Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-07-27
The Fatal Calamity at Niagara Falls
-ESuln EssaEsficH la rA.


We are indebted TO Kissock's Canada Junction
Line, and private letter for theParticulars Of
the following tragedy-more startling and awful
than it has ever been our lot to record.
On Monday evening three Germans belonging
to a sand scow a few miles above the Falls, took
q small boat and started out for a sail upon the
river BY some unacconntable mistake, they
soon found themselves in the power of the angry
rapids fastening on to swift and sure destruc-
tion. As they neared the precipice the boat
swannped and two of them-Thomas Hannaman,
and another, whose name we are unable to learn
4--dashed over the Falls. The other, named Jo-
seph Avery, by wondrous interppsition of Provi-
dence, was thrown against snag, or log, which
has been for some time in the rapids and clung
there for safety. Remaining through the night he
was discovered yesterday morning, and the citi-
zens assembled in mass to devise means for his
salvation Messages were sent to this city for
boats, and enc Immediately dispatched
This was swamped soon after being launched.
Another was taken down on the next train, which
shared the same fate. Here we quote from the
letter.
WEDNESDAY, IL M
Have been hours at the bridge watching the
poor fellow who is in the rapids. He is about
midway between the bridge and the fall, and in
about the centre ofthe river, on the only log any
where near. Seems cool and hopeful, except
once / saw him clasp his hands as if in despair.
He is German and one of three who came down
in pleasure boat last night-the other two were
lost.
There are crowds of anxious persons on the
bridge and in the vicinity. All business seems
to be suspended. It is the most exciting scene
by far that have ever witnessed. They have
sent small skiff down twice which was lost. II
have Just seen the lite-5odt from Buffalo swamped
Still another boat was sent down at half past
four. How this last attempt resulted we are
paned to write-but the facts are these.
dispatch from the Falls states that the man
went over about 6 O'clock. raft had been float
ed to him. upon which he had lashed himself but
at the approach of the life boat, sent down from
this CITY, by the last train, he undid the lashings
30 as to be ready to leap into the boat. The lat
ter. however. unfortunately struck the raft with
such violence as to precipitate the unhappy man
into tho water He at once commenced swim |
ming for small island on the brink of the fall,
but was unable to gain it. When he perceived
that all his efforts were useless, he raised his
body erect in the water, waiyed his arms wildly, !
and with shrek that was distinctly audible to
those on the bridge, he took the fatal plunge,
We can scarcely imagine anything more horri-
bic than what we have just noted. Considering
the time spent alone, amid the thick darkness,
upon that solitary and unstable foothold; the aw
full suspense that enveloped his mind; the roar
of the monster that at any moment might devour
him; the breaking of the dawn; the discovery;
the attempts of the awe-stricken multitude to
rescue the poor fellow from the jaws of death;
the failure of such attempts; the last trial. and its
heart rending results; combination OF thrilling
scenes and thoughts is presented almost without
nm equal. Poor Avery! The hearts of all who
read our hasty record will bleed at the history of
his tragic end.
tits all over now. The scene of death is still
save with the never ceasng chant of those ter t
rible rapids whose covert hands urged the VIC
tins to there fearful doom. Heaven grant that
this may be the last sacrifice to their wrath-that
their song may not again be broken by such a
shrek as Avery raised when he yielded to their
will and met his mournful fate.-Buf. Er.