The sun., 1903-02-11
YACHT BROKE THROUGH ICE.
MIR. AND MRS. ARCHIBALD ROGERS
THROWN INTO THE WATER.
Accident Occurred Near COmnotOre's
Home on Hudson-B0th In Icy water
Up To shoulders Several Minut CD. \.
BIRD and Henry sleight Aid In Rescue.

PoUoHKEkP II, Feb. lO.-Between IL and
! o'clock this afternoon Commodore Archi-
bald Rogers Of the Hudson River leo Yacht
Club and Mrs. Rogers had q thrilling ex-
porience while enjoying All iceboat sail
on tho Hudson River.
They were out ON Commodore Rogers's
Yacht tho Ariel, a sloop-rigged craft OF
tho fourth class carrying 208 feet OF sail
area. The weather has been mild for
several days and the ice was sun struck.
Besides. 1t has been cut away by tho action
Of the lido and in spots is not over two or
three inches thick.
Midway between West Park and Red
Top on the west shore Of the river In tho
bay nearly opposite Grunwold' Mr.
Rogers's home. the yacht passed over
thin spot in tho ice and one shoe cut through.
Tho boat Was brought to with force enough
to smash in the ice on the side where the
shoe penetrated and the yacht began to
carocn.
The stern then bee an to settle and Com
modore Rogers and his wife left the cockpit
and made their way forward over the centre
timber 10 the r, nner point The wei ht OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Rogers sank the Loaf lower
nd lower into the water / ntil both were
submcr2 ed nearly to their chins. and II 1t
had not been for the buoyancy Of the sail
would have had no support whatever
j. Sterling Bird and Henry Slei ut, MEM
bers Of the Hyde Park Ice Yacht Club,
were sailing their boat in the vicinity They
were quick TO notice the plight of Commodore
and Mrs Rogers and rushed to their rescue.
They hurridy cut the halliIrds from their
Mr. Sleight stepped on thin spot and
sank in water up to his waist. For time
It looked as If both Mr. Bird and Mr.. Sleight
would go into the water with Commodore
and Mrs. Rogers
ice the work Of rescue was slow. and II
was nearly ten minutes before rope was
thrown to Commodore Rogers. which he
caught and tied around his wife's arm.
Both Commodore and Mrs. Rogers were
greatly han p red by their furs oEd heavy
clothing, and in pulling Mrs. R,gers to
he sound icy s'ls broke through several
tines. When Mrs. Rogers was placed In
safety Commodore Rogers was pulled out
by the same rope and both walked hur-
ried,y TO the east side OF the river. dis
tanco Of half mile. and were driven home
after a short rest at Commodore Rogers's
boat house.
At C1imwo.d Commodore Rogers's home,
il was said tonight that neither hc and
Mrs Rogers had suffered any i'll effects
from their Immersion in the icy water.
After he had changed his clot hing MIR.
Rogers returned TO the river and superin-
tended the work OF recovering the ARIEL.
The ice was broken for a considerable
distance around the craft. A rowboat
was dragged across the river and launched
in the open water, as it was not possible
to get near the submerged yacht in any
other wav.
After several hours of hard work the
Ariel was pulled out of the water. Tonight
there is a space twenty feet square. showing
where Mr.. and Mrs. Rogers made their
plunge.
In Hyde Park tonight nothing is heard
but praise for the courage of Mr. Bird and
Mr.. Seight and commendation for the
cool headedness shown by Mr.. and Mrs
Rogers in their plight.
Mr.. Rogers is al enthusiast In all athletic
sports. He is an expert horseman. an
accomplished yachtsman and swimmer.
When young man he and Robert II. Cole
man, a brother Of Mrs. Rogers, were CLOSE
friends. Mr.. Rogers saved Mr.. Coleman
from drowning in n stream in the Far West
at the peril of his own life and It was this
act that led to his meeting Miss Annie
Coleman, his friends sister. whom he sub
sequently married and whose life he assisted
in saving to-day.