New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-26
SUMNER RETREATS.
Curiosity.Hunting Barnum In Fix.

CRAwFoRD's NoTcH House, WHITE MouSIMss'
Saturday, July q.
MEssRs EDITORS: We arrived here yesterday
amid heavy torrents OF rain, which have continued
to pour without cessation during the whole night,
and ct present showing no prospect OF abatement
All bids fair to keep us weather bound for a few
days at least. Even old Mr. Crawford l"the old,
est inhahitant,') never knew snch q constant iall
of rain az is at present deluging US Q1.e thrill
ing incident occurred here last night which has
given US something TO talk about ever since, and IS
worth relating.
Among other passengers who arrived from Bos-
ton Yesterday were P T. BARSUM, Of Museum aud
Jenny Lind notoriety together with his wife aud
daughter. AS Barnum is great curiosity hunter,
our landlord the renowned and glorious ITO n
Crawford" took him under his especial auspices.
| At about O'Clock P NJ, Crawford aud Barnum
were seen entering one torse wagon aud emerS
ing from the horse-shed tAe rain snil pouring ID
! torrents. Barnum was habited in an lndlaruober
cape and hood, which, being pulled over MS nea1'
gave bin the appearance oil FRANCISCAN FrlM'
! Our adventurers turned their horse head so1Ih,
and il was evident TO all the boardefs' "h' were
watching them with much curiosity, that they
were bound for the " Silver Cascade, which lies
mile south of here, which has fall OF soma 600
feet and which must at that mOment be maSnin'
cert seht, owing to the great quantity oil water
which had fallen within ak hours.
Some wondered at their temerity while DINERS
declared that Old Tom was always safe, bu. We
soon saw O. sight which even made Mr. CraIi)cd
quake and trembe, and which put MIR. BArnum
aud daughter very nearly into that species OIL
fdgets known as hyEterics-ori in Yankee parlance,
thigh strikes"
The road Trough the notch some thirty rods
south of this hotel, and in fuI sight had become
covered with water for 10 or l2 rods bat no person
epprehended that il had reached much depth; Il
, was seen, however as our Adventures entered IT,
that they got deeper and deeper, until the entire
body Of the wagon was lost TO our view, aud the
horse wss nearly buried in the water, he merely
keeping bis head out Of il. They drove through,
however, and were soon ought OF sight. The
boarders were now all anxiety. Here was the
fact staring them in the face, that the water had
covered the ordinary dry road, and risen more than
FIVE feet in as many hours. At this moment it was
3 rising faster than ever. Darkness already began
! slowly to approach, and 1t was evident if ouf
| sight seers should 60 down TO the silver cascade
before returning the water would so far have gain
ed on them. as to render their resorn perious Il
: not impossible We hoped, therefore, 70 see them
=, ! return immediately-but no, their curiosity was
2 greater and they were made Of "sterner stall
7 than those they Ielt behind them. Ten, hiteen,
twenty long minutes passed, and they came not
= | We had fixed our eyes on bushes and other land
marks that peered out of the water near tbs road
] side, but they fast disappeared. Thirty io;ty
T, minutes passed the water rising and the darkness
approaching fast. At they appeared, aud dash
ed into the water. Crawford held the reias Barnum
with his 1eSE STUCK nearly al uohlf was
+ at his aide. Gradually did horse snd wagon sIak
+ into the watery deep until nothing seen Dat
i the horses head and the two passengers (having
changed their posltloDs standing the top oi the
i seat which itself was under water. They had not
yet reached the greatest depth the carrent was
= running with frightfal rapidly, and the poor
li horse finding the draugh. too heavy FOR his
&c strength, refused to go further. Urging sld
i" coaxiDg, awaited nothing. The strength OF the
d animal was not sufficient for the task and move be
I Of 10 Ita and ha 20
times attempted TO do bat the tight rein o. old
e. Tom prevented him. Crawford waved his hat Col
ID essitance, and BarnuIn, who cannot win foot
D. hslloed like trooper. All was now excltemen
i. and confusion Men dashed into the stables. mount
Of ed the horses and Selling ropes and other tackle
started TO the relief Of the water bound party. Mr
10 Crawford was perfectly tranquil and Barnum ne
N cessarily kept cool, for he was nicely sataFate
1t with water and strong prospect OF his soon ben
G. a little more So Crawford gave orders for Paddy
f large ayorite horse, TO be Hamto to their assls
y ance, and the rest 70 remain on terra hrAaI TIN
se was soon done, and Barnum quickly leaped benin
% the rider across Paddys back and brougt
q. safely 10 land. Crawford then tried to urge hi
horse through bu! it could not be done and his rel
" cue q. last was only effected BY riding Paddy az
another horse to his assistance, each rider attRct
10 ing rope 70 the wagon and thus the three horse
10 succeeded in efecting landing OF the wagon an
,e the courageous Tom Crawford Great was our j.
I'd at this rescue OF cur friends from what was near
I'd scene Of peril Barnum declared that sigh.
u, the Silver Cascade bad amply paid hin for bis az
"a venture bat this ASSURANCE only ade US laugh "a
b.. more heartily. 1t was very evident that be we
thankful to get on shore sgain. Some Of the coa
: pany attempted to run arnnm on his being "cOl
10 water man. and remarked that he hadrather 10
much of it that time" mo. 80 mach bat what
came of safely" replied Barnum, "and that IL NOR
than could have done il We had been caught
a. a lake of brandy instead Of water, for then bot
. man and beast would have been lost" % assur
;" you" he added, that it is hard to ix brandy mi
g. any shape for human use where water woald NJ
70 definitely better" The joke turned id b1o9m