Stranded hunters rescued after icy night in swamp

BRUNSWICK - A search party rescued two hunters stranded overnight in the swamps of the Altamaha River after their 16-foot boat capsized and sank. <br> <br> William Minder, 50, and James William Mason, 54, spent the night in near-freezing conditions huddled around a fire they started using a cigarette lighter and a bottle of turpentine. <br> <br> ``I&#39;m so grateful for that fire,&#39;&#39; said Minder, manager of Altamaha Park and an experienced boater. ``I don&#39;t know how we would have made it without the fire.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The two men headed down the Altamaha River on Sunday afternoon to hunt wild hogs. They were about two miles into the swamp when their boat ran up on some cypress roots and overturned. <br> <br> The boat sank into the water, leaving the hunters no choice but to wade to shore, where they stripped off their soaked clothes and started a fire. <br> <br> Minder&#39;s cousin called Glynn County authorities Sunday night when the hunters had not returned. A rescue party searched the river by boat and helicopter until Monday morning, when two searchers from the Department of Natural Resources smelled smoke from the hunters&#39; fire.

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