The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-03-09
Thrilling and Melancholy Casualty.

Inc Cnnul DOuL 1llHlOIl, 1dpl. w OOu;
with about fifty persons on board, prnci-
pally negro hands Oh their way to the Cen
trail Railroad, attempted to proceed up the
river to Buchanan. Just after passing the
North River bridge the tow line broke and
the boat drifted down the stream. The
river being very much swollen, the bottom
could not be reached With poles, and con-
sequently the boat was completely at the
mercy of the current About hundred
yards above the mountain dam, five persons
Jumped of and attempted to swim ashore,
but three of the number We're drowned-a
Mr. Paine, OF Fredericksburg, and two he
groes.
BY the skillful management Of the Cap
tain, who held the tiller, the boat eaped the
dam in safety, and rapidly approached the
White Rock, the Little and Great Balcony
Falls, and the Tobacco Hills, places which.
the writer says, formerly made the boldest
hear: quake under favorable circumstances.
Asst passed within n foot Of the White Rock,
the Captain and four or five persons jumped
out, and were left on the rock in the middle
of the river, with the water raging around
them. The boat hurried by, and escaping
several dangers, hung lightly on a rock near
the Tobacco Hills.
Persons on shore now undertook to rescue
the five or six men now clnging to the White
Rock. A batteau was dragged some dis
tance, and launched in the river, the water
still rising and the wind blowing perfect
hurricane through the gap OF the mountain.
Frank Padget, an experienced huatman, and
Messrs. Mathews and McCollogan and two
negroes embarked in the batteau, and at great
personal risk succeeded IN brngin. the party
safely to shore.
BY this time the water had risen enough
TO float the canal boat again which was ear
ricd heaolong through the Tobacco Hills
and caught on u small island below. On her
passage one ofthe negroes on board had leap
ed upon Hat rock, where he stood without
his coat, wet with spray and shivering with
cold, ilnploring help. The bat'eau under
command Of Padget could not reach him. and
proceeded on toward the others, n j Of whom
were saved.
The question then arose whe the man
on the rock could be save {. The brave
hearted Padget thought he could, and the
same men aud two more embarked with him
to make the attempt. Just as they reached
the rock and the man had jumped OH board,
the batteau struck and was crushed like an
egg she'll Five OF the party leapcd OF the
rock. one chung to an oar and dritted to land,
but Padget and the man they had gone to
rescue were drowned
Some time elapsed before another battenu
could be obtained. At last It arrived aud
was launched, but negro suffered it to be
carried off, and il was dashed 10 pieces upon
the rocks.
1t was now dark and no other boat was at
hand Thus the Eremen on the rock were
necessarily LEFT there all night, exposed to
the drenchng spray and freezing weather.
During the night Il third batteau was brought
up and placed Ander the command of an old
.errynan natted Sam Evans. Next morn
ing, contrary To the expectations OF all, the
tnen were found to be uljTe, though several
of them were badly lrost-lstten, ard all Of
them were brought to land amid the shouts
of the spectators.
II this is IA truthful II irratISes witch We
have no reason to doubt the Incidents are as
thrilling as any we have ever soea record
Stanton .SItrtah2r.
VislIING THE Passover. " ash
iueton carrc-p pendent vi the New York
Evening Post, hagln. setetItly sislted the
White House. remarks that the Prcsi-
ac!iL pltSSEH MIA PGtiS4 t"if IA -
pccted
ale has whtenea oat to tie trne com
pleNion of Il parlor knight pale and soft
looking Though not what ! should call
elegant. his manners are easy and agreea-
Bile. He's more meek in appearance than
he i usuaiis teprercnted, as might be ex-
pactal 8f man aho has submitted to be-
driven into tsSe position of tail to Senator
~ -. Ii,
feel, the Presidency thrilling every nerve,
and coursine every vein. He ~ 30 delight
ed viii, it, that he is palpabIg falling into
the delusion OF supPosing himself possible
successor to himsett. Could toad -cis-con-
lit @ further, Setting aside the inherent
impos sibility oftse thing, on account of the
inevitable discoveries which his elevation
has evolved; his mad aud wicked adhesion
10 the Nebraska perGdy will settle his chan
ees as it will of all the rest. .'@iants" or
piymies. 2ia taurk il A. stood looking
al that man. evidently fall, not fthe great
trust comnitted to him but OF his own
little vani,e- snJ aspirations, and remem-
hered what he u us, and how he came there
and what he was doing it did seem mex
plicabe to me that such man as 3lr.
Webster should susmit to what he did for
this bauble. and then, when traitors with
held the rewar! of his establishment, turn
his face to the wall. and die BROKEN hearted.
How much greater would he ha. e been in
the Presidents House! VIII none oft lose
who come after him, learn the lesson Of his
fate!"
DIcpiy A k-HoUsE.-OvedF f. john
.ton, formerly an Attorney General OF Penn
-ylyana. a man of acknowledged talent as a
Anryer and scholar died recently in a W ork-