The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-08-04
THE CATASTROPHE AT NIAGARA FALLS


Our readers have had brief accounts, re-
ceved by telegraph, Of three men having
lost their lives BY drifting over Niagara Falls.
We CLEAN the following particulars OF this
melancholy occurrence:
"On Tuesday evening about half past nine
O'Clock, three men having come down the
niagara river in scow, got into skitt
alongside, and it is supposed they fell asleep.
when the boat was separated from the scow.
and was hurried with fearful rapidity towards
the falls. Two of the men, one named An
drew Hanaman, the other stranger, We're
hurled at once over the foamng sheet; the
third, Joseph Avery caught hold of stump
in his fearful passage, and had chung to it
until he was discovered there the next morn
ing. Boats were Immediately sent out to
lrescue him from his perilous situation, but
were instantly swamped in the rapids
Meanwhile, crowds of strangers and great
number of citizens thronged to the banks
and the most painful excitement prevailed. y
! The Buffalo Commercial. of the Goth inst
| thus continues the details from one O'Clock
Of Wednesday:
"The man was in part of the rapids
where the rocks rise nearly to the surface
of the water. A log of wood, apparently
wedged tightly between the rocks, and cross
ed by another still higher out of the wat
er, was his resting-place. Here he remain
ed; half clingipg 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 A few feet in advance was small
fall about four or five feet, and here, and on
each side of him, the waters rushed wildly
on at speed of about forty miles an hour.
About half-past two O'Clock in the afternoon
a raft was constructed, formed of crossed
timbers strongly fastened in a square form,
hogshead being placed in the centre
The raft was strongly secured with ropes
on each side, and was tioated down to the
rocks upon which Avery was stationed. As
it approached the spot where he stood
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
where the rope had caught, and labored long
and hard to disengage it from the rocks. AT
ter some time he succeeded, and then, with
renewed energy, inspired by the hope of sue
cess, he pulled manfully at the rope until
he succeeded in bringing the raft from the
current towards his fearful resting-place.
"Avery now got on to 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 with
in THIRTY feet of one of the small islands, tow
ards which his course was directed, when
suddenly it became stationary i'll 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
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 to reach him. One man went out in
a boat as far as he dared to venture, and
asked him il he would tasten rope round
his body and trust to being drawn in by that.
The poor fellow, however, shook his head
despondingly, as though he felt that he had
not strength enough remaining to make him.
self secure to rope. At length boat was
got ready-a life boat which had arrived
from Buifalo-and was launched. Seeing
the preparations, Avery unloosed his tasten-
ings, with the intention of being ready to
spring into the boat. Borne on by the
rushing waters, and amid the breathless sus-
pense of the spectators, the boat approach,
ed 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-
ments confusion followed the collision, and
in the next the victim was seen in the midst
of the waters, separated from his frail sup
port and struggling for life. For moment
or two the poor fellow, striking out boldly,
swan strongly towards the island, and the
cry echoed from shore to shore that he
would yet be saved. But soon the fact be-
came certain that he receded from the shore
his strength was evidently failing. Grad
ually he was borne back into the fercest
part of the current-slowly at first, then
more rapidly. Swiftly and more swiftly he
approached the brink OF the fatal precplce-
the waters had him at last, their undispated
victim, and madly they whirled him on To-
death, as though enraged at his perseverlng
efforts to escape their fury. A sickening
feeling came over the spectators when, just
on the brink of the precipice, the doomed
/ al frof