Evening star., 1918-02-14
Three Men Rescued From
Boat Caught in SWirIing
Ice Near Highway Bridge

Capt Ernest Davis, first officer of the
crew OF the Columbia Granite and
Dredging Company's tug Selectman; !;
John Mills, engineer, and William R
Mills, the third member of the crew,
were rescued from the swirling mass of
ice near Highway bridge this morning
shortly before 2 O'Clock. The rescue
was effected by Lieut. OMalley, U. S.
a. stationed in Potomac Park, assisted
by members of No. 3 truck company
and police of the harbor and fourth
precincts.
A message received at police head
quarters from a watchman on Highway
bridge about midnight told of the peri
lous position of three men in boat.
1t was said by the watchman that the
boat was in an ice jam and that the
men were in imminent danger. He did
not know the identity Of the men at
that time and it was not until they
were assisted ashore that their rescu-
erS learned they were member of the
crew of the Selecrnan.
Capt Davis and the other members of
the crew had been aboard the boat
since early yesterday morning. Maj.
Pullman, Lieut. Dean, in command of
the harbor precinct, and others had
seen them aboard the boat just off Po-
tomac Park yesterday. The boat was
under fun steam and the crew re-
mained aboard in hopes of saving her.
Broke From Moorings.
Early in the morning the selecman
had broken from her moorings at the
plant of the Columb bia Granite and
Dredging Company, foot of 31st street,
and drifted with the heavy ice down
the channel, Capt. Davis and his assist
ants doing everything in their power
TO save her. The boat held fast in the
ice above the bridge all through the
day, remaining not far from where the
tug Minerva was partly submerged
Tight against the ice.
1t was pointed out that the crew
could leave the craft and make their
way over the broken ice to Potomac
Park at point near where the British
airship ascended for a demonstration
Members of the crew witnessed the
hight Of the airship, but what most
boat
Night came on without any promise
or relief and, it is stated. the tug
finally broke away from the ice and
started down stream with the mass
OF Ice, every minute promising a pos
sibte overturning and possibly IA
tality.
So acute did the danger become that
the three members of the crew finally
took to their lifeboat and were in the
small craft when they were rescued.
1t remained for Lieut. O'Malley to sug-
gest the use of ladders in the rescue
work. He said if he could only get
ladders and a coil of rope he would be
able to land the three men safely
ashore, and a message sent to the fire
department brought No. 3 truck COM
pany to the scene.
Started Across Ice.
No time was lost getting the lad
ders from the apparatus, and the Army
officer started from shore to make his
way over the mass of ice. pushing a
section of ladder ahead of him as he
proceeded and fastening the sections
in order to form substantial bridge.
Finally he reached a point near the
men, tossed them the end of the rope
and soon had them on the way to the
shore. The three members of the crew,
cold and hungry, were hurried to their
respective homes in automobiles. Capt.
Davis resides at 3313<N street. Engineer
Mills at 1924 36th street and William
Mills at: 1888 Union street southwest
When it was learned that the men
were in danger of being swept away by
the ice. police officials communicated
with officials at the navy yard to enlist
their aid. One Of the heavy naval tugs
was started from the yard without
delay. but not far away a heavy ice jam
was encountered and nothing could be
accomplished. 1t was not until after
the men had been rescued, however.
that the naval tug returned to the navy