Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-21
CRIES OF MAN HEARD
OUT in ICE-CL0GGED
RIVER; THEN SILENCE
Policeboats Sweep Delaware,
but Fail to Find Victim, Be
lieved to Have Been on
Floating Jam
LOST IN THE DARKNESS

Police officials today are endeavoring to
learn the fate of man whose cries
for help were heard last night ana early
this morning as he was carried, first down
stream and then up, on an ice Hoe III inc
Delaware River near Torresdale. TWO
police boats were called out TO rescue
the man, but no trace of him was found
and 1t is not known whether he perished
or whether he was able TO make his way
ashore after his cries were heard.
workmen at the Torresdale pumping
station first heard his calls for help Mt
s o'clock last night The voice of man
sounded from the river. They shouted in
answer. but the man apparently failed to
hear them, for he gave no sign that their
they called. but there was no answer.
although they heard his calls repeated
several times.
A blanket of darkness hung over the
river and the watchers on the shore could
see nothing. but every few minutes the
sound OF the voice, quiverinE and faint,
reached the river bank. Faint as 1t was
the listeners could tell that they were the
screams of a man frantic with fear
1t seemed that he was about 300 yards
from the shore. From the time the voice
was first noted until 1t passed beyond
hearing the men on the banks of the
river noticed constant shifting in the
direction, showing that the man was be-
Ing carried downstream by the tide.
The Tacony police station was notified
at once and the police boat Stokley sent
from the foot OF Palmer street to try TO
find the man. The Stokley steamed up
the river, but its progress was impedcd
by the masses of ice. AT Allegheny ave-
nue. the vessel had to give UP its task
altogether and return to its pier. The
police boat Ashbridge, n much lighter
vessel, was then sent on the rescue mis-
sion from Race street.
BY that time several hours had elapsed.
At o'clock watchman Mt the pumping
station heard the cry repeated, this time
n little fainter than before. as IL the man
had become exhausted from his efforts to
attract help. The tide had shifted and the
repetltlons of the call showed that the foe
on which the man was marooned was
drifting, this time UP stream. The police
were again communicated with. and 1t
was learned that the Ashbridge was on
its way. trying to force It's passage
through the ice.
The Delaware prior to yesterday was
covered with heavy ice blocks as result
of the recent cold spell,
1t is thought that the man could not
have progressed far in either direction,
because of the ice jam. Despite this,
however. the Ashbridge could find no
trace of him.
The ice made progress for tho Ash
bridge slow, but il was moro fortunate
for the Stokley. for 1t was able to make
its way to a point above Torresdale,
steaming carefully In order to avoid ac-
cident and playing it's searchlight over
the water in the hope that the man might
be seen.
After several hours the police boat gave
up the search. 1t Is thought that the
man came from the Jersey side from a
point near Beverly. Communication with
the New Jersey authorities, however. has
failed to clear up the mystery.