Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-07-28
Frightfhl Casualty at Niagara
Falls.

On tneaday last week, three men got asleep
in boat, tnocred seine distance from Niagara
Falls, when by some means the craft broke from
the shore and drifted into the rapids which bore
hem, now awakened and screaming for help, ir-
eslsaby down to the yawning abyss, over
which two of them were at once dashed to be
seen no more. But the third, whose name was
Avery as the Goat upset when nearing the falls,
caught upon stump near small island, and
remained there nearly through the day, clinging
to his uncertain support with failing strength,
while hundreds were loooking on and trying the
different means suggested for his rescue, bat in
vain.
The Buffalo Commercial thus ,hriliiugly de-
schbes the awful catastrophe,
up to six o'clock last evening the public
were kept in state of excitement by dispatches
received at intervals from the Falls, bringing in.
formation of the situation of poor Avery, each
report fluctuatng between hope and fear-now
expressing confidence in his eventual safety, and
now almost desparing Of his rescue.
A large number of persons left this city for
the scene of excitement by the trains, and SWELL
ed the thousands already gathered on the spot.
We have been furnished with an ancount Of the
proceeding siuce one O'Clock yesterday by an
ey witness, but we are Under obligation to The
operators Upon Kossock's Canada line for the
earliest intelligence Of The wretched fate of the
victim.
Our informant tells us III It the man waa in
part of the rapids where The rocks rise nearly to
the surface of the water A log of wood, appa-
rently wedged tightly between the rocks, and
crossed by another, still higher out of the water,
was his resting place. Here he remained half
clinging to and half perching upon the log, from
which he would occasionally slip down and walk
little upon the rocks, which were only short
distance under water
few feet in advance was small fall of four
or five feet, and here and on each side of him,
the waters rushed wildly on at a speed of about
forty miles an hour. Since our report of yeStcr-
day was made up, about two and half O'Clock
in the afternoon, raft was constructed OF cross
ed timbers, strongly fastened in square form, a
hogsead being placed in the centre.
The raft was strongly secured with ropes on
each side, and was foated down to the rocks on
|
the spot where he stood, the rope got fast in the
rocks, and the raft became immovabe. Avery
then appeared to muster strength aud courage,
and descending from the log, walked over the
rocks to the place where the rope had caught and
labored long and hard to disengage it from the
rocks. After some time he succeeded, and then
with renewed energy inspired By the hope OF
rescue, he pulled manfuly at the rope until he
succeeded in bringing the raft from the current
towards his fearful resting place.
Avery now got on 10 the raft, making himself
fast thereto by means of ropes which had been
placed there for that purpose, and those on the
land commenced drawing it towards the shore
1t had approached within thirty feet of one of the
small islands, towards which Its course was d.
rected, when suddenly it became stationary IN
the midst of the rapids, the ropes having again
caught in the rocks.
All endeavors to move it were found TO be in
vain, and much fear was entetained that the
strain upon the ropes might break them and &C.
casion the poor fellows loss. Various suggest
ion were now volunteered, and several attempts
were made to reach him. One man went out in
boat as far as he dared to venture, and asked
him if he would fasten rope round his body
and trust to being drawn in by that.
The poor fellow, however, shook his head des-
pondingly, as though he felt he had not strength
enough remaining to -alske- himself secure 20 a
rope. At length boat was got ready-.a life
boat, which had arrived from Buffao-and was
launched. Seeing the preparations, Avery I'M
Tossed his fastenings, with the intention Of being
ready to spring into the boat Borne on by The
rushing waters, and amid the GREATNESS suspense
of the spectators the boat approached the raft.
"A thrill ran through the crowd-the boat lived in
the angry waves-it struck the rata shout Of
Joy rang forth from the shores, for it was believed
that he was saved-when suddenly the hope that
had been raised was again destroyed--a mo-
nent's confusion followed the collision, and in
the next the victim was seen in the midst of the
waters, separated from his frail support and
struggling for life.
For minute or two the poor fellow, striking
out boldly, swan strongly towards the island
aud 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--hls
strength was evidently failing. Gradually he
was borne back into the fercest part Of the
current-slowy at fist, then more rapidly.
Swiftly and more swiftly he approached the
brink Of the fatal precipice-the waters had hiT
! at last, their undsputed victim, and madly they
whlrled him on to death, as though enraged a
his perseverng efforts to escape their fury.
A sckcning feeling came over the spectators
{ when, just on the brink of the precipice, TIT
4 doomed man sprung up from the waters--clea
y from their surface-raislng himself upright as
0 statue, with his arms flung wildly aloft, and witt
b piercing shrek that rang loudly above tn
knocking roar of the cataract, fell back again int
: the foaming waves, and was hurled over lh
: brow of the fatal abyss"