Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1870-12-15
An Exciting Incident During "A
Freslret in the James River.
From AppIeton's Journal.

- LIE ItCtDG bCIIlDlc IIcSiCjS III IllC OdHlc5
the Shenandoah, and other Virginia rivers
recall to my memory an exciting incident
which | witnessed at Richmond more than
twenty years ago.
1t occurred at 'the falls'-opposite
which the city stands-a point at which the
river, rushing over d bed of rocks more or
less elevated above the surface, forms q
variety of rapid streams, in 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 VIC
lent and dangerous-so dangerous, indeed
that the best swimmers make haste to get
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 in
conceivable brief space the river rose sew
eral feet: and half an hOur afterward, the
whole breadth of the falls was a roaring,
raging, fOamine mass Of waves, dashed
against the jagged rocks, to fall back in
clouds of foam. The spectacle was at once
beautiful and terrible. The citizens had
fastened down to witness the sight-the
banks were lined with crowds, and all eyes
were directed towards Mayo's Bridge
against which the waves we're beating with
ever increasing force-when suddenly in
t~elligenco ran through the crowd that a
boy, who had been swimming, was caught
on Il mass of rock, in indictment, in the
falls above.
With the rest I hurried to the point of
interest. and reached the banks opposite
the rocks upon which the boy had taken
refuge. 1t rose about fifty yards from the
shore, and was already environed by the
raging current which boiled around it,
throwing up clouds of foam. The boy was
about sixteen. slender, entirely naked, for
his clothes had been washed away, and we
could see that lie was white with the anti
cipation of swift-cOming destruction. He
chung to a mass of shrubs growing out of
the rock, aud his eyes were alternately
turned upon the furious torrent around him
and upon the crowd on shore.
Many hundred persons had quickly as
semblcd, and each one hurriedly suggested
some means of rescue. None seemed pos
sible. No boat could live for a moment
in such a torrent-the waves would have
dashed it to pieces against the rocks
The only possible means ofsaving the boys
life seemed to be for some one to swim to
him with a rope but to attempt that APP
peared,t Il be going to certain death, and,
intense as the pity and sympathy of the
crowd had become, no one seemed willing
TO essay the desperate enterprise. Mean
while the water steadily rose higher and
grew ever more threatening. Rocks in
the current, one large one especially. which
a before had been visible just be-
meath the surface, now entirely disappear
ed the roaing waters steadily crawled up
the sides Of the mass upon which the boy
stood, and at last the angry waves washed
his very feet as he clung despairingly to
the swaying shrubs. Afew moments now
all saw plainly, would end the tragedy
The unhappy lad would quickly be washed
away or submerged. In 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. Everyone held his breath
paralyzed By this spectacle of a human be-
ing about to be swept to destruction. All
at once, however, a loud shout arose. Eve
~ one fastened to the spot where a man
was throwing off his 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.
lie was a tall. powerful-formed young
man, of twenty-five or three apparently, an
~, - -.e al - 1,o &c 4ha r,.aoE
manufactures on the river, and his clear,
brave eyes gave no sign of fear. Without
a word he addressed himself to his peril
work. Going up the river bank one
or two hundred yards above, he tied the
end of a ball of Irvine to his body, mount
ed upon a ledge, made a vigorous dive to
the open current, and rising. struck
vigorously amid the huge waves. The
crowd shouted and then held their breath,
gazing at the figure of the swimmer, who
but leaf upon the furious torrent.
He was swept along like lightning, dash
ed over the huge hidden rock that [ have
mentioned, and through the great mass of
foam which marked it; a moment after
ward another shout assembled. like a roar,
from the crowd-the swimmer had reach
the rock whereupon the boy stood. and s.
clutched a hanging shrub, which enabled
to draw himse elf up out of the cal
We could then follow all his movements.
They were rapid, decisive and selfpossess-
ed. Indeed, not an instant was to be lost.
The water boiled already over the summit
the mass of rock, above which only the
shrubs were now seen. The Young
man hastily drew toward him the twine,
TO which those on shore had attached a rope
Of the size of a garden line. The rope at
reached him he clutched it almost I
tied it around the boys waist, and {
then in the same manner, secured it around :
his own person-he in advance-and then,
just as the ''hell of waters foamed up I
around him, surging waist high. he threw $
himself into the current, drawing the boy !
after him toward the shore. where a hun {
bred hands were dragging at the rope. /
That few moments struggle with the {
fury of the food was one of the most ex- /;
citing incidents which | have ever witness ,
ed. The spectacle was indeed fearful.-
The lives of man and boy hung upon a