Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-09-15

n Perilous Situation. "A correspondent OF
the Rochester Observer. relates the following ac
count of wonderful escape from almost certain
destruction:
Mr.. Editor:-l had just arrived at the Falls
OF Niagara, on Monday, OF last week. when
canal boat was discovered to he floating down in
the centre Of the river, probably two miles above
the cataract. Ii was soon discovered that there
were three persons on board, who gave evidence
Of distress and alarm The facts, as obtained
by the writer from two Of the persons on board,
were very nearly as follows:
The bat belonged to the WelIand Canadian
rpce,vpa freight from the Canada Shore, two or
three u.les above the falls, and was lowed up
by nurse on the shore. The master OF the
boat, & apt. Coon. was sick on board, and entire
" unable to take charge OF her. The manage
men, was entirely entrusted TO another man,
boy of seventeen wears old, and Young woman
of the same aye. From some deficiency in al
taching the tow rope to the horse, II gave way.
when the boat was abnut three miles above The
falls They soon discovered that they we,e not
only floating fast from the shore. but rapidly
downwards. They could not reach bottom with
their setting poles, and had no means Of making
a successful effort to reach the shore. Conster-
| hand the American shore. at the distance Of two
miles. and on the other the Canada shore, at the
distance Of one mile, fast recedng; and mile
and a half below they saw rising the smoke OF
the dreadful cataract, which they Of one accord
| had now concluded would form their common
grave.
| All was misunderstanding was done nor
could be done. with hopes of success; till at last
the man, the only efficient hand in the manage
ment Of the boat. concluded to make one exer.
ton to save himself, plunged overheard and swan
| for the Canada shore, mile distant, taking d.
agonal course dowuwards. hoping to land above
the falls. He was discovered from the Shore
and at the great risk of the discoverer was taken
from the river just at the breaking Of the water.
After he left the boat, the boy and the young wo-
man concluded to make one more effort, which
they did bv raising sail, hoping that the almost
impercePtible breeze might float them so far to-.
wards the American shore, as to land them on
Goat Island. Their mast consisted of their set
ting pole. set into the stove pipe, to which they
attached blankets for sails. They fosted SO far
towards the American shore that they were ia
ken from the boat by six men. who ventured in a
small boat to their relief, although they we're so
near the falls that the water had become very
rough. The boat passed on the American side
VI OOdt ISiduu anu tVuSeu vi the ToCNS, III We
rapids. just above the falls, where it remained
when the writer left, on Wednesday.
The whole circumstances, as related BY the
young man, are most deeply interesting anu at.
fect,ng. and although too deeply affected when
he told the story, the nextIday,to give connect
ed chain VI the event, yet he manifested, during
the transaction, q presence OF mind in erecting
sails, closing windows. &c. which would have
been crsditable to ripper years, and no doubt saw
ed them from the destruction that awaited them
below.
The boat had horse on board, which they for.
ced overheard during the time Of their greatest
peril, hoping he would reach the Canada shore;-
but the poor animal made his grave in the vortex
below.
Pernicious Effects Of Vitiated Rss.-Rye is
liable to be diseased by an insect deposting it's
animaicula in the grain, which causes it to sprout
and produce an excrescence like cocks spur.
of hard texture. When ground down with the
flour, or used in distllation, it proves mortal
poison; and at times has proved pestilental
scourge TO Europe: 1t has been equally fatal in
America, and is supposed to have been the chief
cause of the plague in London. In 1911 and
1919. great number of lives were lost from the
spurred rye being used as food, aud liquor dis
titled from the rye The great mortality W. chief.
ly confined to New York and Vermont Upwards