The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-07-17
THRILLING NARRATIVE.

THRILLING NARRATIVE.
A correspondent of the Rochester A
merican gle the following narrative of
the late terrible catastrophe at Niagara
Falls.
The particulars of the recent Il agic &C.
currence at Niagara Falls are but partially
familiar to the reading public. Having
Just listened TO vivid description of the
whole scene from friend who CHANGED to
be one of the five witnesses, and acquain-
TED with The parties, l transcribe it for
your columns. My friend met MIR. Charles
Arlington upon the North river about
one year ago. His sociable disposition
and gentlemanly manners induced so
much more regard than is common toward
mere travelling acquaintance, that he
parted from him, twenty.four hours after
ward, with peculiar regret.
A short time since my friend, never hav-
ing visited the Falls, was urged blythe
natural motives of curiosity and desire of
relaxation to take short journey thither-
ard, and from thence through Canada
and around by The lakes He left here on
the Goth inst. In the evening, while at
the hotel in Buffalo, he again met Mr..
Addington, and they discovered to their
mutual satisfaction that the course of their
travel lay in the same direction. Mr.. A.
Immediately introduced him to the family
of Mr.. De Forrest, with whom he was &C.
companied. He enjoyed very pleasant
evening with them; for the anticipation
on their part of pleasant denOuement to
their intended excursion was enhanced by
an addition to their number, and on his a
growing pleasure in the prospect of agree
able society was induced. The next day
they departed for the Falls--seven in
number--Mr. De Forrest, his lady and
three dauehie with Mr.. Arlington and
my friend. The eldest of the daughters
was engaged to be married to Mr.. A., and
the youngest, Antoinette, little girl of
six years of age. They arrived there,
and about sunset went down together, and
crossed over to Goat Island, and from
thence to Luna Island, which lies still
farther out in the river, toward the Cana
da side.
Here, within about 10 feet of the brink,
and directly upon the edge of the hurry
ing mass of waters A. and his betrothed
stationed themselves. A little IN the rear
of these were my friend and the second
sister, and farther back still Mr.. De For
rest and his lady. Little Antoinette was
running around in high spirits from one
to another of the group, laughing and
dancing in all the ligh,-heartedness of
childhood. Tine rest were conversiug
with peculiar vivacity and cheerfulness.
The sullen mass of waters bearing onward
heavily and irresistlbly the unchanging d.
apason of the descending torrent i'll its
rocky contact, the dying beams of the sun
siverng the Elusive brink, and then the
colder radiance of the moon tingiDg the
restless foam, seemed to inspire an unGs-
uaI flow Of thought and feeling from all
the party. 1t was nearly eight o'clock.
They had conversed long and pleasantly.
Little Antoinette was still dancing and
playing as hard as ever. Her silvery
laughter rang through the air, and her ill.,
nocent gambols brought many smile TO
the lips of her parents. Soon, however,
her father, perceiving that she approached
nearer to the river, warned her away and
called her to him. Young Arlington i'm
mediately turned round and said, "Never
mind | will see that she is safe. " With
this, in girllsh playfulness and spite, she
ran up behind him and pulled his coat.
" Aha, you rogue ! " " have you now;
| will throw you over the Falls "
Taking her gently and playfully by the
arms, he lifted her up and swung her out
just over the water. Alarmed at her sit
uation. she struggled while suspended at
the farthest, and slipped from his hands /!
The instant she touched the water she
was borne full six feet from the shore.
Arlington turned. spoke but a syllable to
the horror-stricken girl beside him, and
sprang after her, clasped her at the waist.
struggled for a moment in the dark tor
rent, and then, with the precious burden
of his embrace, was hurled like pebble
from the brink