Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-07-30
THE CATASTROPHE Ar THE FALLS.

Is. but Avery, the third person, hune Oh "
rock ill the mex, evening, crowd oil spec
tators witnessing his efforts 10 escape MS
doom, and doing all that could be devised TO |
save him
Our informant tells ia that the man was
in part of the rapids where tho rocks rise
pearl, 10 the surface of The water log OF |
wood, apparently wedged tightly between I,
the rocks, and crossed by another, still high
er out of the water was his resing-place.-
Here he remained, 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
rnder the water. A few fee, in advance
was a small fall of about four or five feet,
and here and on each side Of him, The wa.
ter rushed wildly on at n speed of abou, forty
miles an hour. Since our report yesterday
was made up, about % o'clock in the after
noor, a raft was constructed, formed Of
crossed ,imbers, strongly fastened, in a
square form, hogshead being placed in the
centre. The raft was strongly secured with
ropes on each side, and was fioated down TO
the rocks upon which Avery was Stationed
As it approached the spot where he slood,
the rope got fast in the rocks, and the raft
became immovable. Avery then appeared
to muster strength and courage, and descend
ing from the log, walked over the rocks TO
the place where the rope had caught and
labored long and hard 10 disengage il from
the rocks. After some lime he succeeded,
and then with renewed energy, inspired by
the hope of rescue, he pulled manfully at the
rope until he succeeded in bringing The raft
from the curren, towards his fearful resting
place.
Avery now got on 10 the raft, making him.
self fast thereto by means Of ropes which
had been placed there for that purpose, and
those on the land commenced drawing it to-
wards the shore. 1t had approached within
thirty feet Of one of the small islands towards
which its course was directed, when sudden
iy it became stationary in the midst Of the
rapids, the ropes having again canght in the
rocks. All endeavors 10 move it were found
TO be in vain, and much fear was entertained
that the strain upon The ropes might break
them and occasion the poor fellows loss.
Various suggestions were now volunteered,
and several attempts were made 10 reach
him. One man went out in boat as far as
he dared 10 venture, and asked him il he
would fasten rope round his body and trust
to being drawn in by that. The poor fel-
low, however, shook his head despondingly,
as though he felt that he had not strength
enough remaining to make himself secure
10 the rope. At length boat was got ready
"a life boat, which had arrived from BnfFa.
lo-and was launched. Seeing the prepara.
lions, Avery unloosed his fastenings, with
the intention Of being ready 10 spring into
the boat.
Borne on by the rushing waters, and amid
the breathless suspense OF the spectators, The
boat approached the raft A thrill wen
through the crowd-the boat lived in the
angry waves-it struck the rata shout o.
Joy rang forth from the Shores for it was be
ieved that he was saved-when suddenly
the hope that had been raised was again de-
slroyed, a moments confusion followed the
collision, and in the next the victim wa,
seen in the midst of the waters, separated
from his frail support and struggling for life
For minute or two the poor fellow, srikin:
ont boldly, swan strongly toward the island
and the cry echoed from shore TO shore tha
he would yet be saved But soon the fac
became certain that he receded from The
shore-his strength was evidently failing
Gradually he was borne back into the fierces
part of the current-slowly at first, ther
more rapidly. Swiftly and more swiftly he
approached the brink Of the fatal precipict
the waters had him at last, their undispu
ted vislim, and madly they whrled him or
TO death, as though enraged at his perseve
ring efforts to escape their fury. A scken
ing feeling came over The spectators, when
Just on the brink of the p'ecipice, the doom
ed man sprung up from the wa,ers-clea
from their surface-raisiug himself uprgh
as statue, with his arms flung wildly aloli
aad with piercing shrek that rang ioudl,
above the mockng roar or the cataract, fel
back again into the foaming waves, and wa
hurled over the brow of lhe fatal precipce