Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1924-08-16

and feet frozen. He was dead when
discovered and it is estimated he had
been exposed to the intense cold for
over sixteen hours. The theory adj
vanced for his death was that, becom-
ing exhausted from a hard days work
and while attempting to crank his car,
he fell and was not able to recover
his senses before he succumbed to the
cold OF the night.
Records Of the Post Office Depart
ment show that among the most dan
gerous and difficult routes served by
rural carriers and star route con-
tractors are those extending from
Newport to Otter Rock, Oregon, FL
lison Bay to Detroit Harbor, Wiscon
sin; Rocky Bar to Atlanta, Idaho and
from Sandusky to Kelly's Island, Mid
die Bass and Put-in-Bay, Ohio.
On the Rocky Bar-Atlanta, Idaho
route the service is performed in the
winter season by carriers travelling
on snow shoes, packing so pounds
OF mail. Not infrequently, carriers
on this route have been caught in
snowslides and swept to death Only
year or two ago a carrier lost his
life in this way early in January and
his body was not recovered until late
The following June.
The routes from Ellison Bay to De-
trot Harbor, Wisconsin, and from
Sandusky, Ohio, to nearby islands
must be operated over the ice in the
winter and in the fall when the lake
IS frozen. During the spring thaw it
is extremely difficult and hazardous
to carry on the service. Anumber of
carriers have, lost their lives in en-
deavoring to transport the mails be-
tween these points.
Probably one of the most hazardous
experiences that ever befell one OF
more of Uncle Sans mail carriers
was that of the Hitchcock brothers,
:arriers on the routes out Of Sandus-
KY. Some winters ago, while en-
leavoring to deliver mail to residents
If some of the smaller islands in Lake
Erie they were caught in a storm and
running ice. They were carried down
the lake by the resistless force of a
drift in which they had become wedg-
I'd. The carriers were given up for
ost by the excited islanders. A cable
gram wired to Kelly Island read:
"Look out for the carriers; they are
asst in the ice and drifting that way"
But the two men, after many eff
'orts, were rescued. They were in an
exhausted condition and so completely
covered and weighed down with ice
Is to be helpless. Their caps were
frozen fast to their heads and their
clothes so loaded with ice that the
.;earers were unable to bend.
On arrival at home their friends
we're obliged to cut and tear away
their ice-armored garments. After
changing clothing a bushel of ice that
had fallen off in the process was swept
from the floor.
For several years George and Char
ley Morrison were employed as car
riers on the Bass Island route. They,
too, passed through many arduous and
trying experiences, being the victims
Of many close calls from death. Out
On the lake in all kinds of weather,
Nth ice conditions of every descrip-
ten they battled with storm running
re, fog and binding snow.
Formerly associated with George
.lorrison in the mail carrying service
was his brother-in-law, Carl Rotert.
The two were unexpectedly overtaken
by an accident which resulted in the
drowning of Rotert. Among the ar
ticles carried in the boat operated by
the two men was a long, unwieldly
riece of metal. This in some way
shifted, capsizing the boat. Morrison
found himself struggling in the wat
er. With great difficulty he succeed
ed in extricating himself but Rotert
was carried under the ice. His body
was not recovered until late the fol-
lowing spring.
Henry Elfers carried the mails to
Kelley's Island for over forty years.
Turing that time he had many hair
breadth escapes and adventures ga