The Republican journal., 1904-03-03
THE STORY OF THE ICE.

Harbor and Bay Still Icebound. TrOtting
and Ice boating. A Valuable Horse Lost.
Daily Visitors from IslesbOro.
1t looked as though Wednesdays snow
storm would put stop to the anticipated
sports on the ce-trotting and ice boating.
The first snow that fell was damp and
sticky, but as the temperature lowered at
night it lost this quality and the high wind
sent it whirling in every direction. Thurs
day morning found the harbor ice covered
with patches of snow, but not of sufficient
depth to seriously interfere with ice-boat-
ing, provided there was good breeze.
And there was wind enough and to spare
a stiff northeaster, with frequent furries of
snow in the afternoon. Quite number of
teams came over from Islesboro in the
morning. Under the lee of the steamboat
wharf the boys had cleared strip of ice
for skating, and in the afternoon some of
the fast stepperS were on hand for trot.
The drivers were L. L. Gentner with
Becker, Henry Gentner with Lucky Strike,
Fred Sanborn with GilchreSt's Victor L.,
John Sanborn, Osborn Lord and Mr.. Nick
erson of Swantille with pair. They had
had but few preliminary spins when L. L.
Gentner's team went through the ice One
report was that the horse went in head first,
the driver and sleigh following until only
the back of the vehicle was visible. Another
was that the horse broke through and went
down, the sleigh following, the two doubl-
ing up like the closing of a jackknife.
of ~ NJ
saw the accident from his office on the
wharf and ran upstairs for a rope which
he threw out of the window on the ice, and
Clarence Hall, who was skating nearby,
got the rope to the spot in short order.
John Sanborn gave his horse in charge of
boy and was first to the rescue. Mr..
Gentner's first thought was for his horse
and both were soon extricated from their
perilous position. The horse received
prompt care and was none the worse the
next day except for a slight stiffness. OF
course that ended the trotting for the day.
The place where the ice gave way was
over the mouth of the sewer, and was
known to be dangerous. Miss Lizzie Quinn
by had broken through while skating
the day before, and board was placed
there to mark the spot, but had been re-
moved. The theory is that the warmer
water from the sewer had eaten away the
ice from underneath, while all around the
spot the ice was foot or more thick.
Mr. Estabrooks had his ice boat out in the
afternoon with Elon Gilchrest and Marion
Brown as passengers. They went down the
western shore until off the Battery, then
ran across to Turtle Head, and from there
beat up to Searsport. Leaving the steam
boat wharf in Searsport they made the run
across to the Pavilion in minutes. A
strong northeaster was blowing and the
boat needed more ballast, or less sail, the
runners frequently leaving the ice. 1t was
grand sail.
Friday brought another accident, and a
more serious one. Fred Sanborn was driv-
ing Gilchrest's Victor L., and had in the
sleigh with him Harry Carter, an employe
of the telephone company, who was going
to Dark Harbor to do some work for the
company. When about a mile off Little
River the horse stepped into crack, which
tceable, and broke through. He was got
out after considerable trouble but died soon
after from the cold and exhaustion. The
report that the horses leg was broken and
that he was killed was unfounded. He had
recently been clipped, and the icy bath was
fatal The horse was a valuable one, with
a race record of 2.064.
1t was reported during the day that a
team was seen coming from the direction OF
Searsport when the horse broke through
but was got out and headed for home; but
this was not verified.
The Rankin and Sherman ice boat from
Swan Lake and Estabrook's "Rube" were
out in the afternoon and for time had
some good sailing, The wind died away
later, and while Mr.. Rankin got back to the
steamboat wharf with his boat, Mr.. Esta
brooks was we'll out in the bay and left his
boat outside the monument and walked
home.
The usual delegation from Islesboro came
| over and returned with supplies. They hat
previously reported one bad crack extend
| ing southerly nearly across the bay. Frida.
second crack opened parallel with thu
first. The cracks varied in width with thu
! rise and fall of the tide. At times the.
would be open from two to three feet, an(
again nearly closed up. Planks were uset
to bridge these cracks to get the horse
over. Capt. G. D. Pendleton's horse brok'
through in returning to lslesbOro Friday
but extricated himself. Capt. "Gil' say
he shall stay on the island until he can COM
off in boat.
Saturday our island neighbors called Oh
US again; but there was no speeding on tn
ice Friday or Saturday, and no wind for tn
ice boats on the latter day. Many skater
were out, some going over to lslesboro
others contenting themselves with skat
ing around the monument.
Sunday morning half a dozen ice boat
were out with good breeze, and in tn
afternoon they were out again, but the win,
began to drop early and then snow storu
set in which put an end to the sport for
time. The usual crowd of spectators wa
on the ice and on the shore.
Monday the bay was an unbroken field O
white, Skating and ice boating were at a