New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-07-14
From tho Buffalo Dsrhocl
IA THRTLLrNG INCIDENT

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Among the sturdy pioneers TO whom this
town is indebted for the inception Of its pros
perity, is James Sloan of Black Rock gen.
tleman but little known, prone TO retiracy,
modest and diffident in department, but with,
the strong common sense, determined energy
and abiding honor Of q jackson. The history
of his connection with the early efforts of Buf-
falo to make good the position nature had given
her the almost dishcartening struggles In
which her infancy was passed; the combats
with lukewarm faith at home and open opposi-
tion from abroad, would interest and instruct
our city readers unacquainted with the facts,
were 1t our purpose here to give them. On
future occasion we may draw upon the fund of
recollection possessed by Mr.. Sloan, Of some
'anecdotal sketches of the infancy Of ssNew
Amsterdam !" and the Port Of Buffalo Creek p
We only intend at present to narrate o stirring
adventure, in which our respected friend bore
conspicuous part
One day, in the month of June, 1922, when
returning by the river from Chippewa, and
having arrived abreast the head of Navy Island,
he discovered an object drifting rapidly down
the current, which, from the reiterated cries
for help, he was shocked to find was human.
being. His boat being one used for conveying
salt was unmanageably heavy, and to trust to
her for rescuing the poor fellow would have
been to insure his own loss MS well, perhaps, as
that Of the crew. He turned her, therefore,
toward the shore, and leaping upon the strand
near Chippewa, Sloan started for the place to
procure suitable boat, directing his men to
follow. They, however, gave cut in the race;
and orr hero, for he deserves the title, found
himself alone, \
Fortunately, there were three boys fishing
from light skiff, a short distance from shore,
and to them he appealed. Like himself, they
were Injured to the perils Of the river, and they
- 4 L.. l. u ri. -
oar, and with the willing aid of the boys, to urge
the little boat far out upon the stream, was the
work of but moment By this time the object
Of their anxiety had ceased his cries, and was
lying supine upon the log that sustained him in
his perilous voyage, completely submerged, ex-
cept his head and part Of his back They
reached him, dragged him, stiff and motionless,
into the boat, and laid her head for shore. But
now came the knowledge that, in the despera-
ton of the chase, they had sentured far beyond
prudence, and were rapidly drifting down the
river. On either side the forests seemed send
ding by them at o fearful rate, and their little
cookie shell craft was tossing in the rapids,
while the combing waves threw the spray far
over their heads. 1t was dreadful moment
when they first awoke to the certainty of their
imminent danger, and 80 others thought it, for,
gathered upon the shore, were all the people Of
Chippewa, watching with an intense anxiety the
for a moment did Sloan lose his self possession
Calmly addressing the boys, and pointing out
the danger, he conjured them to 8. hope and
pull, 2 and nobly did the little fellows respond
1t was fearful work Now the boat, shooting
over the seas, would gain few lengths, and
now a wave, more potent than its predecessors,
would send them back, covering them with wa
ter. Occasionally, as they anxiously watched
the shores, the trees would seem to stand still,
kbao FIJI
There was thought of throwing over the incum-
bering body of the drowned man. Steadily and
firmly they bent to their oars, the lads calmly
laboring as if upon pond, and gradually the
boat gaining upon the current found smoother
water, until at last, it shot out from the peril
GUS yicinage, and found shelter in the Chippewa
Creek. The assembled crowd sent up shout
of joy as they approached the dock, and the three
boys sank down exhausted in the bottom of the
boat. After receiving the congratulations of
the crowd, and listening, as he says, to some
loud talking upon the part Of the parents of the
boys, Sloan requested the villagers to give the
rescued body decent burial, and, getting on
board his own boat, resumed his voyage to the
American side. 44
Some time after, Sloan visited Chippewa, and
on inquiry concerning the finale of his adven-
ture, was surprised to find that the dead man
had been resuscitated, and was then in Niagara
but the accusers not appearing, the man, whose
name was Daniel McGarrey, was released.
1t appears that McGarrey had been living in
Navy Island, id company with two other men
and the wife of one of them. After drinking
| bout, one day, the two men picked a quarrel
with McGarrey, which resulted in the latter
taking to the water and the stick of drifting
wood to which he was found clinging Having
| thus, as they supposed been relieved Of their
troublesome companion, the men gave themselves
| no further anxiety about him, and great was
their astonishment on learning that he was alive
| at Chippewa They at once hit upon the expe-
| dent of the arrest, and on their complaint
| backed by the evidence of the woman, poor Nc.
| Carey was likely ohave little cause for thank
fulness at having escaped going over the Falls
only to die by the rope But his accusers did
not appear at the trial: they had gone to answer
/ to a higher tribunal, for the deeds done in tn,
| body.
| They had removed from the Island to Chip
pewa, and, to celebrate the event, had resortet
| again to their jug, and after getting thoroughly
drunk, laid down in their boat to sleep off tn
effects. The craft was imperfectly secured, tn
current of the creek carried her ont into tn
river, and helplessly they were hurried toward
| the awful cataract They awoke when alread,
| in the rapids, and were seen to toss their hand
and gestculate madly for help. But no human
arm could aid them there; the wild waters en-
gulphed them, and the death they had contrivet
for another was their own portion at last
/ McGarry lived for many years, perhaps still
| survives. Mr.. Sloan saw him during the @ Pa
triot War" near Point Abino, stifay bearin
| arms in the service Of Queen Victoria
l Our readers may be assured that in ever,
item of this singular story we have adhere
strictly to the truth Perhaps we have not il
justice dwelt sufficiently upon the noble conduc
| of Sloan and the boys, whose feat of stemmin
the current of the Niagara at that dangerou
| place was one Of the most heroic actions W
have ever known.
PAN OF GRAvY-" Ba- a-a! Ba-a.a!'' shrek
a half-naked infant Of about eighteen month
old
e What's the matter wit mama's thweet yittl
ducky'" says its affectionate mother, while sh
| presses it to her bosom, and the young sarpin
/ in return digs its talons into her face 8