Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-24

AN ADVENTURE AT NIAGARA.

AN ADVENTURE AT NlAGAkA.
/ was standing about thirty or forty
yards in advance of the Clinton, that is,
thirty or forty yards nearer to the Horse
shoe along the brink of the rocks, and OPP
posite the American fall. The ground
must have been about the same height as
the opposite fall, but owing to the immense
hill down which the rapids rush, it was
impossible to distinguish any object of the
size OF boat considerable distance
above the fall, SO that, now it was pointed
out to me, saw in the middle of the
rapid, huge log of wood, the trunk of a
tree, which had lodged there some years
before, and upon it black speck. This,
after some observation, / perceived to
move. 1t was a man. Yes; he and his
two companions had, on the previous
night. been rowing about, some distance
above the fall. By some means or other
they had ventured too near the rapids, had
lost all command of their boat, and had
been hurried away to destruction. 1t was
supposed that about half mile above the
fall the boat had upset, and, with two
wretchcd men still clinging to it, went
over the fall at about nine or ten O'Clock
at night, while the third man was driven
against the log of wood, climbed upon it,
and sa. astride of it through the darkness
of the night, amid the roar, the turmoil,
and the dashing spray of the rapids. l
crossed the river, ascended the rock by
| the railway. and hurried to the spot, where
/ found him SO near that l could almost
distinguish his countenance. He was there
lying along the log, grasping it with both
arms, and appeared exhausted to the last
Ill
the spray, as though he had been standing
under water. BY this time people were
| assembling, and different plans for the
rescue, were proposed and discussed On
all sides; already, indeed, one effort had
lashed to a strong cable, and dropped
down to him from the bridge, which
crossed the rapid between the mainland
and Goat Island, about sixty yards above
the log. This boat had proceeded a few
yards in safety, was upset, spun round like
piece of cork at the end of a thread by
| the force of the water, which finally
| snapped the cable in two, and the boat
disappeared over the fall. But now
| dispatch had been sent to Buffalo, Ca dis
| tance of little more than twenty miles,
by electric telegraph, desiring that life
boat should be sent by the first train, $50
A. NJ, and this in time arrived, borne on
the shoulders of about twenty men, and
splendid boat she was, large, built entire
ly of sheet-iron, with air-tight chambers
boat that could not sink She was girt
| round with stout ropes, and two new two
inch-cables brought with her. All this ar
rangement naturally took up much time,
and the poor wretch's impatience seemed
extreme, so that it was thought advisable
to let him know what was going on.
This was done by means of a sheet, upon
which was written in large letters in Dutch
(his native language), The life-boat is
coming" He stood up, looked intently
for minute, and then nodded his head.
When the boat was at last launched the
excitement was intense. Two cables,
each held by many men, were let down
from either end Of the bridge, so that they
might have some command in directing
| the course of the boat down the river.
She seemed literally to dance upon the
surface of the water like cork.
The rapid consists of number of small
falls distributed unevenly over all parts of
the river, so that there are thousands of
cross currents, eddies, and whirlpools,
which it would be utterly impossible to
avoid, and in which lies the danger of
transit for any boat between the bridge
and the log. The life-bOat's course was
steady at first; she arrived at the first, she
tripped up and swung round with rush,
but continued her course safely, only half
filled with water. Again she descended
with safety, but at length approaching the
| log she became unmanageable, swinging
either way with immense force, spinning
completely over, and finally dashing
againt the log with such violence that l
fully expected the whole thing. man and
all, to have been dislodged and hurried
down the rapid. But no, it stood firm
the boat had reached it's destination. Yet
alas +! how useless was its position. 1t lay
completely ON its side above the log, and
| with its hollow inside directed toward the
bridge, played upon by the whole force of
the current, which fixed its keel firmly
against the log 1t seemed immovable.
The man himselftclimbed toward it,and in
vain tried to pull, lift, or shake the boat !;
nor was it moved until both cables being
brought to one side of the river by the
united force OF fifty or sixty men, she was
dislodged, and swung down the rapid up
| side down, finally pitching headlong be-
meath the eddy. entangling one of her
| cables on the rocks, and there lying be-
meath heavy fall OF water, until III the
course of the day, one cable being broken
| by the efforts of the men to dislodge her
| and and then by sheer force of the current
she went over the falls--the second sacri-
| fee to the poor fellow, who still clung to
the log, swayed between hope and fear.
The loss of this boat seemed great blow
| to him, and he appeared as far as we could
Judge at a distance. at times to give way
to the utmost despair. A third boat was
now hrought-wooden, very long, and fiat
and as she foated down, even alongside
of the log without accident. hope beamed
in every countenance, and we all felt the
man might be saved. Hope also had re-
vived in him. He stood for some time up
on the log making signals to those who
directed the boat. He now eagerly seized
| her. drew her towards him iumned into