Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1840-12-22

a rescue in all respects more strkingly
ProyidentiaI.
Mr.. Kidd, one Of the hands employed in
the Touring mill of Avery s. Thurber, lust
above the Middle Falls of the Genesee, in
The north part Of this city, Carthage af-
ter dark, few evenings since, took the
skltf' belonging 10 the mill, and without
communicating his design to any one, at
tempted 10 cross the river. For the
purpose Of improving the water at that
point dam has been thrown across a
few feet above the level Of the cataract.
and at low water the current for some dis
lance above the dam is slight. When the
water is high, however, strong current sets
over the dam through lis whole length, and
then none but person accustomed to ma
mage boat, can push one across. The
river was very high on the evening in ques-
ton. To add to the difficulty, Mr. Kidd had
little experience in the use of oars, and
when about half way across, he los, COM
mand of the boat and found 10 his horror
that he was rapidly drifting with the cur
rent which he could not doubt, would
sweep him with his light skiffover the dam.
The dam, as we have remarked, is a
few feet above the Middle Falls. the per-
pendicular descent of which is twenty five
feet. A few rods further down, are the
Lower Falls, with perpendicular descent
Of eighty four feet Between the dam and
the Middle Falls, as well as between the
two catarac:s, the current is exceedingly
rapid and rough. Once overthe dam, there
fore, his destruction was sealed for even
should his frail bark survive the pIung over
the dam and the descent orthe Middle Falls
and live through the intervening rapids and
rocks 10 The brink of the Lower Falls it
could not, nor could the strongest vessel
that ever Aoeted, survive the awful plunge
Of eighty four feet down that tremendous
cataract.
NJ. Kidd was perfectly acquainted with
the localities, and fully aware Of the awful
PeriIS OF his situation. liz the darkness of
the night, there was no eve save that of
Him to whom the midnight is as MONDAY,
that could see, and no hand save His that
could save him; and speedy and terrible
death seemed inevitable. But that eve did
see, and that hand stretched out to save. and
guided his little vessel to point of the
dam somewhat niger than the rest; where
after shooting nearly half way over, itgra-
ted and finally stuck fast!
Butthe terrors Of his s;tuati~n we're even
now but slightly aIleviated. The river had
been rising for some days, and he had rea-
son TO suppose, was still rising.
His boat, rocked by the current which
was sweeping under and around it, ussur-
ing him how evenly balanced it was upon
It's pivot;-how slight an additional force
would be sufficient to destroy It's cqupoise,
and how small a rise Of the water would be
sufficient to lift it off, A wave raised by
gust Of wind itself might throw it from
its balance, and consign it and him 10 the
terrible destruction over which thew were
suspended as by single hair Before
and behind and around him were the mad
waters Of the swollen Genesee, plunging
by successive leaps among the crags and
down the cataracts into the dark yawning
chasm below the Lower Falls, overhung
with n cloud spray, which even then fell
upon him, and sending up their stunning
and terrific roar, as ifSrreadng the pail and
sounding the requium OF their intended VIC
tim How small appeared his chance of
escape But
Hope springs eternal in the human breast"
and It's fountains were not CONCEALED in the
bosom of him who then most needed its ge-
NAL influence, even by the terrors which
surrounded HIM for the feao hours during
achich his final rescue cdS delayed
Fe commenced shouting for help, and
though no voice answered him from the
shore, and though the roar of the waters
almost drowned his own, he continued il,
resting at intervals to gather strength to
give more energy to his shouts, for about
three hours: at the end Of which. the mas
ter miller taking rounds outside the mill,
about ten O'Clock, to see that all was safe
before retiring for the night, heard one Of
his cries. He supposed that it was from
some person on the opposite side of the RI
yer, and was at first disposed 10 disregard
it. He heard the voice again, and think
ing that it sounded like a cry of distress
determined TO cross over and afford what
relief might be in his power. He ran down
for his boat and finding Il gone, and the
cries being continued, he returned to the
mill and rallied his hands. 1t was then
found that Mr.. Kidd was missing, and the
truth respecting him was at once conjec-
ured. On going down TO the bank of the
liver, one OF the parties after a while dis
-"yorcd dark spo; on the olher edge Of
the dam, and no doubt now remained re-
specting Kidd's situation.
To rescue him from it, il possible, was
now the object. Some time was spent in
irving to construct raft but as an al
tempt to bring him off by craft SO unma-
ma geable. would be attended with vastly
moro danger TO those making il, than chance