Evening capital., 1905-02-09
PRICE ONE GENT
WAS A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
JAMES REEDY HAS A HAIR
ROWING EXPERIENCE.
1t Was He Whom Three Sailors
Thought Was Drowned
Near Grecnberry
Point.

Ii has been found that the fear
which had been expressed by several
sailors at the Naval Academy that
some one connected with Greenberry
Point light had been drowned bv
breaking through the ice was we'll
founded although no life was actual
~ lost. The experience, however, of
MIR. James Reedy, the man whom the
sailors saw break through the ice. was
OF most terrifying nature.
On the wind swept ice breaking
through every little ways, and his
clothes freezing to his body, he had
an experience which he will remem-
ber 10 his dying day That he was
not drowned or else frozen to death is
great surprise TO him and to his
brother, Patrick Reedy. the keeper
of the light. who witnessed the terrible
struggle with the elements.
For some time Patrick Reedy had
been quite i'll with gastritis, but en-
deayored to remain at his post His
brother James, learning by signal
displayed on the lighthouse that all
was not well, went out to remain with
his brother stor few days. Finally,
their provisions running low, James
started for shore TO lay in supplies
- N1AAANh WIN AiAAu un OhE 10 hku
him in she event of his falling through
the ice. Twice he went through but
managed TO extricate himself with the
aid of the oar.
Had it not been for the condition
Of his brother and the fact that he
needed provisions he would never
have attempted TO return on the rot
ten ice, which was but little better
than thick snow, articularly where
the channel had been opened the day
before. Thinking TO divide the weight
he would be required to carry on the
ice he borrowed a small sled and
placed his provisions on il. He eau
tiously felt his way along the ice un.
til he had traversed half the distance
between shore and the lighthouse.
Then he broke through the thin crust
of ice and went in TO his waist.
With desperate tug on the rope
attached to the sled he managed to
get out of the hole and again started
on his trip. Again he broke through
and again he managed to reach firm
ice. It was cracking about him and
giving forth ominous sounds, but he
pushed on. From the railing of the
| lighthouse his brother, the keeper,
watched his desperate rtuggles. power
lesS W dlu ulm anu III mOm6nL Lary rear
that he would break through and dis
appear from sight. Reedy was chilled
TO the bone and his clothes we're
freezing fast to his body in spite of
the violence of his exertions. At
times, when he managed to get out of
hole into which he had been precip-
itated, he would partially freeze to
the surrounding ice before he could
| summon sufficient strength to continue
what seemed hopeless fight.
AT last, weakened by his exertions
and thinking the better to distribute
the weight of his body he dropped TO
! his hands and knees and crawled along.
1t was an effort to detach his clothing
from the ice with each movement of
liis legs, but he managed TO move for
" ard toward the lighthouse. Near
| the Lighthouse the ice was particular
| ly thin and the keeper stood ready
with life line to render what aid he
| could in the event of his brother 90.
ing through. At last the young man
reached the Lighthouse and was as
sisted aboard so utterly exhausted
that he could scarcely speak. He
managed to retain the provisions and
| they were taken into the lighthouse
| after Reedy had been cared for. He
is now in charge Of the light during
the absence ashore of his brother, who
is quite ill.