The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-03-02

however. The elder brother was equal
ly willing to risk his life that another
might be saved. But Roy would not
hear to this. ,..Ess a.....,......
You are older he said. and would
be worth more to mother in case
am caught. IN go alone. Considerable
time was taken up in obtaining some
ropes. Roy fastened a piece of wood
to light line. He tied a clothes line
to this and then a three-quarter inch
rope to the clothes line thinking to
have the man In the tree catch the
line and draw the rope to tie himself
about the body and be drawn into the
boat. Shaking hands with his brother,
|as If in. farewell, Roy started.
He worked himself through the
darkness, and the woods were pitch
Black. He had a lantern in the boat
and located Thomas by occasional
calls. Ellis found a place against which
he could lodge his boat, on the very
edge of the current that swept the
base of the tree in which, Thomas
was hanging The prisoner had now
become so cold that he feared that he
could not hold on much longer Re
moving his. belt he strapped his body
to the tree that he might not fall into
the water, and his holy would at-least
be saved from the food, He could not
help himself much, and repeated efforts
by Ellis to throw him the line failed.
Ellis recoiled his line after each try,
and he threw again and again Final.
ly the line fell in the tree across the
To- ~ fn
session of the heavier rope.
' Here the plan of rescue was chang
ed. 1t was thought better to make an
end of the heavy rope fast to the will
low above Thomas head and the other
to one of the trees by Ellis boat.
Thomas was to let himself down from
the tree along the incline of the rope,
hand over hand to reach the boat.
He started all right but he had not
proceeded far when he fell into the
water Ellis had worked forward, how.
ever, and was ready and Thomas was
helped over the side and was saved.
But the men we're not safe yet, and
it was with extreme risk that the boat
made its way down the current to
the beach of the island.
Here big fire was burning and the
men. Ruggenberg and Reynolds.
themselves suffering, took charge of
the half dead Thomas. Ellis has
brought along in the boat a quantity
of blankets sent by a thoughtful farm
err when the boat left on its uncertain
terrand Thomas was relieved of his
wet clothes and the blankets thrown
about him while his garments were
dried, but 1t was near daylight before
he was able to resume his clothing. Z
Ellis In the meantime had taken
to the current in the stream and made
shore below, Early Sunday morning
the Board members, who had not left
the scene. secured the Ellis boys, pro.
yided a heavier stronger boat and
better equipment to return to the is
land from another vantage point
and to bring away the. men imprison-
ed thereon.
They we're provided with an AK and
poles and they had to cut their way
through much ice. When the ice be,
came too thick to cut one of the lads
sprang from the, boat and the men OF
the island came out to meet them
walking a considerable distance on
the uhbroken ice that had been ce-
mented during the nights freezing.
The thermometer had marked twelve
to ten above zero and the ice had
frozen sufficiently to sustain their
weight.
Cars were in waiting when the
men returned to the bank and th9y
we're hurried to town ana their
homes. All were put to bed as soon
as possible. Ruggenberg and Rey-
nolds were quite i'll with colds and
Thomas is suffering with painful feet
and hands. Mr.. Thomas did not take
to his bel until after he had gone to
Mrs. Rommel at her home on South
A street and gave her in person the
details of the accident.
Effort to reach the body of the
drowned engineer Sunday were with
out result. Every plan attempted was
fTuitless and it will not be possible
to work in the waters until the con
ditions are changed.
1t is believed that the body will be
lodged in the brush or trees of the
woods in which the accident occurred
and that when the waters subside the
body will be easily located.
. Coroner E. NJ Cheesman was at
the scene of the accident soon after
news of the accident reached the
city and there were other willing
workers who were ready to do what
ever they could, but no plan was de-
veloped yesterday that could be car
ried to successful issue.