The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1908-09-05
RESCUE FROM FROZEN SEAS.
Remarkable Story illustrating Ev-
eryday Heroism.

Remarkable Story illustrating Ev-
eryday Heroism.
After a heart-breaking. body
wrecking trip of nearly 80 miles
over the ice of Maumee bay and Lake
Erie. four of the five brave men who
set out from Point Place yesterday
morning for the Toledo harbor light
house to get the corpse of Capt. De-
los Hayden returned safely this
morning to the point. bringing the
body with them.
The man who did not return is
Lewis Jennings, known as 'Plck.
He made the trip out with them, but
remained at the outer light TO look
after the government property there.
Joseph McNulty will relieve him to-
morrow, if he is able to make the
trip.
Although there was considerable
open water about the habor light
house, the party found neck Of SOL
id ice to the south of 1t, over which
they made the trip safely to the
structure. They took charge OF the
corpse, and started back for the crib
light.
When a point a quarter of a mile
from the crib was reached, McNulty
and Stevens fell exhausted. They
begged that the others proceed and
leave them to perish, but Edward
Jennings and Eddy decided to desert
the corpse and assist McNulty and
Stevens to the crib. They succeeded
in doing this, allowing the body of
Capt Hayden to remain on the ice
all night This morning the party
retraced their steps and recovered
it.
Capt. Hayden died in the lonely
lighthouse Thursday, Feb. IL. Jo-
seph Bernor, who was Capt. Hay
den's only companion on the lonely
winter vigil. remained with the
corpse seven days before he was able
to get to land with the news. He
reached the firm shore of Point
Place Thursday afternoon, Feb. 20,
and yesterday morning the rescue
party set out.
In it was Joseph McNulty, who is
one of the lighthouse keepers. Lewis
Jennings, Edward Jennings, Stanley
Stevens, and Charles NJ. Eddy.
Bernor accompanied the party as
far as Point Place, where they start
ed across the ice. He was still too
fatigued to try the perilous under
taking, and returned to his home.
They departed from the Rummell
wharf, on the bay shore at Point
Place, yesterday morning, taxing
with them a boat, on wheels. 10 be
used if open water was found. Inc
trip of three miles, almost due east,
to the crib light. was full OF peril.
Crevices in the ice were filled with
treacherous snow, and frequently the
men stumbled into it. They were
fatigued when the crib light was
reached. but were determined to
make the harbor light before night,
and they set out again. on the weary
trip over ice packs, through snow
slush and, finally, open water.
Even these hardy men will never
forget how near they came to death
on that trip from the crib to the out
er harbor light. They pulled the
boat over the Jagged ice cakes. some
times being forced to carry 1t, until
they had traverSed six miles. AL
though from the crib to the big light
is only four miles, as the crow flies,
so many detours were necessary that
more than twice that distance was
covered.
There were shouts of JOY from the
watchers at Johnston's park on the
bay shore at the Point at $50 when
the bright morning sun blazed down
on the returning party. They could
be seen struggling in the distance.
AS they came nearer it was apparent
that several of the men were in dis
tress, and a half dozen men hurried
over the ice to meet them.
When they met, the men who had
made the trip we're ready to drop in
their tracks. With the burden Of
the sled removed from their shoul-
ders they reeled to shore. The body
was carried to Johnson's hotel at
Point Place. and the news of the sue
cessful ending of the trip was tele-
phoned to worrying friends and rel
atives.
Benefits undertaking car was
sent to the Point to get the corpse
and it was brought to the morgue to
be prepared for the funeral. which
will be held tomorrow afternoon.
Rubicon lodge, No. 327, F. and A.
NJ. will be in charge. The burial
will be in Forest cemetery.