Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1848-01-12
For the Ypsilanti Sentinel.
The Rescue--A thrilling Sketch

tants, in the neighborbood OF what is now the
city of Rochester. 1t often serves,even to the
present day, to while away an hour of the long
winter evenings. and as the number of nara
tors grows yearly less, the SURVIVORS, with the
increasing garullty of age, add additional en-
bellishments. which however, rather detract
from that primitive simplicity that seldom If ev-
er failed to draw tears from the eyes of the in
terested lstners. fs sas
The Genesee Falls, at all times the object
of awe and wonder to the early settlers, became
still more so each spring, when the swollen wa
tiers from the source of the river came rushing
down at the breaking up of winter, bearing a.
long with them the accumulated ice of tributa-
ry lakes and streams.
AT such times, the banks above and below
the Falls were crowded with the thousands gath
cred from the surrounding country to an i'm
mense distance, to witness the imposing spec
tacle of the passage Of the ice over the Falls.
During one of these periodical exhibitions, UNI
usually sublime from the immense quantity of
snow, which having commenced to fall early In
November, had accumulated until April, and
the rivers and lakes closed almost to their bot
toms with ice, being suddenly dissolved by the
vernal sun, the attention of the spectators was
arrested from the turbulent mass of ice and wa
ter, by circumstance calculat ed to mouse all
the kindly instincts of humanity. While all
eyes were intent upon the approaching wall of
| ice formed in advance of the food by the i'm
petus of the mass beh ind, and the excitement of
the scene-the C res of admiration at the heay-
ing of the waves-the projection of great mas
ses of ice into the air, and the thunder-crash of
their tal.the crowdng to & fro to obtain favor
able points of vlew-the running of spectators
in their insane admiration to the very edge of
the water, and their retreat in alright, as, when
something for moment impeded the advan-
cling mass: the refuent current threatened in
stantlv to overflow them, was at its height,
large sheet of ice, around which was scattered
pa TT of the furniture OF settlers cabin, and
on which, as if by miracle, lay bundle of
cradle clothes from which proceeded faint cries
of distress, was for moment drifted within fall
yiew,-almost within reach of the shore, then
suddenly carried away toward the middle of the
river. Again it appears and approaches the
shore. again cries are heard, and the multitude
who were incredulOus of the report OF the few
who had first seen it are satisfied, of the truth
and wrought up to the intensest state ofexcite
ment. Again it was whirled into the current
and lost sight of. Again the eccentric edj les
bring it toward the shore, and at point where
seemingly an agile man might rush from the
land upon the sheet and bear the helpless
infant away safely. This, several attem-
ted, but their generous exertions were fruitess
they scarcely escaped with their ow lives, and
the ice which bore so precious burden, was
again hurled out into the stream more violently
than ever, and to appearance crushed and lost
sight of forever. Females, who knew the mean
ing of mothers feelings turned horror-struck
away. But 10, as the driving mass approaches
the terrific brink of the precipice that freight
ed sheet of ice, again appears acith its burden,
though it is now greatly reduced in size by fire.
quent contact with the surrounding mass.
Its appearance seemed miraculous, and now
every thought was intent to devise, and every
nerve TO execute plans for the rescue. The
sheet now remained steadily near the shore as
it began to feel the influence of the draft of
waters descending the Falls. Now effort might
be made, and score after score of brave and hu-
name men charged on the treacherous ice be-
tween them and the object they sought to save.
Now they would almost reach it: and now they
were thrown from their precarous footing into
the food, and compelled to contend for self
preservation. Such deeds were done as should
rank side by side, or even above the storming
of battery or charging on an enemy's ''ser-
ried columns" The drifting ice was now rap
idly approaching the precipice, and in full vieao
I ofthe spectators. Human aid could do no more.
Women shrieked and covered their faces with
their hands; men groaned and turned PALE
, Life and DEATH" exclaimed stalwarth fellow
in the crowd, 81 cannot see this and live and
snatching boat-hook, he rushed forward
Over the bending ice he rushes, across chasms
he leaps, from edges of pieces too small to sup
port his weight he springs, he nears his object:
the current is bearing both him and it toward
the Fall He will certainly be carried over be-
, fore he reaches his object. No! something
just now retards it; he reaches it with his hook,
he draws it to him and grasping it in his arms,
springs toward the shore. Not soul in the
multitude draws breath. Death itself could
hardly suspend animation more completely
The heroic adventurer springs at last to the
shore, as the heaped up ice plunges unobserved
into the abyss, for the moral sublime is more
powerful than the natural. As the hero strikes
the shore life again appears in the multitude,
every hat is Involuntary raised and cheer after
cheer browns the cataracts roar. The humane
matrons crowded around the rescued innocent,
and parting away the wet and frozen habili-
ments disclose a litter Of ten blind puppies, for
achich the o,cner Somewhere up the river icould
doubtless hare realized one dollar apiece, If
his kenmel,puppies and all, had not been carried
atcay by the raging riuer.
0F@The p. L. G. will meet on their ancient
stamping ground. next worship-niUht nmedi-