The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-08-06

Terrible Accident at Niagara Two Men over
the Falls !-PerilOus Situation of a Third.

Terrible Accident at Niagara Two Men over
the Falls !-Perilous Situation Of a Third.
The most intense excitement was created at
Niagara this morning by the startling intclli-
gence that man was in the midst of the rapids
within few feet of the Falls, clinging for life
to frail stump against which in his pcrilous
descent OF the rapids he had been thrown. AS
soon as the terrible news became known hun
dreds OF persons hurried to the SPOT and the
report was found to he too true. Upon enquiry
it was ascertained that the poor fellow was one
OF three men belonging to a scow used for ta-
king sand down the river, who had got into
small boat attached to the scow about 8 O'Clock
last evening, and having by some means become
separated thercfrOm, were hurried down the
rapids. The beat was of course speedily swamp
ed, and the men cast into the water; two of
them being at once carried over the Falls to
their dreadful fate, and the other by some
chance, striking and clingins to stump about
midway between the falls and Goat Island
bridge.
At daylight this morning this poor fellow
was discovered i'm his pcrilous situation and it
was speedily found that his rescue was almost
impossible, since no boat that could be prOcur-
cd would float moment in the rapids without
being swamped and overturned. A dispatch
was Immediately sent to this city for a life boat,
and one was sent by express over the railroad
without delay. In the meantime, hoy con-
tanning rcfresllment was attempted to be float
ed to the poor fellow, who had clung with dcs-
pcration to his frail support, in the midst of
the dizzying, whirling rapids, and within hear
ing of the roar the cataract over which in a
moment he might be hurled, for upu0r9s of
hrenty Jom-hours! What was the result of the
attempt we are not informed.
During the morning we have received sever
al telegraph dispatches from the Falls, de-
failing the above particulars, for which we are
indebted to Mr.. Whiting. of Kissock's Canada
Junction Line The excitement is painfully
intense, and the banks Of the river, the Island
and the bridge are covered with an anxious
multitude awaiting the result of this terrible
affair. 1t must be "a fearful sight thus to watch
a fellow being in a situation of such mortal per-
il, without the power of extending assistance
to him. If he can continue in his perilous po-
siton until the life boat reaches the falls-iflis
strength. already fcarlully taxed, does not give
way-hc may yet be rescued But we fear that
the raging waters will yet claim him as their
victim. The name of one of the men lost is
Thompson llannaman. The one in the rapids
is named Joseph Avery.
Since writing the above, we have received
the following additional Intelligence:
NIAGARA FALLS, Z. NJ.
The man Joseph Avery is still in the rapids
few rods above the brink of the American
Falls. The third boat has been lost aud they
are now getting ready the fourth to make an
other trial-BuDaio Commercial, Tuesday,
Juiy 19M.
From the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser.
The Casually at the FalIs---The Catastrophe!
BrfrALo, July 20.
UptO six o'clock last evening the public were
kept in u state of excitement 10y dispatches re-
cevcd at intervals from the Falls, bringing in
formation of the situation of poor Avery, each
report fuctuating between hope and fcar-now
expressing conf ience in his eventual safety
and now almost dcspairing of his rescue A
lrgc number of persons left this city for the
scene ofexcitement by the trains, and swcllcd
the thousands already gathered around the
spot. We have been furnished an account of the
proceedings since one o'clock yesterday by an
eye witness, but we are under obligations to
the operators upon kissOck's Canada Line for
the earliest intelligence of the wrctchcd fate of
the victim.
Our informant tells us that the man was in
a part of the rapids where the rocks rise nearly
to the surface of the water. A log of wood, APP
parently wedgcd tightly between the rocks. and
crossed by another. still higher out of the wa
ter, was his resting place. Here he remained,
half ciinging to and half pcrchcd upon the log.
from which he would occasionally slip down
and walk little Oh the rocks which were only
a short distance under water. A few feet in
advance was a small fall of about four or five
feet, and here and on each side of him, tie wa
ters rushed wildly on at speed of about forty
miles an hour Since our report yesterday was
made up, about half past two o'clock in the
afternoon, raft was constructed formed of
crossed timbers, strongly fastened in square
form, hogshead being placed in the centre.
The raft was strongly secured by ropes on each
side, .and was flOatcd down to the rocks on
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 descending from the log, walked over the
rocks where the rope had caught and labOred
long and hard to discngage it from the rocks
After some time he succeeded, and then with
renewed energy inspired by the hope of rescue,
he pulled manfully at the rope until he sue
ceeded in bringing the raft from the current
towards his fearful resting place.
Avery now got on 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
directed, when suddenly it became stationery
in the midst of the RAPIDS the ropes having
again caught in the rocks.
All enlcavors to move it were found to be in
vain, and much fear was entertained that the
strain upon the ropes might break them and Oc-
casiOn the poor fellows loss. Various sugges-
tions were now volunteered, and several at
tempts were made to reach him. One man
went out in boat as far as he dared to ven
ture, and asked him if he would fastcn a rope
around 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
himself secure to rope. AT length a boat was
got rcady-a life-boat, which had arrived from
Bufialo-and was launched. Seeing the pre-
parations. Avery unlooscd his fastcnings, with
the intention of being ready to spring into the
boat. Borne on by the rushing waters, and
amid the brcathless suspense of the spectators.
the boat approached the raft. thrill ran
through the crOwd-the boat lived through the