The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-07-26
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
THE CATASTROPHE AT THE FALLS.

THE CATASTRoPHE AT THE FALLS.
We have already published accounts OF the
precipitation of three men over the Falls of
Niagara. The prolongaiion of the peril of the
last of them that went over, makes his case so
Iull of interest that we copy more minute ac-
count of it from the B uffalo Commercial Ad-
vertiser Of last Wednesday:
"Our informant tells us that The man fAverv
was in part Of the rapids where the rocks
rise nearly TO the water. A log of wood, an
parentiY wedged tightly between the rocks.
aud crossed by another, still higher out of the
water, was his resting place. Here he re.
NAMED, half clinging to and half perching upon
the log, from which he would occasionally
slip down and walk little on the rocks which
were only short distance under water. Is
"A lew feet in advance was small fall of
about four or FIVE feet, and here and on each
size OF him the waters rushed wildly on at
speed OF about forty miles an hour. Since
our report yesterday was made up, about half.
pest o'clock in the afternoon, raft was con.
s"ucted armed of crossed timbers, strongly
fastened 10 square form, a hogshead being
placed IN The centre. The raft was strongly
secured with ropes on each side, and was float,
Gu Gown TO the rocks upon which Avery was
s'ahoned. AS il approached the spot where
ne $1,000, the rope got fast in the rocks, and the
rafi became immoyabIe.
avery then appeared to muster strength and
courage and descending from the log, walked
over tne rocks to the place where the rope had
oaugnt anG iabored long and hard to Olsen.
gage II from the rock. After some time he
succeeded, and then with renewed energy in
spired by the hope of rescue, he pulled man-
iuliy at the rope until he succeeded in bringing
the fait from the current towards his fearful
resting place. ''u'
avery now got on to the raft, making him.
sen Iast thereto by means of ropes which had
been placed there for that purpose. and those
on the land commenced drawing il towards
the shore. Ii had sspproached within thirty feet
oil one OF the small islands, towards which its
course was directed, when suddenly il becams
stationary IN the midst OF the rapids, the ropss
haVlug again caughtln the rocks. All sndeayors
10 move it we've found to be in vain. md n,nch
fear was entertained that the strain unoa ,ha
ropes might break them and occasion the Moor
fellow loss.
Various suggestions were now volunteered
and several attempts we're made to reach him
One man went out in boat as far as he a,r.
ed to venture, and asked him If he would fast.
en- rope round his body and trust TO beip
drawn in by that. The poor fellow. however
shook his head despondingly, as though he
felt that he had not strength enough remain.
ing to make himself secure TO a rope, A,
length a boat was got ready-a life boat which
had arrived from Buffalo-and was launched
Seeing the preparations, Avery unloosed his
fastenings, with the intention of being ready to
spring into the boat.
Borne on by the rushing waters, and amid
the breathless suspense of the spectators,
el,o h1a LaI L.
through the crowd-the boat lived in the an.
cry waves-it strack the rata shout of joy
rang forth from the shores, for it was beliey.
ed that he was saved-when suddenly the hope
that had been raised was again destroyed-a
moments confusion followed the collision
and IN the next the victim was seen in the
midst OF the waters. separated from his fraiI
support and struggling for life. For minute
or two the poor fellow, striking out boldly,
swan strongly towards the island, and the cry
echoed from shore 10 shore that he will vel
be saved. But soon the fact became certain
that ne receded from the shore-his strength
was evidently failing.
Gradually he was borne back into the 6erc,
est part OF the current-slowly at first. then
more rapidly. Swiftly and moie swiitly he
approached the brink of the fatal precipice-
the waters had him at last, their undisputed
vIctm, and madly they whirled him on 10
death, though enraged at his perseyerino Of
forts TO escape their fury.
A sickenlng feeling came over the speeta.
tors when just on the brink of the precipice
the doomed man sprung up from the waters
clear from their surface-raising himself up
right as statue, with his arms flung wildly
aioft, and with piercing shrek that rang
loudly above the mocking roar of the cataract,
fell back into the foamng waves, and was
If h. fofo
The New York Express seizes the occasion
of this terrible catastrophe to recur to the past
history of casualties at the Falls. We wish
the Express had given us along with its other
details, an account of the passage of the old
schooner over the Falls many years ago. We
have not at hand the particulars of that affair
1t was gotten up as speculation by some in
ventve geniuses in the vicinity of the Falls
An old schooner was purchased, and bear
a buffalo, fox, some ducks and geese and
other animals, we believe, were put on board as
passengers. The helm was dashed down. and
she was towed into the stream, and let loose
She went over. The exact termination of the
fates OF the poor passengers we do not remem
Der. The feathered people, most of them, we
believe, survived the eyent-whether anv of
the others got through with their lives, we can.
not say now. The affair was advertised 81
long time in advance and thousands were nrs
sent to witness it. Itwas cruel experiment ::
but it was watched with deep interest bv tho
crowd. We remember that the Door bea, hs
came very restive as the vessel neared the fat.
point. He looked anxiously to the shore. NOV
ed rapidly around, moaning piteously. and 40
the schooner struck the Falls, he reared nm and
flung his arms aloft in the agony of despair.
THE LATE CATAsTRoPHE AT N,.c,..
CAsUALTIEs.-The telegranh
ic accounts of the fearful fate of three me-
who, on Tuesday last, were borne down ,bs
Rapids in Niagara river, and were precipitated
over the Falls, do not describe the particular
spot at which poor Able, 1.-THE Buffalo papers
have it Arery,] after sustaining himself so gal.
lantly for nearly twenty -four hours, was dash.
ed down the walery precipice. One of the
Buffalo papers says il was over the american
Fall" If SO, the skiff in which the three men
were, was carried down the Rapids on the
west side of Goat Island TO the brink of that
part of the Cataract which lies west Of Luna
Island. which is connected with Goat Island
by wooden bridge. From this bridge, and
from the high bank just above il, the whole
are ma. in all ifa aganizinu defaila muaf hava