*
Remember the days? Jan 08
by Jim Leiner
Peril On the Hudson Ice
The winter of 1922 was turning out to be the coldest in years. Nyackers were confident that this year would be the first time the Hudson River froze completely since 1918 when taxis ran across the river for six weeks. Leonard Hunt, a salesman for the Sunshine Biscuit Company was one of the Nyackers who wanted to reach the trains in Tarrytown. Finally in the early morning of January 27, he decided to try the ice. It was 6 inches thick and the walk took him an hour an a half. His stunt was reported on the front page of the Nyack Evening Journal and while Leonard warned of air pockets of thin ice, he was soon followed by many others.
The next day four boys left Liberty Street School and headed down to the Hudson. There were dozens of Nyackers skating and walking on the ice, and they decided to walk over to Tarrytown to visit "Duck" Swanson, the star player of the local baseball club. When they reached the channel one of the boys wanted to turn back, but their leader said, "Nothing doing, we are going to Tarrytown." They reached Tarrytown and realized it was getting dark and they dared not be late for supper, so they headed back. As they reached the channel about 200 feet below the Tarrytown lighthouse, Edward Darcy suddenly came on some "India rubber ice." It gave with his weight and he rushed back to his buddies and firm ice. The oldest boy, 14 year-old Andrew Leiner offered to check out the ice. He walked forward and through the thin ice coating he fell into the turbulent water and began crying for help. The ice around the other boys began breaking up and they stretched out on their stomachs, spreading their weight. Reaching out their hands they made a vain effort to reach their buddy Andrew, but in only minutes the swift and whirl-pool like current swept the boy down river and out of sight.
Supper at the Leiner home on Castle Heights Avenue was served promptly at six when Andrew's father came home from work as the Head Gardner at the Braeburn Country Club on North Broadway, or from his volunteer gardening at Grace Church. The family was used to hard work and there were chores to be done before dinner around the house and barn even in the winter. The large family lived on the second floor of the club's barn on the north side of the street; the first floor being reserved for the steamer cars of Dr. Pierre A. Bernard, owner of the Country Club. Andrew's eight sisters and three brothers knew something was wrong when he failed to show up for dinner. After supper they went looking for him.
Henry Muggins, Draught Davis and Edward Darcy were rescued from the ice by employees of the Chevrolet Plant and taken to the Tarrytown police. It wasn't until late in the day that word reached the families about the boys and the Leiners learned of Andrew's misadventure. Word spread quickly and the next morning the principal and teachers at Nyack's only school held a memorial service for the missing boy. Attending school was difficult for his two sisters Charlotte and Peggy and niece Betty as they wanted to help the others search for Andrew. And search they did. Andrew's father and his three brothers, Fred, Henry and Charlie tirelessly searched the shores of the Hudson.
For months, the family would search and suffer the loss of the serious and well-liked boy. Months later, on April 3, Frank Manett was in his small boat along the Piermont pier looking for driftwood when he came across Andrew's body, still in his tan overcoat, knickerbockers, and high brown boots. A call was made to Dr. Bernard and he drove Frederick Leiner down to Piermont to identify his son's remains. At last there was closure for the family as the Rector of the Grace Episcopal Church, Rev. A.L. Longley, led the family in graveside services at the Leiner family plot in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Closure yes, but the loss of a 14 year-old son would affect my family for years to come. While this tragedy happened 23 years before I came along, Andrew seemed always to be a part of family gatherings.
The Nyack Villager thanks Jim Leiner for helping us all 'Remember the Days .'
******
The
Nyack Villager thanks Jim Leiner for helping us all 'Remember
the Days .'
Jim Leiner can be reached for questions and comments via e-mail
at
© 2008 The Nyack Villager, LLC -all rights reserved
