Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-07-26
The Catastrophe nj Niagara Falls.

ofthc late accident at Nisgara Falls. BY WHICH
three lives ~ere lost. Avery. the young maj
Who elong with desperation 10 an upright log
ffom % o'clock on Monday night until o
clock on Tuesday evening. WAS only 20 year
ofage, and 10 add to the painful interest ofth'
/ ffigh,ful scene. lis distracted father was one o
The throng Of spectators which lined the shores
during all DAY on Tuesday. During the ds,
hundreds leit Buffalo by the railroad trains
but, on their arrival al the Falls, were anable
to render the unfortunate man any assistance
and were compelled to look on with painful
suspense until their worst fears were realised
and the fierce element whrled its poor victim
beneath lis boiling current. The Buffalo Com
mercial has the following additional pariicu
lars:
Our informant tells us that Avery was in a
part of the rapids where The rocks rise nearly
10 the surface OF the wafer. log of wood
apparently wedged tightly between the rocks.
and crossed by another sill higher out of the
WATERWAYS his resting place. Here he remain.
ed, half cinging 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 tie water.
A few feet in advance was a small fall of
bout four or five feet and here and on each
side ct him the waters rushed wildly on at a
speed OF about forty miles an hour. About
p o'clock in the afternoon a raft was construc.
led formed Of crossed tmbers, strong y fasten-
ed IN square form, hogshead beiLg placed
In the Centre.
The raft was strongly secured with ropes on
each side, and was hoated down to the rocks
upon which Avery was stationed. As 1t ap
preached the spot where he stood, the rope
got fast in the rocks, and the raft became i'm
movable Avery then appeared to muster
strength and courage, and descending from
the log, walked over the rocks to the place
where the rope had caught and labored loog
and hard to disengage it from the rocks. AT
ter some Time he succeeded, and then with re
newed energy inspired by the hope of rescue
he pulled manfuiy at the rope until he sue
ceeded in bringing the raft from the current
towards his fearful resting place.
Avery now got on to the rait,making himself
fast thereto ny means of ropes hich had been
placed there for that purpose,and those on the
land commenced drawing it towards the shore
IL had approached within thirty feet Of one oil
the small islands, wards winch lis course
was directed, when suddenly it became station
airy IN the midst oil the rapids, the ropes having
again caught in the no ks.
All endeavors 10 move 1t were found TO be
IN vain, and much fear Was entertained that tn,
strain upon The ropes might break them and
occasion the poor fellows loss. Various sug
gesllons were now volunteered, and several al
tempts were made to reach HIM. One maj
went Out in a boat as far as he dared TO ven
ture, anG asked him ifhe would fas,en rope
round his body aud trust to being drawn in by
| that
The poor fellow, however. shook his heae
despondingly, as though he fell that he hao
not strength enough remaining to make him
sell secure to rope. A length a boat wa,
got rea1y-a life boat which had arrived from
Bnffalo-and was launched, Seeing the pre-
parations. Avery Embossed his fastenings, with
the intention Of being ready to spring into the
boat. Borne on by the rushing waters, and
mid the breathless suspense of the spectators
the boat approached The raft A thrill rar
through the CROW d-the boat lived in the an
cry waves-it struck the rata shout of 10,
rang forth from the shores, for it was believed
that he was saved-when suddenly the hope
that had been raised was again Jestroyed-a
moments confusion followed the colisson,and
In the next the victim was seen in the midst
of he waters, separated from his frail support
and struggling for life
For minute or two The poor fellow, strik
ing out boldly, swan strongly towards the is
land, and the cry echoed from shore to shore
that he would yet be saved. But soon the FACT
became certain that he receded from the shore
his strength was evidently failing. Gradu
ally he vas borne back into the iercest pari
of the current-slowly at first then more rap
idly.
Swiftly and more swiftly he approaced the
brink OF the fatal precipice-the waters had
him at last, their undsputed victim, and mad
ly they whirlcd him on TO death. as though en-
ragged at his perseverirg efforts to escape their
| fury.
A sickening feeling came over the specta
tors when, just on the brink of the precipice
the doomed man sprung up from the waters
clear from their su,face-raising himself
upright as a statue with his arms flung wild
aiott. and with piercing shrek that rang
| IOuuIV abDva tho rnockInO &c Il.