Year: 1871

two Hundred Men STRUGGLING for Life on
Moving Ice-Desperate Efforts to Rescue
ParaiyZed Men.


PoUGHKREPsIE, Feb. 5-In Haverstraw Bay
Saturday there were about one hundred and
seventy fishermen at work with their nets. 1t
was terrible day. They were scattered all over
the river.


At 430 P. M. a cry rang through the crowd,
''The ice is moving! Go for the shore!" In an
instant the widest excitement ensued. The
toilers looked to the northward and observed
clear water between the ice they were on aud
the solid frozen bridge north of "Crugers." The
entire field of ice embracing the whole channel
of Haverstraw Bay was on the move and carry
ing with it nearly two hundred human beings.
Pixies and nets were dropped and then there was
a rush for safety, while the air was filled with
cries for help from the throats of the cutoff
fishermen, who could be seen


RUSHING ABOUT MADLY UPON THE ICE.


In ten minutes after both the western and
eastern shores were lined with villagers, who
ran about upon the beach, scarcely knowing
what to do. Finally few of the more cool
headed launched four boats and started on a
dangerous voyage OF rescue. In the meantime
scores of the fishermen had reached the edge of
the ice nearest the shore, and trusting to luck,
plunged into the freezing water and reached
tOrrd- -frDlG in safety covered from head to foot
with thick coating of ice. 1t was then OBJ
served that nine were left, and that the surging
tide was swinging the field of ice far out into
the river, the Hudson at the point named being
extremely wide. Again the boats started to the
rescue, but before they reached


THE FROZEN ISLAND,


five out of the nine were in the river struggling
frantically against death. Just as they were
about giving up the boats reached them and
they were dragged in completely exhausted
and two of them had tainted. As soon as they
were landed upon the beach, the boats again
started for the iee-feld TO rescue the four sur
viving fishermen. By this time the detached ice
had ioated down the river two miles, and


THE CRIES FOR HELP FROM THE THRoATs OF


THE UNFORTUNATE MEN


were agonizing in the extreme They could be
seen in the centre of the field stamping and
running and throwing up their arms, but
nothing could prevail upon them to leave the
centre as the chopplng waves were breaking
up the edges of the ice, and now and then huge
cracks would run along the frozen surface for
hundreds of feet, giving warning TO the fisher
men that their floating ice-isand was, by the
action of the wind and waves, break
ing to pieces beneath them. Dark
ness came and then the moon rose upon
the scene, and still the wind blew with great
violence. The four small boats containing
brave hearts, were fastened to the ice-Geld aud
noated down the river with it, the occupants of
the boats yainly endeavoring to get the now
perishiDg men to come towards them. Ten
o'clock came, and all were six miles away from
the 'break off," when the men in the boats
noticed a cessation of the cries from the fisher
men. This to them was full of horror, as Ii gave
oxen of the possibility of


TIE UNFORTUNATE MEN FREEZING TO DEATH.


Whatever was to be done must be done
qulSkly; so hurried consultation was had, and
IT Wa resolved TO make desperate attempt tc
save thSn. Accordingly, after several efforts tC
gam l>othold upon the ice, during which
three or fo'- of the boatmen fell into the river
urn slandhg place was found, when the boats
were dragged N the ice, and then all hands
started lof tne lshermen, whom they found in
"H!O's c"Ds'6l0h. with feet noses bands apt