The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-08-19


be saved. Hope also had revived him.
He stood for sometime upon the log max
ing signals to those who directed the boat.
He now eagerly seized her, drew her
tawards him, jumped into her, and made
signs to them to draw him up. This was
commenced, but some of the tackle had
caught, and it was deemed necessary to let
it loose for an instant. This was done;
the boat fioated few feet down the
rapid, swung round the lower end of the
log, entangling the cable beneath it, and
there remained immovably fixed. Once
more the poor fellows work began. He
drew off one of his boots and bailed the
boat, he pushed at the log, climbed upon
it, and used every possible exertion to move
the boat but in vain !! An hour was spent
in these fruitless efforts an hour of ter
rible suspense to all who beheld him. He
worked we'll, for he worked for his life
Three months after, this boat retained its
position, nor will it move until the rocks
grind its cable in two or the waters tear
it piecemeal into shreds.
Another plan must be devised and this,
with American promptitude, was soon
done. A raft of from twenty to thirty
feet long and five feet broad was knocked
together with amazing rapidity. 1t con-
sisted of two stout poles, made fast, five
feet asunder, by mailing four or five pieces
of two-inch board at each extremity; thus
the machine consisted of sort of skeleton
raft, with a small stage at either end. On
one of these stages-that to which the
cables (of which there were two) were
lashed-was tightly fixed a large empty
cask, for the sake of it's buoyancy, on the
other complete network of cords, to
which the man was to lash himself; also
tin can of refreshments, he having taken
nothing since the evening before; three or
four similar cans, by the way, had been let
down to him already, attached to strong
pieces of new line, but the cords had in
every instance been snapped, and the food
lost.
The raft was finished, launched, and
safely let down to the log. The poor fell
low committed himself to it's care, he dashed
his legs firmly, and then signalled to draw
him up; thus for the second time the ropes
had begun to be drawn up the raft adj
vanced under the first pull, but it's head
owing to the great light cask, dipped
beneath it, and as the raft still advanced,
the water broke over it to such a depth
that the man was obliged to raise himself
upon all fours keeping his chin well ele-
waited, to avoid being drowned. We
expected at every pull to see his head 60
under, but alas! they pulled in vain, for
the front of the raft, pressed down by the
weight of falling water, had come in con-
tact with a rock, and would not advance.
The ropes were slackened. she fell back,
but again hitched in her return. 1t was
then determined to let her swing to another
part of the rapid, where the stream did not
appear quite SO impossible. This was
done, and a second attempt to draw it up
was made, halfway between the log ard
The opposite shore "a small island.) This
also failed from the same cause, therefore
it was proposed to endeavor to let the raft
float down and swing round upon the
island. This was commenced, but with
the old result, the cable was caught in the
rocks and the raft remained stationary
However, she was floating easily, and the
poor fellow could rest.
Early in the day, for the afternoon was
now far advanced, one of the large ferry
boats Quilt expressly for crossing beneath
the falls) had been brought up, but had
lain idle. This was now put into requisi-
ton, and nobly she rode down toward the
raft, whilst in breathless silence we all
watched her as she dipped at the various
falls, and each time recovered herself l
shuddered as she was launched, for began
to see that the man could not be saved by
boat; boat never could return against a
rapid, however well able to float down it.
No sooner would her bow come into con-
tact with fall than it would dip, fill, and
spin round, as did the first skiff which was
lost.
The poor fellow himself was getting
impatient visibly so. He united his lash
ings, stood upright upon the raft, eagerly
waiting to seize the boat, and jump into
her. She had but one more fall to pass,
and that fall was situated just above where
he stood; she paused at the brink of it,
swung down it like lightning, and, as he
leaned forward to seize her, she rose on the
returning wave, struck him in the chest,
and he struggled hopelessly in the over
whelming torrent.
The exclamation of hor. or. for it was
not a cry. which burst from the thousands
who by this time were assembled, l shall
never forget, nor the breathless silence
with which we watched him, fighting with
the waters as they hurried him along
upright, waving both arms above his head
We lost sight of him at intervals, yet
again and again he reappeared, and I
thought hours must have passed in lieu of
one brief half-minute. But the end came
at last; once more saw his arms wildly
waved above his head, and, in an instant,
the crowd turned from the spot in dead
silence. The man was lost
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