There stopped at the White Horse hotel last night two well known business men of Dawson whose narrow escape from death a few days since reads like a page from a modern detective story and who will in all human probability never again, until the Grim Destroyer calls upon them in earnest, come so near to the borderland of the great unknown.
On the 17th inst. Terrell's private conveyance left Dawson, having as passengers Col. Nordeck, of the Swedish army, who had been visiting Dawson, and had delayed his departure so long that he got caught by the freeze up, but who had taken the first opportunity to resume his journey to Ottawa, Jas. Adair, of the well known firm of Adair Bros., Dawson, Morte H. Craig of Dawson and the driver, Terrell.
After starting everything went well until they reached a point a short distance below Selwyn on the 24th. Here, on account of an exceedingly swift piece of water, the river for about 1500 feet in length and full width has not frozen over this winter. When they got opposite this opening Adair said that he was thirsty, and asked the driver to stop until he could get a drink. As soon as the driver complied with his request he got out, and going to a place where the ice was clear of snow, threw himself down at full length and proceeded to satisfy his thirst.
In the meantime Craig concluded that he also would be refreshed by a drink from the cool, sparkling water, and following Adair placed himself alongside his companion. Hardly had he lowered his head to the water when an ominous crash was heard in the rear, and before they hardly realized what had happened they were afloat on a cake of ice, about 10x20 feet in size, and turning their heads over their shoulders could see that already were they separated from the shore by over 30 feet of open water. When the break occurred the weight of the men on the one side caused the ice to careen, and they were immersed in the water up to their breasts, but fortunately did not slide off.
At the best their situation was very precarious, as they could not move without causing the ice to lurch dangerously and it was utterly out of the question to make an attempt to get on their feet.
Looking ahead they could see that thye were being rapidly carried by the swift current toward what appeared to be inevitable destruction at the lower end of the gorge where the water disappeared under the ice in a cloud of spray and foam. Another danger also threatened. As they were forced to lie almost motionless their clothes began to freeze to the ice. Craig was the first to discover this, and called to his companion that their only hope of escape was to keep free and the instant the cake struck, to slide off onto the solid ice below. By cautiously raising first one side of their bodies and then the other they managed to keep their equilibrium as well as to keep their clothing from sticking to the ice.
Although it seemed ages to them it was only a very short time until the
floe on which they were riding was thrown with violence against the icy rampart below and the men were shot as if from a catapult on to the solid ice, far beyond the danger line.
They sprang to their feet with a feeling of devout thankfulness at their miraculous escape and turning saw that the cake of ice which had proved their salvation, had been splintered into a thousand pieces by the force of the impact and in a very short time had utterly disappeared in the wild vortex of waters.
They made their way back to the stage, where their companions had remained powerless to render them any assistance, and were received with many demonstrations of joy at their having been delivered unscathed from what appeared to be a certain and horrible death.
They continued their journey and arrived here last night, having been just ten days on the road.
Mr. Adair is on his way East to lay in a stock of spring goods, while Mr. Craig is enroute to Denver, Colo. They will both return in a few weeks.
