Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-09-03
A Thrilling Incident At Niagara.

In the very centre of the scething,
whirling cauldron OF waters known as
the American Rapids, lying equidistant
between the American shore and the
islands, and Bath Island Bridge and the
brink Of the Falls, rock projects two
or three feet above the water. The eve
rests upon it merely as upon speck in
the midst of this angry flood with eve
ry dash of the torrent pouring down
from the plateau above it is half SUBJ
merged, and sometimes wholly hidden
from sight. At the time of this casualty
a log, three or four feet in length, had
been jammed in or under this rock, and
protruded from it. The spot was one
that was in the daily sight of hundreds,
and in the early hours of that memora-
BILE summer morning the first man who
had occasion to cross the bridge was
startled and Mortified to see human
form standing erect, in the midst of the
raging, swirling flood, on this little point
of rock, wildly waving his arms. He
must have shouted, too, but his cries
were drowned in the uproar of the rap
ids. 1t was Joseph Avery, the sole sur
vivor of the unfortunate boats crew. 1t
was conjectured that the boat must have
sped down to this point, unharmed by
rocks or rapids, and that, striking here,
Avery was thrown or sprang out, finding
just room enough for perilous foothold,
while the other two, with the boat, were
swept on over the cataract
The alarm quickly spread. 1t is not
difficult to draw crowd at Niagara
for the excitement seekers of the world
are there-and in half an hour the
bridge and adjacent shores were throng-
ed with Mortified yet curious spectators.
With them came some dozens of boat
men, laborers and Others, who compre-
hended at once that there was chance
for rescue, and Immediately began to de-
wise plan. In the meantime the man
had been recognized by some one, and
while the preparations were being made
a large board was rudely lettered with
the words, in German, "We will save
you p and held up so that he could read
it. He tossed his arms up and down
several times, in token that he compre-
hended its meaning and then the crowd
awaited the result of the preparations,
and watched the object of them with al
most breathless interest. 1t was truly
frightlul to see him there amid that
bowling waste, almost in the jaws of the
mighty cataract, and apparently cut off
from all human aid. But as the day
wore on, and the poor fellow became
used to the situation, he seemed to bear
it with much composure. Sometimes,
to change his position, he sat down upon
the rock, and sometimes made gestures
to the crowd, the meaning of which
could not often be understood His face,
seen through a glass. looked eager, al
most beyond the expression of human
faces, but it was hopeful, too.
As noon approached the first attempt
was made for his rescue A large raft
had been constructed Of heavy plank
bound together crosswise, and this wal
to be lowered down from the bridge, with
strong ropes, to the castaway, when it was
thought that he could be drawn up with.
out great difficulty. The venture was a
failure from the start The rapids seized
and whirled it away before the men at the
ropes could check it; the ropes became
en- tangled, the raft was carried far below
the rock. and at last went helplessly ovel
the Falls.
1t was bitter, bitter disappointment
AS well to the sympathizing, expectan
throng as to the imperilled man. But
nothing daunted, the stout hearts ano
ready hands Immediately set about th,
making of another raft, while others wert
= occupied in conveying food and drink t.
poor Avery. This was easily done in til
cases, attached to stout cords, which wer,
: foated down to him. The castaway at,
his solitary meal there upon that inacces
ible point of ROCK with keen relish, ant
and then stood up and bowed his thanks
Again and again the cheering words
:" We 'oiU saue you were exhibited, ant
he was encouraged by other short science
in his native language, which were il
the same way painted in huge letters ant
held up to him.
The after noon slowly wore on-th
long, hot, listless summer afternoon ther
!, at Niagara. usually devoted to idline
: over iced drinks in the shade of the ho
q tel porches or parlors, but now cheerfully
given up to the assistance OF, or sympa
!, thy for, fellow being. There werehun
. dreds in that crowd who, prompted il
/. that spirit of American chivalry which