The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1908-09-05

The others were Jos. McNulty, Pick
Jennings, Stanley Stevens and my
self. We found that there was no
ice to walk upon. the surface being
covered with snow and slush. with
the ice far beneath. 1t was hard
work getting along. We reached the
crib at 1870. where we had a little
coffee and some pork chops brought
along by Pick Jennings in his KNAPP
sack.
At the crib was Hayden's runner
boat. which is a rowboat on wheels.
We dragged this boat to the outer
light We were all fastened by
opes. Ed Jennings taking the lead,
possibly 60 feet ahead OF the rest OF
us. who were tied - feet apart. 1t
took us two hours to ct ont to the
bar. Beyond the bar we were con-
tinually breaking through the slush
and snow and would sink in to our
knees before striking solid ice.
"McNulty and Stevens were not pre-
pared for this. not having rubber
boots. and this told upon them later.
When We approached the outer light
there was a strip of ice leading right
I'D to south side. while on other sides
the water was open. We got to the
light on this ice and hoisted the boat
up. Pick Jennings went in first.
The odor in the light house was bad.
Pick went up stairs and refused to
come down where the body was. he
was probably right, because he en-
pected to stay there. We found that
Bernor had stuffed the keyhole and
cracks in the door leading to the bed
room with rags. None Of us wanted
to open the door. First we burned
old rags and waste to fumigate the
air. Finally we went in, and the
sight was unnerving. We made
stretcher with timber and some can
vas. Four times we had to leave the
room before we could get the body
off the bed onto the stretcher. and
we did not uncover it. Once | saw
the back of Capt. Hayden's neck and
it was as black as your coat.
I'VE finally got the body into the
boat and decided to get away as soon
as possible At 4 o'clock Friday al
ternoon we left there. The ice about
the lighthouse had already begun to
move and as we lowered the boat it
went into the water. We soon reach
ed the ice and hauled the boat up,
hurrying as fast as we could to reach
the bar, knowing that the ice might
move outside at any time. When
the bar was reached we breathed a
little easier, but then McNulty and
Stevens gave signs of being tagged
out. They were continually want
ing to sit down and rest. 1t was
getting dark and Ed Jennings and
myself insisted upon pushing ahead.
When about quarter Of mile from
the crib Stevens laid down on the ice
and refused to move. McEulty sat
down on the boat and both begged
us to proceed and abandon them, as
they could go no further. Ed Jen-
nings and | were both getting stl1
and l tell you that it was hard work
going against the wind and pulling
the body, which had swollen and
probably weighed 200 pounds.
1T was then that something had
to be done. We had just about con-
cluded to take the body of Capt.
Hayden out of the boat and load in
McNulty and Stevens. but by little
scolding forced the men to come
along. When we reached the crib
it was I o'clock and we built fire.
McNulty and Stevens were shaking
like leaves We heated some water,
put their feet into it and then made
them go to bed. After they were
disposed of we looked after our own
frozen fingers and tried to get lit
tie rest, bat could not sleep. At day
break this morning We arose and
looked for something to eat, but all
we could find was coffee and crack
ers. We started out after the boat
containing the body. got 1t to the
crib. and at once transferred it toi
the sled and started for shore.
BY agreement | came on ahead.
leaving the other three to pull the
sled. When reached Warmers
Grove at $50 | telephoned for re-
lief party to go out, making arrange
ments for them to get something to
eat when they should arrive. | knew
it would be hard work pulling that
sled over the slush ice and in their
condition they might not succeed.
I communicated with Mrs. Hayden
and then came home to take care of
my own health. With little rest
now | will be all right"
Suffering from the exposure, much
fatigued and hungry, the rescue par
ty with Del Hayden's body arrived
at the foot of Warmers lane, Point
Place about 10 o'clock. and imme-
diately went to Gus Johnson's club
house, where a hearty breakfast
awaited them.