USA > New York > Livingston County > Conesus > History of the town of Conesus, Livingston Co., N. Y. : from its first settlement in 1793, to 1887, with a brief genealogical record of the Conesus families > Part 12
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Year of 1866.
January Ist. Bean Guldner.
10th. Kittie Magee.
April 30th. Elisher Webster.
May 23d. Lucinda Yeomans.
December 8th. Frederick Jewell.
Year of 1867.
January 16th. Alexander Patterson.
February 8th. Mrs. Franklin Foot.
April 30th. James Carroll.
Year of 1868.
Fabruary 15th. Mrs. James Dart.
16th. Marshall Morris.
66 25th. George Henry.
J. Andrew Wester.
April 2nd. Gardner Arnold. 23d. Jane Partridge.
June 14th. Samuel Campbell.
July 2nd. Mrs. John Alger.
" 3d. Child of Charles Homes.
' 31th. Charity Clark.
September 7th.
Mrs. Jotham Clark Jr.
66
J. Colvin Barnes Jr.
66
11th.
Colvin Barnes.
October 28th.
Nathaniel Cole Sen.
Year of 1869.
February 4th. James Finigan.
66
13th. Child of Elias Bearss.
June 10th.
Arche Alger. .
" 26th.
Ernest Patterson.
July 29th.
Martin Griffin.
August 28th.
Georgie Foot.
December 18th. Sarah Erwin.
26th. Mrs. Ansel Ginnie.
Year of 1870.
February 7th. Joel Gilbert.
Robert Baylass.
8th.
Child of Harrison Pattridge.
66
10th.
Mrs. William Harder.
66
66
Jennie Parridge.
66 11th. John Matharty.
66
28th.
Child of Luman Baldwin.
July 11th.
Mrs. Charles Hitchcock.
" 29th.
Thomas Grinnell.
October 16th. Theodore Redman.
November 3d.
Mrs. William Clark.
66 30th. Charlie Lowery.
Year of 1871.
January 7th.
Mrs. Jessie Gray.
24th.
Clament Clark.
April 21st.
Mrs. Myron Ray.
May 17th.
Hugh Magee.
" 29th. Gardner Wood.
July 16th.
Mary Griffin, Drowned.
66
22nd. Pheobe Wilson.
August 4th. Gabriel Sliker.
9th. Child of John Ingelow.
" - 10th.
Nathan Hewitt.
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THE HISTORY OF CONESUS.
November 10th. John Moffett.
Year of 1872.
January 12th. Sybil Perrin.
February 25th. Andrew Holmes. March 2nd. William Dunn.
5th. Mrs. James Dennison.
66 24th. Nellie Brean.
April 7th. Ethridge Fish.
14th. Nathaniel Cole Jr.
66 23d. Abial Daniels.
May 4th. Levi Moyer. 7th. Mrs. Samuel Sliker.
66 Seymour Redmond.
10th. Child of Jacob Wester.
66 15th. Mrs. John Spencer.
66 18th. Florence Webster.
66 Horace Hill.
June 11th. William Lawn.
14th. Mrs. Even Thomas.
July 12th. Annie May, Killed.
September 6th. Mrs. Hugh Magee.
8th. Child of Nelson Gilbert
November 7th. Alanson Northrope. Year of 1873.
February 11th. Mrs. Benonia Fosdic. Child of Edward Cole. 15th. Mrs. Thomas Bell.
Matilda Sliker.
April 21st. Michal Cary, Killed.
( 24th. Mrs. Jessie Gray. " 28th. Timothy Degraw.
August 24th. Orlando Webster, Drowned.
September 8th. David Romig.
66 12tb. Edward Holmes.
Year of 1874.
March 26th. Alda Burch.
April 19th.
Mrs. Heman Barnes.
May 12th. William Landres.
" 13th. Robert Smyth.
14th. Mrs. J. C. Hunt.
June 24th. Ezra Follett.
July 3d. Child of M. V. Jones. " 6th. Mrs. Ruth Allen. " 7th. James Webster. August 4th. Lucius Purchase.
December 10th. Rebecca Bearss.
Year of 1875.
January 7th. Mrs. Lewis Carroll.
21st. " Parmela Jewell.
February 11th. Sally Bearss. March 5th. Benona Fosdic.
66 8th. Garber.
12th. Mrs. David Partridge.
21st. Henry Smith.
66 22nd. Andrew Arnold.
66 27th. Gilbert Marsh.
66 29th. John Jewell.
30th. Mrs. William Magee.
April 4th. Mrs. Jasper Hendershott.
66 9th. Ansel Jenny.
May 17th.
Mrs Mary Bronson.
21st.
" Johnathan Chapin.
July 26th. Jerry Baldwin.
August 18th. Helen Gray.
November 15th. Mrs. Lawrence Webster.
Year of 1876.
January 2nd. Mrs. Nicolas Pickle.
February 2nd. Jones Scott.
66 7th. Hugh T. Magee.
10th. Garrett Daniels.
66 13th. Mrs. Garrett Daniels
March 25th. Fred. Straub Jr.
April - Amos Miller. June 23d. William Scott, of Scottsburgh.
Bertie Trescott.
66
Estella Jones.
29th. Mrs. Elisha Webster.
July 1st.
Willie Smith.
21st. Mrs. Hannah Barnhart. September 2nd. Joseph Collar.
99
THE HISTORY OF CONESUS.
66
7th. Mrs. Nathan Hewitt.
14th. " Nathaniel Dean.
November 24th. " Daniel Clark.
December 6th. Archabald Coleman.
66
15th. William Sliker.
28th. Mrs. Myron Ray.
Year of 1877.
January 15th. Mrs. Eliphlett Kelleman.
February 14th. Sylvester Morris.
18th. Lucy Stevens.
March 2nd. Samuel J. Scott.
7th. William Harder.
6: 8th. Hugh Magee.
9th.
Mary Ann Whipple.
66
12th. Enfield Crego.
15th. Mrs. Sally Clark.
30th. Child of M. V. Jones.
April 23th. 25th. Mrs. Richardson.
May 11th. Mrs. John Holmes.
June 4th.
Child of M. V. Jones.
" 12th.
Mrs. Peter Clark.
" 29th. £ Elisha Webster.
July 10th. Child of Charles Gifford.
September 2nd. Joseph Collar.
9th. Ulysses Pickering.
66 14th. Wakeman Cole.
October 4th. Charles Magee.
Year of 1878.
February 2nd. Child of Lewis Taylor.
March 2nd. William Dunn. " 7th. Mrs Simmons.
Matthew Scott.
April 2nd. Isaac Buskirk. May 28th. Mrs. William Trescott.
June - Mary Lewis. August 3d. Isaac Bearss.
November 10th. Aaron Washburn. :
14th. William Gray.
December 26th. Mrs. Elizabeth Haynes.
December 28th. Frank Alger. Year of 1879.
February 28th. Clara West.
August 15th. George McVicar, (in Mich.)
October 15th. Mary MeNinch.
December 3d. Michæl Callahan.
Year of 1880.
January 19th. William Holmes, Killed.
February 8th.
George Weeks.
66
18th.
Henry Kavanaugh.
22nd. Henry C. Coe.
23d.
Mrs. Horace Hill.
66
24th. James McMillen.
March 14th. Suel Brown.
25th. James Dennison.
30th. Jacob Barnhart.
April 21st.
Geo. Rockefellow, Neb.
May 17th. Mrs. William Harder.
66
66
Erastus Knowles.
21st. Charles Hitchcock, Jr.
September 14th. Mrs. Henry Smith.
November 9th. George F. Coe.
21st. Celestia Webster.
December 15th. Stephen Gould.
Year of 1881.
January 1st. Tyranus Ripley.
8th.
Myron Ray.
12th.
Willie & Tommy Buckley.
Child of Corda Trescott.
26th. Willfred Morrell.
February 19th. Charles Kavanaugh.
24th. Sarah Clark.
March 9th. Mrs. Daniel Hoes.
7th. Samuel Compton.
19th.
Williard Bearss.
31st. Mrs. Henry Coe.
May 10th. Jotham Clark.
August 17th.
Frank Jerome.
September 7th. Hattie Howitt.
66
28th. Aaron Degraw.
4
100
THE HISTORY OF CONESUS.
October 8th. Child of Walter Chapin.
November 8th. Mrs. William Magee.
66 14th. " Gardner Arnold.
17th. Ann Buskirk.
24th James Bonner.
Year of 1882.
January 1st. Frank Kinney.
66 23d. Mrs. Nathaniel Cole.
26th. David Lewis.
February 6th. Mrs. Sybil Burch.
15th. Alfred Coleman.
March 3d. Rodney Sherwood.
18th. Mrs. William Polland.
23d. 66 Parsey McNinch. April 4th. Child of Albert Jerome.
66 17th. " " Allen Compton.
May 3d. John Magee.
18th. Ada Amer.
August 13th. Philip Conklin.
September 21st. Mrs. Lucy Patterson.
December 4th. Ephram Cole.
Year of 1883.
February 7th. Francis Armstrong.
April 15th. Mrs. Isaac Kelleman.
" 18th. " Hiram Boyd.
" 23d. 66 Eliza Austin.
May 4th. John D. Alger.
June 2nd. David Partridge.
" 27th. Mrs. Edward P. Clark.
July 16th. Dennis Ratherly.
November 15th. Mrs. Ella Sage.
December 1st. D. Thompkins Campbell.
66 Jessie Calkins.
Year of 1884.
January 2nd. Lewis Carroll.
February 5th. Harriet Ray.
March 14th. Lemuel B. Richardson.
May 16th. B. F. Cole.
Year of 1885.
February 1st. Child of Sanford Allen.
66 3d. Chandler Morris.
9th. Mrs. Solomon Hitchcock.
10th. Washburn.
66 22nd. " Albert Acker.
March 6th. Elias Bearss, (in Livonia.)
12th. Mrs. Sally Weeks.
April 1st. William Masten.
17th. Mrs. William Wiliston.
Potter Austin.
22nd. Child of - Robinson.
May 7th. " Frank Acker.
June 21st. Dewitt Alger.
July 30th.
Hugh Magee.
August 7th. Mrs. Clarence Baylass.
September 11th. James Myers, Killed.
18th. Mrs. Homer Jincks.
25th. Samuel Compton, Killed. October - William Snyder, Killed.
25th. George Leonard, (Akron O.) December 17th. Jacob C. Green.
The names of Jacob Barnhart and Wife, Mr. Landres, Mat. Undergrove and Mrs. Rich. ardson, death we have no record of.
DEATHS BY ACCIDENT.
Since the first settlement of the town, there has been many accidents, causing the death of several persons by drowning, others being killed and some mangled for life. I will give only those under this heading, that are not connec- ted in any other chapter in this book.
Just west of the grist-mill of C. M. Herrick and E. W. Clark at Conesus Center, and on the west bank of the gull as it turns its course toward the lake, can be seen the spot where the ill-fated Hamilton made his famous leap unto death a number of years ago. The rocks at this point are perpendicular, and nearly 70 feet in hight. Hamilton at this time was un- der the influence of "delirium tremens"" and escaping from his friends, made a quick move-
101
THE HISTORY OF CONESUS.
ment, and reached this spot before they were aware of his intentions. As soon as they missed him, they rushed to the east bank, and as they saw him, he stood upon the brink of the other with his coat off and swinging his hands over his head, and the next instant he leaped out in the deep abyss, and fell a man- gled corpse on the rocks below. He left a wife and several children to mourn his loss.
On the 26th of June 1869, was the death of Ernest Patterson, aged about four years, and a son of Robert Patterson, then living in the northern part of the town. Mr. Patterson had a boy to work for him, and on the evening of this day he was away from home. The boy took a couple of colts out of the stable to lead to the watering-trough in the road on the Gifford place. When in front of Patterson's residence, the little boy came out and requested to be placed on one of the colts back, as he had done before. The boy thoughtlessly, took up the the little boy and placed him on the colts back, so he could ride to the watering-trough and back. No sooner than the little boy was farely seated the colt began to prance, jump and play and in doing so, threw the boy over his head, and as he struck the ground, the horse stepped on his breast, killing him in an instant.
In the Spring of 1851, Mr. Matthew Allen, living on the east side of the head of the Cone- sus lake swamp,-upon the place now , owned by Daniel Mason,-was in Mount Morris and came across a poor boy by the name of Johnnie Barnum. The lad's parents were both dead, and having no relatives here to befriend him, was turned out to a cold world to seek a shel- ter from some kind friend.
When Mr. Allen saw him, he took pity up- on him, and brought him home to live with him. Johnnie was a bright boy, and had a good disposition, and tried to do all he could
to please his kind friends, so that they became deeply attached to him.
On Sunday morning, August 27th of that year, Mr. Allen had some horses running in a pasture lot north of the house, and among them was a mare and colt, which he requested John- nie to ketch and turn into another pasture. Johnnie took the halter and went into tho lot, and up to the mare to catch her, when she sud- denly wheeled about and kicked with both hind feet, striking him in the stomach, and knock- ing him down. This was a fatal blow ; for it ruptured an intestine, and for four days he laid in great misery, until the 31st, when death ended his sufferings and he went home to his maker.
In December of 1865, the citizens of the town was surprised to hear of the accidental shooting of Bean Guldner, in the Head of the Lake swamp. Guldner had been out this day hunting for rabbits, and in stepping over a log in the swamp, his gun was discharged, and he received the discharge through the muscle of his arm. As soon as he was able after the ac- cident, he managed to get out of the swamp to a straw-stack in the lot below the residence of Havens Thomas-a brother-in-law on the west side of the swamp,-and there from ex- haustion he laid down on the straw. Here Mr. Thomas' people saw him, and went and as- sisted him to their house. Guldner lived but a few days; for the lock-jaw soon set in, and on the 1st of January he breathed his last.
On September 17th, 1880, Charles Mefford -a young man of the town-was out hunting and carrying his gun with the hammer raised, caught his foot on a rail and fell, causing his gun to go off, and he receiving the contents through the muscle of the right arm near the shoulder. So close was the gun, that pieces of his clothes was driven into the arm. No
102
THE HISTORY OF CONESUS.
surgical aid was called until the following day, when it was found that gangrene had set in and amputation was useless, aud the wound could only be wrapped up, and the sufferer left to die.
On Wednesday morning, November 9th, 1880, the sad news was spread over the town, that George F. Coe,-then Supervisor of the town, and one of the best-known men in the county-had been found dead on the railroad track, near the residence of Barney Lawn, and a short distance from his home. Mr. Coe had returned from Geneseo the evening before, where he had been attending the Board of Su- pervisors, the members had the day before chosen him Chairman. On alighting from train No. 16., which arrived at the Conesus Center Depot about 9 o'clock p. m., he started down the track for his residence, which was about three-fourths of a mile from the depot. This was the last that was seen of him while he was living. His lifeless body was found the next morning about 6 o'clock, on the east side of the track, face upwards, and the head with- in a couple feet of the rails. Mr. Coe had for some time been troubled with the heart disease, and it was supposed while walking on the track he was overcome by pain and faintness, but had the presence of mind to sit down at one side to avoid train No. 1., which was then soon due. His hat was on his head, and death probably came without a struggle, and without any one to soothe his dying head.
On the 16th day of July, 1871, Thomas Griffin and wife, were visiting at James Conlon's on the road leading from Conesus Center to the depot. They had a young daughter four years of age with them, who was to play with the other children, and unknown to them, she went to a cistern on the outside of the house, where she raised the cover and looked in, and in doing so, tipped in, and before she could be rescued,
was drowned.
On January 19th, 1880, William Holmes an old gentleman of sixty years or more of age, and living in the north-east part of the town, went into a gull to cut some wood. He cut down a tree that stood upon the bank of the gull which fell lengthway of the same, and then cut off a log ten or twelve feet in length, and after cutting the same, and in some way he fell and the log rolled on him, and when he was found the log lay across his breast, and they found him dead.
September 11th, 1885, found James Myers and his son Bert, on the " Old Patterson " place in the northern part of Conesus, employed in drawing manure from his barn upon a lot west of it. The son was loading, and the father drove the team, using two wagons. After din- ner, they went out to resume work : James hitched his team on and drove out toward the lot. After leaving his son, two of his old neighbors from Pittsford drove up to where his son was, and inquired for him. The son told them that his father had gone out with a load, and would soon be back. They by stepping one side a little, could see over the lot, and they saw his team standing and James lying on the ground. They at once went to him, and found a dung-fork in one hand, and the lines in the other, dead. He had fallen from the wagon and broken his neck.
On the 25th of September of the same year, Samuel Compton met a terrible death on the Marrowback hills, that filled many hearts with horror. He was assisting one of his neighbors in threshing grain, and was employed in cutting bands on the table of the machine. He had been kneeling on his knees,-being an aged man and without his limbs had become numb from his sitting position,-rose to his feet, and at that moment a couple of ladies happened to
103
THE HISTORY OF CONESUS.
go along the road, he turned part way around to see who they were, and in doing so, slipped and fell with one foot into the cylinder, and in an instant, it ground his leg up to the hip. Poor Samuel had but one moment for reflection, and within that time, made two desperate at- tempts to free himself from his doom, and in the last one he was successful, and drew his man- gled leg out of the machine, and laid on the the edge of the feed-board, and in a pitiful tone exclaimed : "Boys, take me down, my leg is gone." He lived but a few hours, in great agony.
In October of the same year, William Sny- der, who was picking apples on a ladder in the south part of the town, slipped in some man- ner, fell and broke his neck and died in an instant.
On August 3d, 1862, was the death of Kit- ty Coe, a young daughter of Amos D. Coe. Her father had drove his horse hitched to a carriage up to his door at Conesus Center, and placed her and a little brother in the bug- gy, and went in the house on and errand leav- ing the horse unhitched. In het absence of Mr. Coe, the horse started, turned short around, tipped the buggy over, and killed her and hurt the little boy .She was about four years of age.
On the 24th day of August, 1873, Orlando D. Webster-then living in the south part of the town-went to Conesus lake fishing. In some manner the boat became upset and threw him out in the lake, and he became entangled in his fish-lines, and drowned before help could reach him. He left a small family to mourn his loss.
- CHAPTER XIV.
Storms. ffloods, ffires, dr.
HAT has been the storms that have passed over the town of Conesus be- fore the whiteman came here to live. we have no way of knowing. In years since they have been mild, and often are driven off the northern part of the town, by the two lakes. Most of the storms come from the west or south-west : but sometimes from the north or north-east, and when they come from the latter point, are generally very severe, lasting many times, several days. In the Win- ter, the snow often falls from eight inches to two feet deep, and has been known to have reached the depth of three feet on the level.
March 16th, 1870, was one of these great storms. It commenced snowing on the night of the 15th, and continued to do so in full force until the night of this day, which was found to have reached the depth of three feet on the level. Traveling by railroad and private con- veyances had for several days, to be suspended.
In the fall of 1835 the town was visited by the most destructive flood known since its set- tlement by the whiteman. A dark, heavy cloud arose in the west and as it extended over the town poured out the rain in torrents. The heaviest of the storm cloud passed over the
southern portion of the town, and when it had reached the Calabogue Hollow it burst forth in full force, filling all the small ravines with rushing waters, that soon covered the flats be- low until they resembled a mighty river carry- ing everything before it to destruction in its course to the Conesus lake. The theory of many persons in regard to this destructive storm, was that a cloud broke as it was passing over the town.
When it reached the gull back of the grist- mill, being so narrow for such a volume of water, that in one half hour, it was completely filled by the angry waters, which on reaching the McMillan flats, spread out and carried everything in its course into the lake. Trees and fences were like so many straws, and peo- ple living upon the flats had to flee to the hills for safety, some of them barely escaping with their lives. At this time, there was a family living upon the road leading across the flats, by the name of Wright. As Mrs. Wright was standing at the door of her house, looking out upon the foaming waters, she saw a feather bed come swimming down the stream, and enter her dooryard. She succeeded in securing it. But where it came from was never ascertained, al-
104
105
THE HISTORY OF CONESUS.
though it was exstensively advertised.
Upon the eastern bank of the gully, about twenty rods north of the present gristmill stood the old millright building, one end resting upon posts next to the gully, and the east end upon the bank, and used by Bell & Hedges-mill- rights-and in the same they had a nuniber of valuable tools. When the water had risen al- most up to the building and threatened to car- ry it from its foundation, they rushed in and car- ried each of themn out an arınfull. As they were returning for the second one, they were warned by their friends, that if they did so, it would be at the peril of their lives; but they heeded them not. As one of them was about to step from the building the second time, their friends saw an old Ashery building that used to stand where the Coleman's saw-mill stood, come floating down the stream, and as it struck the building, they called to them to save them- selves, but it was too late, for the next moment they saw the building fall, and was soon swal- lowed up by the rushing waters, carrying the two human beings to a watery grave. The body of Bell was found the next day a short distance from the scene of the disaster, but the body of Hedges was not found until the next July. It was discovered by some workmen who was employed with teams removing a pile of floodwood near the residence of McMillan brothers at the head of the Conesus lake, under a large log at the bottom of the pile.
The citizens of the town, as soon as the flood had subsided, turned out in large numbers and made what they thought to be a thorough search, but failed to find him, and many thought until his body was found that it had been washed into and sunk amongst the sand of the lake. The body when found was in a bad state of decomposition, having laid nine months in the water, which rendered it very difficult to
give it a decent burial. This was the largest flood ever known here.
The first day of June 1829, will long be re- membered as the day of the death of Adaline Cobb, who was residing with her parents in the south part of the town. It was upon a Sabbath afternoon, and Miss Cobb had received a call from a friend-Mr. Benjamin Griswold. As the hours of the evening progressed, they took seats near each other, directly beneath a cross- cut saw that had been laid or fastened to the floor-beams of the log house over their heads. While sitting here chatting to each other, there arose in the west a terrific thunder-storm, and passed over the town, sending forth its firey bolts of destruction, and shaking the ground in all directions with the explosion of its pow- erful elements.
While in the midst of the storm Mr. Gris- wold asked the lady if she was ever frightened by lightening. She quickly replied, "never !" These words had'nt more than passed from her mouth, when there came a sharp flash and a terrific report, and in an instant a bolt struck the house, passing down upon the saw and dropping from the same upon the young lady's head, and then down her body, killing her in an instant. At the same time a second bolt struck Mr. Griswold, ran down his body and one leg, tearing his boot-leg open, passing through the center of the boot-heel, leaving a round hole about the size of a common rifle bullet and knocking him senseless, but in a few hours he recovered.
Miss Cobb-it is said-was a young lady highly respected by all who knew her. At the time of her death she was about eighteen years of age. The next day, Rev. Sylvester Morris when alive informed me, he carried the sad news on horseback, to her friends at Henri- etta, N. Y.
a
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THE HISTORY OF CONESUS.
It seems that Mr. Griswold was fated by the heavenly elements; for it was not long af- terwards, that one day on the approach of a thunder-storm, he went in a small corn-house for shelter. He had not been there long be- fore a bolt struck one corner, knocking one end of the crib into slivers. He escaped unharmed.
The 12th of July, 1872, is a day that I will long remember. Several other men and my- self were engaged at work in a harvest field, not far from the residence of James Alger, and on lands owned by my father. While we were at work, we heard a roaring noise above our heads, and on looking up, we saw a large cloud with a white border and a dark center about five- hundred feet above us, rolling and tumbling in an angry manner, and n oving rapidly from the north-west to the south-east. Little did we dream at the time, that this was a cyclone in full blast, and ready to destroy all the worldly things that came in its path.
Upon this day, Mrs. John Daniels and chil- dren, with a young daughter of Mr. D. May, were out berrying upon the farm of Mr. ('ar- penter, upon the south part of the Marrowback hills. When they saw the storm coming, they sought reffuge in a barn of this gentleman for shelter. They had no sooner than entered it, when the whirling element struck it, and like so many straws, tore it to pieces, burying its living contents beneath it. As soon as the catastrophy transpired, some men who hap- pened to be near by, hastened to the scene, and released the living. Of this little company, Mrs. Daniels was badly hurt, and the little daughter of Mr. May was soon found with a large stick of timber lying across her, dead. The others were more or less bruised, but were saved from the falling timbers, as the barn stood on a wall, which kept the timbers off from them. So the little company that went forth in the
morning with joy, returned to their homes in sorrow.
One of the most severe snow storms that vis- ited the town took place on the 16th and 17th of April, 1817, better known as one of the cold years. The ground was then covered upon the level from two to three feet in depth, and on the 10th day of May, 1818, the snow fell to the depth of nine inches. On the 19th of April, 1820, Jotham Clark says that he, with Thomas Clark, went across the Conesus lake upon the ice. The ice then was like a sponge, and they carried with them a pole to help them- selves with in case they should break through. In many places they could punch their poles through into the water, and the ice had thawed from the shore so that they had to lay their poles down to cross from the same to the shore.
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