The daily tribune., 1909-05-05
When the Waters
Ran Cold
By B, w. McKeea.
BY B. W. kAeKeea.

aHGE~ 1rluB ~ Vhuciioo, AOWSy tAOAs
'and father was driving dray. I
was only four years old at the time.
yet some Of the circumstances am
about to relate fastened themselves
in6elibly on my memory, and furnish
setting Of remembrance round
which the story of fathers adventure.
az l have often heard him describe 1t.
gathered until 1t became one distinct
whole.
Fathers dray was one OF those two
wheeled vehicles still to be seen in
the eastern cities OF our country. but
now very rare in the west. "Old
Frank" fathers trusty dray-horse.
was large bay. intelligent. faithful
and obedient.
Father was kept very busy through
out the forenoon Finally but single
job remained to be done before Old
Frank could be put in the barn and
father go to a belated dinner. Some
one wanted load of ice
Father drove to the bank of the riv-
er, above the dam. where the ice har-
vesters had been at work. The Cedar
river at Waterloo is a considerable
stream, and Is now crossed by several
five-span iron bridges. At that time
1t was crossed by but "A single wood
en- structure.
The place where father went for his
load was deserted by the ice-harvest-
ers. The river here stretched away
for a mile or two to the northwest,
and down this stretch the wind. un-
hindered, seemed almost to double Its
speed and keenness.
The bank sloped gently down to the
edge of the water. Here father backed
up his dray to within few feet OF the
ice, and left his horse standing, while
he prepared to cut and load the Ice
1t was but few inches thick where
he began splitting off cakes Of 1t with
his Ak
He was making rapid headway with
his work and had secured and loaded
nearly as much as he wanted, when
considerably larger piece split on
than he had anticipated, including the
portion on which he stood. Taken by
surprise, he was precipitated into the
water. which at this point was ten
feet or more In depth. with strong
current.
He was clothed to the point OF clum-
siness. He wore a heavy overcoat,
with a strap or belt tied round 1t, a
heavy cap, and pair of thick sheep
skin mittens.
Although he was In plain sight
of the Touring mills on each side OF
the river, and within poseIDIv n~i,in;s
distance. of the bridge which spanned
the river below the dam. and in sight
Of perhaps a dozen houses, no person
was visible. The small chance Of any
one appearing on this bitterly cold day
was even smaller at this particular
time, As people generally were at their
midday meal.
Father made an effort to raise him.
self up on the Ice to which he was
clinging. But at once It broke, and he
was again submerged
Several times, however, in the next
few desperate moments did the spin.
tering Ice break his hold, and each
time he was fortunate enough to get
a new hold before being drawn under.
While working thus he drew nearer.
partly by design, to the river bank
where the faithful old dray-horse was
standing.
At last an inspiration seized him,
and knowing how well the horse
obeyed his least word. he called to
Old Frank to back up. The horse
backed a few steps in a slow and de-
liberate manner. Father watched
with keen anxiety. lest he back too
far, and dray. horse and all be pre-
cipitated into Ae icy stream. But his
fears were groundless, for when the
dray was as near the edge Of the Ice
as father dared risk having II come.
the horse stopped at a word OF com.
mand. a
For the now thoroughly chilled man
to make few desperate lunges to-
ward the shore and the wheel OF the
dray did not require long. BY great
good fortune he succeeded In reach
ing the thicker ice near the shore
without being wholly cast adrift from
the thinner Ice In his progress shore
ward. Then by one last supreme ef
IOrt ne luuSeu IaT enough ioTWdTu ~
grasp the dray-wheel with one hand
with that leverage he drew himself
enough farther to get hold with the
other hand also. Taking as Arm ,
grasp Of the wheel as possible, he
ch!rruped for the horse to go ahead
and again the animal responded, ant
father was dragged from his Icy bath
Summoning all his strength and
will-power, he succeeded In gaining
his feet Knowing that he must gel
home at once, and that II possible hs
must walk rather than ride. In ordel
10 avoid being utterly chilled and seri
ously frozen, he started the horse
homeward and staggered along as bes
he could. / Was at home. and hap
pened to be anxiously pecring out o,
the window in the hope OF seeing fa
ther. whom we had been expecting
Finally my eyes beheld sight which
shall never forget.