| That Sunday, March 17th, Feast of St. Patrick, Father | | | | A plan was formulated whereby they would pour |
| Duquay told the parishioners that there would be a | | | | water over the thin bridge of ice that had formed |
| High Mass for the feast of St. Joseph on March 19th, | | | | and, upon freezing, pour more water over it until it |
| petitioning Jesus' foster father to ask his Son to | | | | would become thicker, and when it was thick enough |
| form a bridge of ice! He also invited the men to | | | | to carry the weight of the carts and stones, they |
| come with him to survey the river. | | | | would begin carting the stones across the river. It |
| When they arrived, they saw that the river was | | | | was the following morning, March 18th, at 3 A.M., |
| covered with a thin layer of ice floating among drifts | | | | when the men returned to the river's edge and went |
| of snow. They went from spot to spot, looking for | | | | back to work on the ice. |
| blocks of ice floating closely together. | | | | Now considering how temperate it had been and that |
| They had gone about 1000 feet with no success, | | | | it was now March, it was nothing short of a miracle |
| when they spotted two of the guides heading | | | | that the bridge was now solid enough to walk on! |
| upriver to the south shore. Father joined them. Only | | | | Men kept pouring water on the ice. It was now 6 |
| Father Duquay and the two guides dared continue, | | | | inches thick! Encouraged, seeing a possible light at the |
| the ice was so thin and treacherous. | | | | end of the tunnel, they kept on pouring water. |
| Having arrived at the south shore, Firmin Cadotte | | | | March 19th, Feast of St. Joseph, just as they were |
| (one of the guides) crawled forward, feeling in the | | | | trying to decide where the opening should be made |
| icy waters for a piece of ice that could carry his | | | | for the carts to travel, as much snow had fallen |
| weight. He persisted and then was joined by thirty | | | | during the night blocking the way, what did they see |
| other men who began working alongside one another | | | | coming across the bridge of ice? The first cart |
| to form a 1600 foot stretch of ice along the river, | | | | carrying blocks of stone! This cart was followed by |
| wide enough for two carts carrying stones to pass | | | | other carts, until by Sunday 175 sleighs carrying |
| one another. At 11 P.M., they returned to the sacristy | | | | stones had passed. The men had carted 1000 feet |
| and Father asked, "Well men, what are we going to | | | | of stone plus enough stone for a foundation. Father |
| do now?" | | | | Duquay ordered all work to stop. |