Through The Years - (original newspaper and date not given) , Vol. 1, No.1, November 1983, page 30
Lost on the ice
The terrible experience of Geo. Avis and his teamster Pat B arry. Nine days lost.
Mr. Geo. Avis of Cockburn Island manager for the Islan d Cedar Co. ofChicago and his teamster Pat Berry had a terr ible experience on the iceduring the last nine days. The y left Thessalon on Saturday 29th ult. at9 a.m. for Cockbur n Island with a load of about fifteen hundred pound.They he aded for their destination which lies about 24 miles to th e southeast of Thessalon. When about half way across a sno w storm set in and onlooking for his compass, Mr. Avis disc overed it was lost, they kept on,however, and after wanderi ng around for some hours, during which the windchanged to t he north east. Finding they were lost they let the team ta ketheir own course and the horses naturally went with the w ind until tiredout, when the two men wrapped themselves u p in their robes and blanketsand lay down in the sleigh t o wait for daylight. When Sunday morningbroke the weathe r was stormy and cold as ever about 25 degrees belowzero . There being no change on Sunday evening they turned th e horsesloose and prepared themselves to spend another nigh t in the sleigh.Monday morning broke clear though cold, whe n they found they were withinabout a mile of Sulphur Islan d light house which lies eight miles tosouthwest of Thessal on. They left the sleigh and made for the Islandknee dee p in slush and water, They arrived there with both hands a ndfeet badly frozen and almost helpless - succedded in obt aining anentrance into the light house dwelling where the y did their best to thawout their frozen members, succeddin g only partially. They found theresome fuel and bedding , a little flour and oatmeal and about two drawingsof tea . They remained there under these circumstances suffering u ntoldagonies physical and mental until Sunday 6th inst. a t midnight when arelief party arrived from Thessalon. At t he close of navigation thelamps had been removed from the t ower, one of the men succeeded ingetting a lamp up to the t ower by placing it in a bag and holding in histeeth while h e worked his way up the steep stairs on his knees andelbows , which took about two hours. They first lit the lamp on S aturdaynight 5th inst. but being a bright moonlight night t he dim light was notdiscernable. They lit the lamp again o n Sunday night when it was seenfrom Thessalon and was at on ce taken as a signal and a relief partyimmediately proceede d to the island where they found the lost men,together wit h Mr. W. J. Harper of Thessalon one of the search partnersw ho had arrived there a couple of hours before. They were s peedilyremoved to Thessalon where they received every car e and attentionpossible and are now both doing as well as c ould be expected from theirterrible experience. All hope o f finding them alive had been given up,but the search was c ontinued for their remains. Great rejoicingprevailed at th eir almost miraculous escape from an awful death.
Later:
On the arrival of the sufferers Mr. Avis was taken t o the residenceof W. L. Nichols and Mr. Berry to the Thessa lon House, where they haveboth received the best attentio n that could be furnished. After theirarrival they appeare d quite cheerful, though both feet of each were badlyfrozen , as well as their hands. Dr. McCort attended them, lookin g afterthem with the closest of care, and until Tuesday eve ning about 5 o'clockthey both appeared to be doing well an d on the way to recovery. At thattime a change appeared o n Mr. Avis who became delirious, and from thattime to the h our of his death he gradually sunk, until at 5 o'clock a.m. yesterday he passed quietly away. Mrs. Avis and their so n John onhearing the news of his being found came over fro m Cockburn on Tuesdayevening about 3 p.m. when she gladly r ejoined her lost husband, too soonalas! to lose him again.
The loss of Mr. Avis created an immense amount of exci tementwherever heard of on the north shore, as he had host s of friends allthrough the district and his death cast s a gloom over the community andespecially the people of Th essalon.
His remains were buried at the cemetery, Little Rapids , thisafternoon.
The funeral was largely attended and the members of Dy ment Lodge,A.F. and A.M. of which he had lately been mad e a member, attended in abody to perform their last office s of respect of a departed brother.

• Married:
• Note:

  2 _PREF Y
  
  
  2 _PREF Y
  
  
  2 _PREF Y

• Change Date: 16 Mar 2012

1. John F. AVIS b: 30 May 1877 in Ontario
2. Caroline L. AVIS b: 13 Feb 1878 in Ontario
3. George F. AVIS b: 9 May 1879
4. Frank H. AVIS b: 15 Apr 1882 in Ontario
5. Walter E. AVIS b: 18 Jun 1885 in USA
6. Herbert Arnold AVIS b: 8 Feb 1891 in Cockburn Island, Manitoulin District, Ontario
7. Annie Ethel AVIS b: 4 Jun 1893 in Cockburn Island, Manitoulin District, Ontario
8. Albert AVIS b: 27 Jun 1895 in Cockburn Island, Manitoulin District, Ontario
9. Mary Esther Lily AVIS b: 25 May 1897 in Cockburn Island, Manitoulin District, Ontario

1. Abbrev: MFT
   Title: MFT