Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-30
I'M FACE OF DEATH
Young Man Caught in Midstream
When Ice Breaks
Up.
is WATCHED BY HUNDREDS
Rides Floating Pieces, a la Eliza, and
Escapes on Island Above
Bridge.

All who have read Uncle Toms Cab
in. or have seen the play. know OF the
sensational escape of Eliza and her
child, but there are few. probably, who
have seen a man making a desperate
effort to save himself, when in the mid
die of the Mississippi with the ice go
| ing out.
! Such a scene was witnessed by many
people yesterday afternoon, when a
Davenport youth was caught in mid
stream when the ice broke and went
out He had started from the Daven-
port shore. near the west end, and was
| just a little over half way across when
the break occurred.
| He was in the swiftest current, and
his position seemed to promise nothing
but death. Realizing his danger, he
started on a run for the Rock Island
shore. but soon discovered that to come
in this direction was to be carried into
the channel at the draw of the Crescent
bridge.
| Beyond Human Aid.
He turned and ran the other way,
and his movements had by this time
attracted the attention of the people
along the banks who had gathered to
watch the movement of the ice Though
aware of the mans danger, no one
could give him any help, for the ice
was running in great slabs, grinding
together with force that would crush
any boat to splinters.
The man could be seen, running
across cake of ice. to be thrown to
hn 10 n
er himself up, make a dash, and land
on the next piece of ice, often falling
as he landed.
1t was flight that held breathless
those who watched it, and as the
stranger would rise and make a dash
across the ice after a fall. a sigh of
relief would be heard from those on
the bank.
1t was growing dark rapidly, and
when last seen from the Rock Island
shore the venturesome Davenport man
was apparently safe. He had passed
out OF the current. and was well within
the shore line of more solid ice.
Chief Miller Has Life Line.
Chief Phil Miller took his rig and a
long rope and followed the Rock Island
shore. intending to throw out life
line to the young man. but the latter
did not come close enough to this side.
He was seen to reach the shore of the
island. just above the Crescent bridge
There was a story in Davenport that
two men started to cross together, and
that one persisted. but this is discredit-
ed by the police of both cities.
The identity of the young man who
made the perilous journey could not
be learned. He crossed on the ice be-
tween the island and the Davenport
shore and disappeared in the city,
probably going directly to his home,
without stopping to- discuss his ex-
pcrience.
Herman Schmacht. manager of the
Mississippi Ice company. and Mr.. Mel
son. of the firm of Day & Nelson. pro-
prietors of the Sylvan Ice company,
were caught in the breakup in the riv-
er in the west end of the city. Both
got into the water up to their necks.
They were assisted To terra firma by
Fred Hanson, who was standing on the
shore when their footing was moved
from under them.
No Precedent, Says Old Timer.
Old timers say that for the Missis-
sippi to- freeze as solid as it was on
Wednesday. and then to have the ice
go out again the next day. is without
precedent. The ice moved slightly |
during Wednesday night. and a slight |
movement could be detected during |
yesterday morning, but it was not until |
nearly o'clock in the afternoon that |
the gorge was broken and the river |
began to clear. Below the Crescent |
bridge the ice did considerable dam
age. The boat house owned by Man
ager Bennett, of the Standard Table |
Oil Cloth factory, was carried out into |
the stream. and ground TO pieces. A |
number of other small sheds and boats |
. I;I,a Toto