Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-02-01
Tnrillinu ana sroIancholy Casualty.

A correspondent ofthe Lexington Gasette ewes
the particulars of fearful occurrence on James
River, at Balcony Falls, ION Saturday the 2ist OIL
January. The canal boat Clinton, Capt. wood
with about fifty persons on board, prlncipaily ne,
gro hands on their way to the Central Railroad
attempted to proceed up the river to Buchanan
Just after passing the North River BRIDGE Inc
tow line broke, and the boat driited 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 oil and at
tempted TO swim ashore, but three of the number
were drowned Mr.. Paine of Fredericksburg
and two negroes. BY the skiliul management OF
the Captain, who held the 'tiller, - the boat leap
ed 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 heart quake under
favorable circumstances. AS it passed within a
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, esca-
ping several dangers, hung lightly on rock near
the Tobacco Hills. m r<,ic
Persons on shore now undertook to rescue the
Eve or six men clingiug to the White Rock. A
batteau was dragged some distance and launched
in the river, the water still rising and the wind
blowing perfect hurricane through the gap ofthe
Frank Padget, an experienced boat
man, aud Messrs. Matthews and McCollogan, and
two negroes, embarked in the batteau land at great
personal risk succeeded in bringing the party safe
ly to Shore, l s&T . @.zG ~
BY this time, the water had risen enough to,
float the canal boat again, which was carried
headlong through the Tobacco Hills and caught
on small island below. On her passage one Of
the negroes on board had leaped upon fiat rock,
where he stood without his coat, wet with spray
and shivering with cold, imploring help. The
batteau, under command of Padget, could not reach
him, and proceeded on towards the others, all Of
whom were rescued. -.il.icet =
The question then arose whether the man on
the rock could be saved. The brave hearted Pad
get thought he could, and the same men and two
more embarked with him to make the attempt
Just as they reached the rock, and the man had
jumped on board, the batteau struck and was
crushed like an egg shell. Five of the party leap
ed upon the rock, one clung TO an oar and drifted
to land, bat Padget and the man they had gone
to rescue were drowned. 7si ,mY
Some time elapsed before another batteau could
be obtained. At last it arrived and was launch
ed, but negro suffered it TO be carried of, and it
was dashed to pieces upon the rocks.
TWAS now dark and no other boatwas at hand
Thus the five men on the rock were necessarily
left there all night, exposed to the drenching spray
and freezing weather. During the night third
batteau was brought up and placed under the COM
mand of an old ferryman named Sam Evans
Next morning, contrary to the expectation Of all,
the men were found to be alive, though several Of
them were badly frost bitten, and all ofthem were
brought to land, amid the shouts of the spectators
If this Is a truthful narrative, which we have
no reason to doubt, the incidents are as thrilling
as any we have ever seen recorded. e{l"e'2