Captain Marcus, of the ferryboat George
Washington. saw them as he started for
the New York side. The ice was very
thick and it was with difficulty that he
drove his boat so close to them that man
could heave line. He shouted to them to
make il fast TO the skiff. so that he might
tow them off. The first line parted. He
got within distance again and another line
was thrown. This one held and slowly
the skiff was pulled Off and the men were
taken on board the ferryboat.
They were scarcely able 10 move because
of their long exposure. The crew gave
them brisk rubbing and several stiff
drinks Of whisky. after which they recov-
cred sufficiently 10 start for Yonkers by
rail