Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-02-08

But the uerOiC yOutil, WITH tifc stTtuytn Vi u
giant arm, dashed the maddened surges
from him, and with mighty effort, reach
ed the shore as the last wave threatened TO
yield them mutual grave. "Noble Har-
ry," shouted a score Of voices, as he sur
rendered his lovely burden to her frantic
mother.
Twelve years have passed since this
scene TRANSFERRED, and it has been long since
forgotten; but HELEN and HARRY often
recite it to their pratting boy, when the
laundering of the cataract disturbs the eve-
ning's stiffness.
The Falls themselves, are not void of
painful interest. They will ever be re-
membered with sorrowing emotions, as the
winding sheet Of poor SAM PATCH. Ii was
here, as our readers recollect, this singular
man made his LAST LEAP. We'll do we
remember the event. We can never for
get it. 1t is written upon our memory as
with pen of iron, and in our Imagination
we often see him hanging in mid-air casting
reproachful look at those who, by
their presence, encouraged his feats of
| frenzy.
The novelty and boldness Of the act
had collected thousands to witness it. AS
far as the eye could reach, might be seen
the gazing multitude awaiting, with the
anxiety of blood-hounds, the fatal leap of
the pillows prey. After the mutitudes
which lined both banks of the river, had Sc
cured for themselves satisfactory locations,
q dea:h-lke stiffness for moment pervad-
ed the vast concourse. But the stiffness
was soon broken by mighty shout, which
seemed to shake the everlasting rocks of
the surrounding hills, as SAM mounted the
tottering scaffold from which he was SO
soon to leap into eternity. A reckless
wave of his brawny arms, was answered
by another shout, which drowned in its tu-
multi, the roarings of the mighty waters.
A brief moment of suspense followed, du-
ring which our hero stood in contemplative
dignity upon his lofty and fearful eminencc.
To our eye as he thus stood taking last
look upon world which had been to him
marked with SO many ups and downs, and
gazing upon the cheering concourse who
had come to see him prove that "some
things can be done as tceU as Others" he
seemed melancholy illustration of the
wretched votaries Of shadowy fame. A
chilling sensation assured us, as we instinct
lively kicked the loose pebbles into the
troubled waters which were soon to receive
his lifeless body, that this would be as he
had prophetically announced, poor SANS
LAST LEAP.
The fatal signal was given-all eyes
were turned upon the reckless adventurcl
: he stepped back to the utmost verge OF
the platform-braced himself for the dar.
ing act-sprang forward with the GOODNESS
and exactness of philosopher, and was in
an instant scuddng through the air with
sublime grandeur and beautiful precision
His body was erect-his feet slightly incli
ned forward-his arms firmly placed by
his side, and his hands resting upon his
hips. But he had scarcely commenced
descending, when slight change in hi
position was observed. The firmness o
his body seemed to relax, and his arms
apparently swung nerveless by his side
These signs to many were fearful prognos
tics of the issue. Every thing depended
upon the command which he retained o
his body. That once lost, no future offor
of his could prevent a disastrous result
: This he had often himself remarked, ant
| it proved too true in this fatal leap. HI
, pierced the water not as upon a'forme
occasion, with the keenness and noiseless
ness of an arrow, but with the heavy splas
e of some lifeless body. The surrounding
r thousands now breathlessy awaited his op
n pearance. But he came not. The water
= rushed with their former impetuosity, owe
|. the corpse of the unfortunate adventurer
4 and the throng in vain looked for his hal
form to emerge from behind the foamin
: sheet which had accompanied him dow
, the rocky eminence. SAM was a man
a mighty nerve, but once lost, he could M
regain the position essential to safety, Will
!. shooting through the air. When he var
o ished from the vision Of those who behel
o him, he sunk forever; and the hoarse moar
!. ing of the bounding cataract, which follow
% cd the fatal leap of our unfortunate herr
q was his funeral dirge.
). For months after, the superstitlous
.. firmed that often, as at twilight they hay
h been gazing at the dancing waters in Il
q deep abyss, they have seen Sam mokir
Il merry with the foaming pillows, and r
:. peating his fearful feat to concourse
70 sea-gulls and fishes. But such antiq,
nj imaginings have long been buried in Il
y. humble grave where rest his mortal
v. mains.
he The huge piles of buildings so promi
n. ent in the cut, are, as every one will disc
in yer, furnaces, factories, and mills of eve
g. description. They have all sprung up
rs if by magic and more imposing gro
* of massive structures, cannot, perhaps,
he found in the Union. They compose o
rs of the principal arteries of the prosper
,ts of our city, and are striking illustrations
en- the energy Of our people,
r What paper we would make the g
be If we could turn one Of these stupendc
n. buildings into mandatory of first r.
oh REALITY and ROMANCE.