The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-01-26
KNIFE RIVER FISHERMAN
PICKED UP. AT PORT WING
Wife Succumbs When Couple
Are in Sight of Land After
Drifting in Open Boat All
Night Long. @yv

PORT WING, Wis-With both arms
and legs frozen, Alfred Peterson, q
fisherman from Knife River, Minneso-
ta., on the north shore of Lake Supe-
rior, was found laying on the lake
shore about two miles east of here
at 6o'clock Sunday night.
Wife Dies in Boat
The body of Peterson's wife is in
the open boat in which the couple
were adrift on Lake Superior all Sat-
urday night during the northwest
storm which brought a temperature
of 40 degrees below zero. the coldest
weather in this region in four years.
According to Peterson, his wife pass
ed away in his arms at 10 o'clock
Sunday morning as the result OF the
terrible hardships she had endured.
When she perished their boat was
only a mile from shore, but between
frail craft and land was barrier of
ice foes through which the boat could
not pass.
Crawls Ashore Over Ice
By crawling from one ice cake to
another, Peterson finally made his
way ashore but his limbs were fro
zen numb and he dropped exhausted.
His cries for aid attracted the at
tention of nearby settler who car
ried him to the home of Andrew
Samuelson, where physician was
summoned. AS the result of proulpt
medical attention Peterson's limbs
may be saved.
Searching parties were this MORN
ing organized to search for the boat
containing the body of Mrs. Peter
son, but up to noon had no success.
Left Home Saturday
The fisherman and his wife left their
home on Saturday afternoon to haul
in some nets they had set in the lake
about half mile out from the north
shore. They had been out but a
short time when a strong wind arose
and whipped the waves and ice cakes
about the frail craft. The drop in
temperature added to their misery.
Snow and sleet cut off their vi
sion and they were unable to tell
where they were drifting. Mrs.
Peterson tried ia assist at the oars
but. even their. united strength avail
ed them nothing. Darkness came
and they were far from shore.
Carried Across Lake
Through the night the little boai
was carried before the wind, until
when dawn came on Sunday morning
they were in sight of land, though
what land they did not know.
BY this time it was evident to
Peterson that his wife could not long
survive unless aid was obtained. He
attempted to carry her ashore across
the tottering ice foes, but was fore
ed to give up the attempt, and re-
newed his efforts to work the boat
through the ice to shore. Making
no progress he again tried to make
his way to shore but again was fore
ed to surrender to the elements.
Wife Dies in His Arms
In the meantime Mrs. Peterson be.
came weaker and finally succumbed
Grief stricken and suffering intense.
lv from the cold, Peterson again triec
to work his boat in nearer ashore
Most Of Sunday afternoon he work.
ed but his progress was slow. Final
" realizing that unless he could make
shore before night fall, he was him
self doomed to die. Peterson made
one more supreme effort to reach
shore.
From one ice cake to another h
leaped. Time and time again he es
capped death in the chilly waters b!
a hairs breadth. After two hour
he finally reached the firm shore ic
were he was found.
Peterson has returned to his hom
at Knife River, were two children
Helen 13, and a three-year- old boy
were being carried for by the STATIC
agent, entirely unaware CT the fat
of their mother.