The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-06-04
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timber, they are particularly cautious 70 bpr
the shore as close as possible, TO enable themto
get within the slides on either side Of the river
10 those unacquainted with the difficulties Of
conveying timber in safety over falls, l will
mention, that slides are inclined planes, over
which certain number of logs tied together,
and called crib are conveyed through dam.
Before the construction of these slides, which
were the invention of an American, philemon
Wrght,) timber was allowed to run over, or
was almost entirely destroyed in the Falls of
the Chsudiere. have seen large RATS broken
loose from their moorings in storm, drawn
within the vortex Of the current, dashed amidst
the rocks Of the Falls, and come up in splinters.
like bundle Of laths under the pressure Of
cart wheel
OVerhangiBg the eauIdron is bare rock,
whose foundation, worn out by the rushing
waters, seems as if every moment, to give way,
thereby be plunged into the gulph beneath and
on the other side an impossible torrent. A few
rods below the Falls, swings securely beauti-
full suspension bridge, the first one, if mistake
not, that ever was built on architectural prinei.
pies on the Continent os America, and from its
centre, can be had perfect view Of the torrent
and sublime scene.
l was residing in the spring Of the year, I847,
at the village of Hull, opposite the Chauaisre
Falls, practising Law; a poor practice l found
In the beautiful but desOlate region. One morn
ing was Willing away my enaRi by looking
at the majestic spectacle before me, when my
attention was called at seeing two men on a
crib Of timber, working with might and main,
at their oars. | at once perceived that they had
got without the channel Of the dam leading
TO the slides, and were endeayoring to prevent
themselves from being drawn into the current
Of the Falls. But vain were their efforts
Swiftly and impetuOusly were they dragged to-
wards, apparently, an inevitable doom. / gasp
ed for breath my eyes grew dim Safe! safel
cried |, as l saw one Of the men making des.
perate leap towards projecting piece OF land.
But the treacherOus distance Of the waters had
deceived him and his body dashed in an instant
on the rocks below, had given up its soul to
its Creator. | looked at the 0thsr.--WitA a
cooiness and presence Of mind unparalleled, he
still grasped his oar, and could see him With
almost supernatural strength endeavoring TO di-
rect the crib towards the rock have mention
ed. Another instant, aud with crash his frail
conveyance struck the rock. momentary
swell Of the waters carried him away, and Jean
Baptiste Fallardeau stood still living man on
the bare rock. Yet who could imagine the
feelings, who could fathom the Thoughts OF this
man in the present position! On the one side
was an abyss, wherein to plunge was certain
death, and on the other raging impossible tor
rent of waters.
The whole population of Bytown and vicinity
had been aroused; men, woman, and children,
came IN crowds to the scene. Various were the
projects proposed to rescue the unfortunate man
from his perilOus position. When, at last,
Scotchman present suggested as the only feast
BILE mode, the construction Of Peruvian bridge.
10 this end the object was to have hawser
passed over to the rock. To effect this gun
was loaded with ball, to which was attached
a small string, but after many Intellectual dis
charges it was found that the ball in passing out
OF the barrel cut the string. The Scotehman
seeing this, took up pebble, and tying the
string to it, threw it with precision within
few feet Of Fallardeau. he perceived the OBJ.
Ject, and drawing the line soon grasped large
rope, after which came strong hawser. In
the clefts of the rocks the broken crib had been
plunged, and some OF the pieces standing nearly
upright, he with cool intrepditY proceeded to
secure the hawser thereto. triangle was then
raised on the land to elevate the hawser above
the torrent, and larg, strong iron ring passed
through, the hawser was conveyed over to him
by the above mentioned means of small line.
To this ring was attached a strong cord, having
a couple Of yards pending therefrom, and the
other end was held by the stout arms Of some
two hundred men. Fallardeau, who could not
hear anything that was said, from the roar Of
the waters, seemed perfectly to understand all
that was done in his behalf. Fearlessly ad-
Vancing amidst the rushing waves, he delib.
erately proceeded to tie himself under the arms
and round the wrist, with the end Of the rope
hanging From the ring, then catching hold Of
I che latter with Lis hand and doubling bis body,
so that his feet touched his arms, he swung him
self from the timber over the torrent. Two
hundred brave fellows, at this moment pulled
with will at the rope. will scarcely forget
the scene. Woman and childrsd in the high
est state of excitement we're on their knees, but
their cries were drowned in the cheerful "ho
ho pull away boys, Of the men. The venera.
BILE priest of Aylmer, who happened to be cross
ing the bridge at the time, stopped, and rising
in his carriage, with uncovered head, his grey
locks floating in the wind, repeated the prayers
| for the dying.
| A loud and agonizing cry suddenly arose.
The triang on the shore had given way, and
Fallardeau was precipitated in the torrent, hnt
with quickness and yigor it was again raised and
he stood on the main land, rescued from what
had seemed an inevitable doom.
To this day, for aught know, the rock still
bears the name Of Fallardeau's rock.
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