Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-08-22
From The Bataria (.N. T. .Advocatc.
Adventure at Niagara Falis--The Ice Lad
ri CAN DO ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN"

"i CAN DO ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN"
Mr.. EDITOR u present YOU the following
reminiscence of olden times:
In the vinter Of 1918, Mr. A.. Mr.. e. an
Mr.. B., started from lie Roy, Genesee county, t
90 to Lewiston, Niagara county, on business
On the route they visited Niagara Falls-Mr A
and Mr.. B. for the first time On arriving a
the Falls. Mr.. c., who had been there severa
times before, in accordance with the usual char
acteristics of the early settlers to new comers,y
politely made exertions to entertain his compan
ions. He piloted US to several positions wher
the mighty cataract could be seen to the best ad
vantage and lastly, he led the way to the ladder
which at that day was tie only provision made
on the American side for the descent and ascen
to and from the chasm into which the mighty
waters Of the great lakes tumbled with tremen
dous Ioar The ladder was placed in perpen
dicular position. and by some means fastened tt
the bank Of shelving rocks, the length OF which
reaching to the bottom, was over 50 feet.
| Mr.. &. proposed descending the ladder, tha
we might have more grand and satisfactory
view OF the great wonder. booked nay arm a
round small sapling that was growing upon the
bank. looked over and discoVeted the ladder pre-,
sentipos the appeagasce OF column OF ice, win
nUips -s,,,~@ leaned back to standing po-
stion, and said 10 Mr.. c., think it too hazar-
dous an uIidertaking;to descend that ladder merely
to crafty curiosity. Mr.. e. replied there would
be no danger, as he had been down it many a
time in the summer season-and Immediately
started upun the descent. After few moments
| called to Mr.. G. 10 know how The land lay 2
He replied all right, tiere is no danger. |, from
an.impulse of ambition entertained by me at that
day--said 81 can do ythDg that you can, )" and
Immediately followed him. and Mr.. Il. followed
me. We descended slowly and cautiously, by
encircllng the rounds OF the ladder with our arms
aud by the time we were half way down, we
halted, and discussed the question whether we
had not better abandon the journey and return.-
1t was finally decided to proceed
After reaching the bottom and taking survey
OF our lower region location, we found our situa.
ton most gloomy and frigbtfnl--no living crea-
ture or thing to be seen-nOt even saow bird,
and no enlveniug ray Of the sun To cheer us, as
il was cloudy day. On looking up the ladder
on which We descended, each round was made six
inches in diameter, by The ice which was CONCEAL
ed to it, and for inches inwardly from each rave
of the ladder the rounds were connected togeihei
by solid ice. For myself thought had landed
| in the "Horrble Pit" not Of "miry clay" but
Of frozen waters, and the freezing spray from the
great cataract. We gave but casual glance at
/ the object OF our pursuit. We did not enjoy the
Wow of the leaping, tumbng ocean Of waters
from the upper world. The question was how
shorld we relurn2 We were willing to traVel
many miles rather than ascend that ladder.
On taking survey and examination Of the
desolate region around us, we found that there
was no other way OF getting into the world above
again but by that ladder. Mr.. A. was 40 years
old. weight 200 lbs, Mr.. G. 80 years; Mr.. B. 20
weight Of each $50 los. Mr.. A. and e. at thai
moment, undoubtedly thought of wife aud c!ll
dren as surely did Of parents, sisters, brother:
and friends. We seated ours elves upon bouid
er of ice, and attempted in rather gloomy tone
of voice to cheer each other up 10 the accomplish
menl Of the task before US, and we came TO the
conclusion that as we had come down safely we
could return safely if our nerves did not fail u.s.
After sitting little time upon the ice with fold
| ed arms, felt to hare bhco:ae sufficiently cool
! and collected to make a mUve up the ladder
! led off Mr.. T.. followed and Mr.. A. the odes
aud heaviest man brought up thu rear.
! After journeying liule, Mr.. q. and mysefcom
menced conversation, for the purpose of cheering
each other up, but Mr. A. was speechless. ] nei
ther looked up or down. but knew not what po
/ sltion was in, as TO distance in the journey, ul
til my arm encrcied the topmoEt round Of th'
! ladder upon the bank. then sang out AL
! upi-in the world agsin!" Mr. G. wsS close a
my heels; but on looking down. Mr.. A. was some
% feet below, and apparently greatly fsiigued.-
! We spoke cheering words 10 him, and he so0r
arrived within our gTasp-speechless and slmcs
senseless. with face sufficiently white for the
shruud, we had him sitting beside US on the bank.
After reyiying liile. he stated that he got along
very well until he looked down 10 ascertain what
! progress he had made; that look bedizZened his
head, and about the time sang out AN up
| he felt that he must fall he believed that an
nOuncement saved his lite.
| We then returned To the public house and re-
ported our adventures. Ii brough! The citizens Of
the pace, who were present. to ,heir feet, in sur
{ prse-and some Of them said they had frequently
been down the ladder when clear OF ice but no
amount of money would tempt them to the under
taking al that time.
! think if that performance could be re enacted
at this day, as then, by three pioneer Yankees, il
would attract nearly as large crowd as did Sam
Patch. Now the observance of the resolve, ii
can do anything that you can" is commendable
in young man, if the undertaking or enterprise
is laudable and praiseworlhy but its breach in
the thoughlleSS and foolhardy one | have related,
is more commendable than an adherence to it,
Mr.. A., some years since, departed from this
world OF cataracts ard charms, and | trust his
spirit ascended the ladder To the realms of bliss as
he was man Of prayer Mr.. g. and Mr. b.
"slill live" r.
Batavia, July, 1855.