The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-02-19

NEW YORK. Feb. 1.-Two men aloat
on an ice foe made the trip from Yonkers
10 New York yesterday, and were rescued
of the Fort Lee ferry. From halr-past
: o'clock in the morning to half-past in
the evening they sat in an open skn,
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
ferrybost could have reached them.
Charles Jones and Walter Leggett who
are employed by Leider Bros. in their tai
low factory, across the river from Yonkers
are the me-, 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 "a
and shipped tvo barrels of tallow. which
they were TO take back to Yonkers. While
they were ashore the floating ice in
creased so much that they concluded X
was dangerous TO attempt TO a return
trip in the skiR.
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 we're within A
hundred yards Of the shore they were com
pletely surrounded by a drift so closely ana
composed OF such heavy ice that thel~ oars
were useless. Closer and closer trr cakes
pressed upon them. until at last two. clos
ing together on either side Of the skin
forced IL out Of the water and left IL 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
still. 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.
IL was ten-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. Ii was
hslf-past 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 il was with difficulty that he
drove HIS boat so close to them that a man
could heave line. He shouted 10 them 10
make IL fast 10 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 skin was pulled of and the men we're
taken on board the ferrybOat
They were scarcely able 10 move because
Of their long exposure. The crew gave
them a brisk rubbing and several stir
drinks Of whisky, after which they recov-
cred sufficiently to start for Yonkers by
rail