Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-11-30
A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.
BY JOHN EsTEN COOK.

The recent terrible freshet in the
James, the Shenandoah, and other Vir-
ginia rivers, recall to my memory an ex.
citing incident which witnessed at Rich
mond more than twenty years ago.
1t occurred at "the falls"-opposite
which the city stands-a point at which
the river, rushing over bed of rocks
more or less elevated above the surface,
forms variety Of rapid streams, 10
which it was at that time the habit OF
BOYS to swim. When the river is low,
these streams are comparatively safe to
the bather, if he is a good swimmer
but when the current is swollen by rains
they become very violent and dangerous,
indeed that the best swimmers make
haste to &c! TO shore.
At the time mentioned was bathing
in the falls, when the sudden rising OF
the stream warned me of the coming
danger, and hurried from the water
In an inconceiveably brief space the riv-
err rose several feet; and, half an hour
afterward, the whole breadth of the falls
was roaring, raging, foaming mass of
waves, dashed against the jagged rocks.
To fall back in clouds of foam. The spec
tacle was ut once beautiful and terrible.
The citizens had FASTENED down to wit.
ness the sight; crowds lined the bank ;
and all eyes were directed toward Mayo's
Bridge, against which the waves were
beating with ever-iucreasing force-when
suddenly intelligence rsn through the
crowd thai a boy, who had been swim
ming, was caught on mass of rock. in
mid current, in the falls above.
With the rest | hurried to the point Of
interest, and reached tue banks opposite
the rock upon which the boy had taken
refuge. Ii rose about fifty yards from
shore, and was already environed by the
raging current which boiled around il,
throwing up clouds of foam. The boy
was about sixteen, slender, entirely naked,
for his clothes had been washed away !;
and we could ste that he was white with
the anticipation of swiftly coming des
truction. He chung to small mass of
shrubs growing out of the rock, and his
eyes were alternately turned upon the
furious torrent around him and upon the
crowd on shore.
Many hundred persons had quickly as
,embled, and each one hurriedly sugges-
ted some means Of rescue. None seemed
possible. No boat could live for mo
ment in such q torrent-the waves would
have dashed it TO pieces against the
rocks. The only possible means of So.
wing the boys life seemed to be for some
one TO swim to him with a rope, but TO
attempt that appeared to be going to
certain death; and, intense rs the pity
aud sympathy of the crowd had become
no one seemed willing to essay the des
perate enterprise. Meanwhile the water
steadily rose higher. and grew ever more
threatening. Rocks in the current--one
large one especial'y-whIch a moment
before had been visible just beneath the
surface now. entirely disappeared; the
roaring waters still crawled up the side Of
the mass upon which the boy stood ; and
at last the angry waves washed his very
feet, as he chung despairingly to the
swaying shrubs. A few moments now,
all saw plainly, would end the tragedy.
The unhappy lad would quickly be
washed away or submerged. 10 either
event he would be swept to the jagged
lodges below, and his frail form dashed
to pieces.
The excitement of the crowd had now
become intense. Every one held bis
breath ,paralyzed By its spectacle Of hu
man being about to be swept to destruc
ton. All at once. however, a loud shout
arose. Every one hastened to the spot
where n man was throwing off bis
clothes. A brave spirit had resolved to
attempt the rescue of the boy; and
hurried with the rest to look at him. =
As reached him he had stripped naked
for The desperate wrestle. He was tai
powerfully formed young man of twenty
two or three apparently, an emplose, il
was said in one Of the great mauufacto
ries on the river, and his clear, brave
eyes gave no sign of fear. Without 6
word he addressed himself to bis peri
lous work. Going up the river bank
one or two hundred yards above, he tied
the end of hall of Irvine to his body
mounted upon ledge, made a vigor
GUS dive to reach the open current. anC
rising struck out vigorously amid thu
huge waves. The crowd shouted, anC
then held their breath. gain at the fig
ure Of the swimu.er, who seemed mere
leaf upon the furious torrent. He wa
swept along like lightning, dashed owe
the huge hidden rock | have mentioned
and through the great mass OF foam
which marked it; moment aftersar'
another shout assembled. like roar, from
the crowd-the swimmer bad ache'
the rock. wheseon the boy stood, ant
bad clntched hanging shrub which en-
abIed him to draw himself up out of TIA
caldron.
W. .1,,iJ ~ -, coliNu Ill h;o taovn