The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-08-19

y
towards 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 iastant
This was done; the boat floated a 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
fellow 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 III VAIN Az hour was
spent III these fruitleSs eiforts-an hour
OF terrible suspense to all who beheld
him. He worked well, for he worked
Tor his life. Three months after, this
boat retained It's position, nor vii it
move until the rocks grind It's 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 rapid
ty. 1t consisted 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 CON
sisted of a sort of skeleton raft, with a
small stage at either end. On one of
these stages-that to which the cables
Got which there We're two) were dashed
was tightly fixed a large empty cask,
Tor the sake of It's buoyancy, on the
other complete network Of cords. to
which the,man was to lash himself; also
a tin can Of refreshments, he having
taken nothing since tue evening before:
three OF four similar cans, by the way.
had been let down to him already, at
tached 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 10 the log. The poor
fellow committei himself to it's care.
He dashed his legs firmly, and then sig
nailed to draw lim up; thus for the
second time the ropes had begun to be
drawn up, the raft advanced under the
first pull, but its mead, owing to the
great light cask, dipped beneath it,
and, as the raft still advanced, the wa
ter broke over it to such Il depth that
the man was obliged to raise himself
upon all fours, keeping his chin well
elevated to avoid being drowned We
expected at every pull TO see his head
go under, but, alas they pulled III
vain, for the front Of the raft, pressed
down by the weight of falling water,
had come III contact with rock, and
would not advance. The ropes
were siaekened, she fell back, but again
hitched III her return It was then de
termlned 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 1T mp was made, half way be
/ tween the log and the opposite shore
Ca small islandD. This also failed from
the same cause, therefore it was pro-
posed 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 caughtin the rocks,
and the raft remained stationary How
ever, she was floating easily, and the
poor fellow could rest
Early in the day, for the afternoon
was far advanced, one of the large ferry
boats Quilt expressly for crossing be
meath the falls( had been brought up,
but had lain idle. This was now put
into requisltiOn, and nobly she rode
down towards the raft, whilst IN breath
less silence we all watched her as she
dipped at the various falls, and each
time recovered herself | shuddered
as she was launched, for began to see
that the man could not be saved bv a
boat; a boat never could return against
a rapid, however we'll able to float down
it. No sooner would her bow come in
contact with a fall than it would dip,
fill, and spin round, as did the first
skill which was lost.
The poor fellow himself was getting
mpatient--visibly SO. He united his
lashings, 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 on the chest, and he
struggled hopelessly III the overwhelm
ing torrent.
The exclamation of horror, for it was
not a cry, which burst from the thous-
ands who by this time We're assembled.
| shall never forget, nor the breathless
silence with which we watched him,
lighting with the waters as they hur
RED him along upright, waving both
arms above his head. We lost sight of
him, at intervals, yet again and again
he reappeared, and | 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 MS head, and in an instant, the
crowd turned from the spot IN dead
silence. The man was lost.
Origin of Financial AbDreyiations.