Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Bartholomew nearly drowned while crossing the ford at East Bay on their way to North Whitehall. They got out of the ford and their wagon tipped
over. Mrs. Bartholomew was going down the second time when her husband caught her in the deep water and swam ashore with her, leaving the horse and wagon in the water.

He urged her to leave and go to friends for help. He then held the horse’s head above water, which he was able to do because the animal was checked up with a tight rein. He was clinging to a tree when help arrived and the horse and wagon were retrieved from the water. The editor of the paper added to the story: “Buoy out the line of the ferry, gentlemen, so you won’t get into hot water.”

Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – The Whitehall Times – May 19, 1983