Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-07-23
THE CATASTROPHE AT NIAGARA FALLS.

the fas cnging for life to rail stump against which,
In his perous descent Of the rapids had been thrown
AS soon as the terrible became known hundreds of
hurried to the spot and the report was found to
be too true
Upon inquiry il ascertained that the poor fellow
was one Of three men belonging scow used for taking
sand down the river who had got into small boat at
tacned 10 the scow about nine O'Clock on Monday evening
anu having ny some means become separated therefrom
werc hurried down the rapids. The boat Of
speedily swamped and the men cast into the water two
OF them being at carried over the Falls to their
tate and the other by chance striking and cling
ing 70 stump about midway between the falls and Goat
Island bridge.
AT daylight on Tuesday morning this poor fellow was
uscoVerea IN his perilous situation and was speedily
round mat his rescue was almost impossible since no
Doat mat could be procured would float moment in the
rapids without being swamped and overturned. A
despatch was Immediately sent to Buffalo for life
ana one was sent by the railroad without DELAY In the
mean ume box containing refreshent was attempted
70 DC noated to the mperled man. who had chung with
to his ra support in the midst Of the dizzy
s' "hrng rapids and within hearing of the roar Of
wy Safao' over winch at any moment he might be hurl
90, LOT upwards Of twenty-four hours
The lifeboat at length arrived but proving Ion lob.
u Immediately swamped raft was then aoated out TO
tne sunerer, who got upon it and, at six o'clock in
the evening another lifeboat was sent to him which
Struck the raft and swept the man off into the rans
ne then attempted to swim to small island but falling
to reach it. he raised himself up to his full height gave
shrek, waved his arms wildly, and disappeared. His
name was JOSEPH AVERY. The name Of one of his com
panions was THOMAS HAnMAMAN
FROM THEBUfFAL0 COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER OF WEDNESDAY
Up to SIX o'clock last evening the public were kent in
state Of excitement by dispatches received at intervals
from the Falls, bringing information of the situation of
poor AVERY each report fuctuating between hope and
fear; now expressing confidence in his eventual safety
and now almost despairing of his rescue large num-
Der Of persons left this city for the scene Of
blythe trains and sweled the tho"--
! around the s~~t 'anu' aneauy sa'nersd
We have been furnished with an account Of the pro-
ceedings since o'clock yesterday by an witness
Our informant tells that the was part of the
rapids where the rocks rise nearly the surface of the
water. Alog Of wood, apparently wedged tightly be-
tween the rocks and crossed by another still higher out
of the water his resting place Here he remained
half cllngng 70 and half perching upon the log from
which he would occasionally slip down and walk little
the rocks which only sort distance under water
few feet in advance small fall of about four or
five feet and here and each side Of him the waters
rushed wildly at speed of about forty miles hour
Since report yesterday made up about q o'clock
in the afternoon raft constructed formed of crossed
tmbers, strongly fastened in square FORM hogshead
being placed in the center. The raft strongly Sc
cured with ropes each sde and foated down to
the rocks upon which Avery stationed As it APP
preached the spot where he Stood the rope got fast in the
rocks, and the raft became immovable Avery then APP
peared TO muster strength and courage, and descending
from the log walked the rocks the place where
the rope had caught and abored long and hard olsen
gage it from the rocks After time he succeeded
and then with renewed energy, inspired by the hope of
rescue he pulled mnnfuly at the rope until he succeeded
in bringing the raft from the towards his fearful
resting place
Avery got on the raft making himself fast there
to by of ropes which had been placed there for that
purpose and those the land commenced drawing it
wards the shore 1t had approached within thirty feet of
OF the small islands, towards which its d.
rected when suddenly ii became stationary in the midst
of the rapids the ropes having again caught in the rocks
All endeayors to it found to be in yain and
much fear entertained that the strain upon the ropes
might break them and occasion the poor fellows loss
suggestions were now volunteered, and several
attempts made reach him. One man went out in
boat as far as he dared venture and asked him if
would fasten rope round his body and trust being
drawn in by that. The poor fellow however shook his
head despondngy, though he felt that he had not
strength enough remaining to make himself to
rope. At length boat got readya life boat which
had arrived from Bualo-nnd was launched Seeing the
preparations Avery Embossed his fastenings with the in
enton Of being ready spring into the boat
by the rushing waters and amid the breathess suspense
of the spectators the boat approached the raft thrill
through the crowd the boat lived in the angry
it struck the raft shout of joy rang forth from the
shores for it believed that he saved when sud
denly the hope that had been raised again destroyed
moments confusion followed the collision, and in the
the victim in the midst Of the waters,
parated from his fra support and struggling for life
For minute 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
the fact became certain that he receded from the shore
his strength evidently failing Gradually he was
borne back into the erces part Of the slowly
FIRST then rapidly Swiftly and swiftly be ap-
preached the brink Of the fatal precpice. The waters
had him at last their undisputed VICTIM and madly they
whirled him DEATH though enraged his perse
vering efforts to escape their fury sickenng feeling
the spectators when, the brink Of the
clear from their surface-raising himself upright
statue with his flung wildly aoft and with pierre
ing shrek that rang loudly above the mocng Of the
cataract fell back again into the oaming waves and was
hurled over the brow of the preoipice.
We have no heart for comment upon the melancholy
and awful event The fate Of poor Avery will add another
the many fearful local incidents already related by the
guides at the Falls and for years his critical situation
his hard struggles his fearful death will be the theme Of
many narrowing tale.
The Martinsburg (va Gazette says the wheat harvest
is ended, and the expectations of the husbandman
than realized The quantity is fully equal that
of last year. and the quality first rate The prospect for
good crop Of corn is fair
MARYLAND ToDAcco CRoP.--Fine rains which have pre-
vailed Prince Georges county have somewhat revived
the hopes Of the though yet thought
not than half crop can be secured The Marbo-
ro' Gazette says:
In this neghborhood the rain fully sufficient to