Washington sentinel., 1854-03-12

! THRILLING AND MELANCHOLY CASUALTY
A correspondent Of the Lexington (Va.) Ga.
zette gives the full particulars of fearful oc-
currence on James river, at Balcony falls, on
Saturday, 2lst of January.
The canal boat Clinton, Captain Wood, with
about fifty persons on board, principally negro
hands, on their way to the Central railroad, at
tempted 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 consequently the boat was completely at
the mercy of the current About hundred
Yards above the mountain dam, five persons
Jumped off, and attempted to swim ashore, but
three the number were edrowned-a Mr. Paine,
of Fredericksburg, and two negroes.
By the skillful management of the captain,
who held the tiller, the boat leaped the dam in
safety, nd rapidly approached the White rock,
the Little and Great Balcony falls, and the
Tobacco hills, places which, the writer says,
formerly made the holdest heart quake under
favorable circumstances. As it passed within
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 light
ly on a rock near the Tobacco hills.
Persons on shore now undertook to rescue
the five or six men clinging to the White
rock A bateau was dragged some distance 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 boatman, and Messrs. Matthews
and McCollogan and two negroes, embarked in
the bateau, and at great personal risk succeed
ed in bringing the party safely to shore.
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 pas
sage, one of the negroes on board had leaped
| upon fat rock, where he stood without his
coat, wet with spray and shivering with cold,
imploring help. The bateau under command
of Padget could not reach him, and proceeded
on towards the others, all of whom we're res
cued.
| The question then arose whether the man on
the rock could be saved. The brave-hearted
Padget 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 bateau
struck and was crushed like an egg-shell. Five
Of the party leaped on the rock, one clung to
an oar and drifted to land, but Padget and the
man they had gone to rescue were drowned.
| Some time elapsed before another bateau
could be obtained. At last it arrived and was
launched, but negro suffered it to be carried
off and it was dashed to pieces on the rocks.
| 1t was now dark and no other boat was 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 bateau was brought up and
placed under the command of an old ferryman
named Sam Evans Next morning, contrary
to the expectations Of oil, the men we're found
| to be alive, though several Of them were badly
| frost-bitten; and all of them we're brought to
land, amid the shouts Of the spectators.