The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-06
SWEPT NEARLY TO SEA BY ICE
THTRTI ONE MEN RACE WITH
DEATH IN THE FLOEN.
Philadclphla's Iccboat No 3 Goes Down
on Delaware BrcakwRter Struck tho
Niasts OF n Sunhen Yessc!-rrcw Have
Hard struggle TO Reach shore

PHILADELPHIA. Feb. 5.--lcehoat No. 8,
Philadelphia's $3.50 600 winter harbor clearer,
went down in Delaware Bay. near the
Brcakwater. at o'clock this morning
Thirty-one men, its crew, fought for four
hours through fog and bitter cold against
crushing ice foes and a tide that was
sweeping them out to sea. Some were in
boats Most of them were not.
@We 5ad Washington skinned to a finish,
SAYS second Mate John Kelly, who saved
Capt. Jacobs from death.
The remainder Of the crew are now at
the Rroakwater. They got ashore at 10
O'Clock this morning.
The No g. the largest and most powerful
of the city's fleet, patrols the extreme
lower river, cutting pathway for shipping
to and from the sea. She was outbound
under orders to cut out and bring up
feet of schooners. tugs and barges. just
inside the bay line is a harbor of refuge
with stone breakers at either end TO stay
the flow of the currents.
1t was just after O'Clock in the morning.
No 3, Juggling and putting under full head
of steam, was crlnching her way between
the two breakwaters The battle was too
hard and she was wedred fast in the ice.
A heavy tide was flowing seward. The
helpless craft was plunged with the full
force Of the tide against the masts of the
sunken schooner Santiago. the tops Of
which were just under the surface. Only
the night before the ice as though batting
trap, had cut on the masts Of the SAINT
iago.
In n second the iceboat began to fill.
!. nil IA
the tide and ice it was doubtful whether
any could live. Fog and darkness added
10 the perils. Sixteen men made the boats.
The others failed and jumped on the foes
Then began the battle The sixteen in
the boats gave up after a short struggle
and decided to take their chances on the
ice with the others. Slipping. falling.
drenched frozen. the thirty-one fought
against the tide. trying to make way up
bay and toward the shore
Down went Capt Jacobs, sliding over
the side Of the little htlmmook on which
he was. Swinging in upon him was am
other big cake. just in time the second
mate dragged him up and the foes struck
The captain lay upon the ice to get his
breath When he tried to rise he found
himself fastened tight by frozen clothes
The second mate cut him loose with his
clasp knife and then they began again the
fight shorewarcl against the tide.
SO fast was the tide running seaward
that at times it seemed to the sufferers
that they were making no progress. With
energy born of danger the thirty-one
struggled on. Four hours they kept up
the fight until the last man was helped
ashore near Lewes, Del. Some Of them
were frozen.
A feet of tugs in the breakwater fought
their way to where the men We're struggling
and helped in the rescues Hundreds on
the shore, unable TO raise hand to aid,
cheered the men Many boat and several
members Of the pilot boat fleet have gone
down at this place. This Is, however,
the first time any serious accident ever
happened to one Of the Ice boats.
Every time a tug would edge up TO foe
on which we're perhaps six or ten of the
crew. the shock of meeting would tilt the
ice. then the men would throw themselves
on their faces while cascades Of water
would pour over them. Then the tug
would back away and the freezing men
would gain their feet and try to keep their
blood going. Scores of times tug would
get near enough to throw out lines to the
men. and then the currents would sweep
the foe yards way