Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1899 — An Impromptu Tank Show. [ARTICLE]

An Impromptu Tank Show.

Late Wednesday afternoon, while a large number of persons were congregating on the Washington street bridge to observe th<- moving ice, a couple of young fellows from the high school got on a big ice cake and started jauntily down the river, for a ride. The ice raft soon began to founder and go to pieces, and first one boy and then the other deserted the sinking ship and took to the water. The first one tried to swim ashore, but was impeded by his knees striking the rocky bottom of the river. He then resorted to '’-j less picturesque method of wading and very soon made a successful landing. The other boy went farther but didn’t fare any worse. He didn't essay the swimming act at all but simply slid off his ice raft and waded ashore. Neither boy was wet much above the shirt collar, and both combined furnished an involuntary “tank show” which was much enjoyed by the spectators The performers however, declined to encore their performance.