From: Krasna, Bessarabia
22 January 1911

This morning at 11:00a.m., Romanus Torner [Ternes?] and Johann Speicher went fishing. The creek is frozen right now and the fish are where the water is deepest. Here the creek is 3 to 4.5 arschin deep in places and they found such a spot. Other fishermen had opened the ice here the day before. A new ice crust had formed and the fresh snow covered the thin ice. Johannes Speicher was a few steps ahead of Romanus, when he suddenly broke through the ice and sank into the water. He came up with the speed of lightning, calling for help. Romanus managed to grab him by the hand. As he was hauling, the ice gave way under his feet. Both friends were in the water in the same peril.

Both are still quite young, eighteen years old, so Johannes could hang on to the ice and stay above water. Romanus, however, weighing 240 pounds, had a tougher time with it. His brother Joseph happened by, heard the calls for help and rescued them. They would have either frozen to death or drowned without the helping hand, in turn becoming food for the fish.

On 21 January, thieves broke in at the homes of Johann Maas and Emanuel Krukenberg at the colony of Alt-Arzis. They stole four horses from the stable at the Maas farm, as well as harnesses, and two horses from Krukenberg's. Johannes could hear from the way the dog was barking that something was wrong at the farm. He found the barn door open and the stable empty. The warning sounded from the tower and the horses were taken from the robbers, but they managed to escape with the other horses and harnesses. They have not been apprehended yet, although the theft has been reported via telegraph wire.

I always receive my Staats-Anzeiger on time and my spring-loaded scissors arrived on 28 January. My wife was so happy about these that she poured herself a glass of wine and toasted the publisher of the Staats-Anzeiger, the staff, my friend Michael Volk and his wife Kunigunda. Many thanks from her, as well!! Our weather in Bessarabia changed rapidly. We had a Siberian cold spell and very little snow, so the winter crop is not much protected. Farmers are seriously worried. There is plenty of snow to the north of us. In places, it is 10-16 werschock high (1 werschock = 1.745 inches).

Joseph Wolf died 5 February, leaving a grieving widow and two children. He was 62 years old. My condolences to the family.

Seven unmarried lads broke into a pantry in the colony of Paris and stole about six pounds of sausage from N.N. The night watchman caught them and put them behind bars. Charges were filed the following day and the fellows were taken to Tarutino. I will report more about it at a later date. My regards to the readers of this publication.

Sincerely
Anton Gedak