The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1869-08-31
a TBHILLI.s-G ENrTDE.N.T -Ir .rIsG-
M.


Ia the very center OF the seetbine
whirling cauldron OF waters known as
the American Rapids, lying eqnidistant
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
eye rests upon it merely as upon q
speck in the midst Of this angry food; +;
with every dash Of the torrent pour
ing down from the plateau above it is
half submerged, and sometimes wholly
hidden from sight At the time Of this
casualty log, three or four feet in
length, had been jammed in or I'M
der this rock, aud protruded from it,
The spot was one that was in the daily
sight Of hundreds, and in the carly
hours Of that memorable summer
morning the first man who had occa-
sion to cross the bridge was startled
and hornfod to see human form
standing erect in the midst of the
raging, swirling flood, on this little
point Of rock, wildly waving bis arms,
He must have shouted, o.. but his
cries were drowned in the uproar Of the
rapids. II was Joseph Avery, the sole
survivor Of the unfortunate boat :
crew. II was conieetured that the boat
must have sped down to this point, nm
harmed by rocks or rapids, and that,
striking here Avery was thrown or
sprang out, finding just room enough
for periloas foothold, while the other
two, with the boat. were swept over
the cataract
The alarm quickly spread 1t is not
difficult to draw crowd in Niagara
for the excitement seekers Of the world
are there and in half an hour the
bridge aud adjacent shores were
thronged with Mortified yet curous
spectators. With them came some
dozens o! boatmen, laborers and 9TH
ers, who eomprehended at once that
there was a chance for rescue, and i'm
mediately began to devise plan. In
tue meantime the man had been rec
oguized by some one, aud whlIo the
preparations were being made large
board was rudely lettered with the
words in German, VIZ WILL Saw
You" and held up so he could read it
He tossed his arms up and down sever
al times, in token that he comprehend
ed It's meaning; and then the crowd
awaited the result OF the preparations
and watched the object Of them with
almost breathiess interest II was tru
~ frlghiiui TO see him there amid the
hoWlng waste, almost Ia the jaws Of the
mighty cataract, aud apparently cut of
from all hunaa aid But as the day
wore on, and the poor fellow became
used 70 the situation, he seemed (
bear it with much composure Some
times. 20 change bis position, he sal
doun upon the rock, and sometimes
made gestures to the crowd, the mean
ing Of which could not often be under
stood. HIS face, seen through a glass
looked oager, almost beyond the expires
sion Of human faces, but Il vas hope
fol. too.
As noon approached the first at
tempt vas made for bis rescue, A
large raft had been constructed o
heavy plank, bound together efosswiso
and this was to be lowered down from
the bridge, with strong ropes, 10 ih,
eaSta~ay when il was thought that b,
could be drawn up with great dificul
IL. Tie venture WAS failure from To,
start The rAp.ds seized and whEiol
il aaay before tie men at the rope
/ could cheek i: the ropes became en-
tangled, the raft was carried far below
I the rock. and at Inst vent over to,
FaliA
Ii was bitter, bitter disapposAi
uent -as vel lg tic sympatAiziug. eK
pcetAlt tlrong AZ 70 the impenlles
man. Bat nothing daunted. tie stou
hearts and ready hands immediAiel,
eel shout Tho making 81 another rah
while others wess oorapied IL convey
ing food 70 poor Avery TITS VS. cas-
ly done in an cases, attached 4
strong ,0rls. wAieh were aoaied dowl