[Moose]

What a difference a comma can make! If you take it away the bell did ring 29 times for each man. But with the comma, the meaning is clear - the bell rang 29 times in total, representing the total loss of life.

I actually think Ice water mansions refers to the icy tombs of the thousands of people who have drowned and never been found. But since the song begins with a Chippewa legend one could continue with the theme. There is an Ojibwa legend about a lynx type creature called Mishipeshu who lives under the water and can cause raging storms and massive waves. I imagine anything with such power would live in a mansion. And it would be icy because the deepest water in Superior never gets much above 40F.