Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-05-18
@iseellaneous.
A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.
BY JOHN EsTEN COOKE.

the Shenandoah, and other Virginia rivers
recall 10 my memory an exciting incident
which witnessed at Richmond more than
twenty years ago.
IL occurred at "the falls'-opposite
which the city stands-a point at which
the river, rushing over a bed of rocks
more or less elevated above the surface,
forms variety OF rapid streams, in which
II 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 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 the 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
| conceivably brief space the river rose
several feet; and half an hour afterward,
the whole breadth of the falls was roar
ing, raging. foaming mass of waves,
dashed against the Jagged rocks, to fall
was at once beautiful and terrible, The
citizens had hastened down to witness the
sight; crowds lined the bank; and all
eyes were directed toward Mayo's Bridge
against which the waves were beating
with ever-increasing force-when sudden
lyintelligence ran through the crowd that a
boy, who had been swimming, was caught
on mass of rock, in mid current, in the
falls above
With the rest / hurried to the point of
interest, and reached the banks opposite
the rock 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 he was white with
the anticipation of swiftly-coming des-
truction. He clung to a small mass of
shrubs growing out of the rock, and his
eyes were alternately turned upon the furi-
Gus torrent around him dupon the crowd
on shore.
Many hundred persons had quickly as
sembled, and each one hurridly suggested
some means of rescue None seemed
possible. No boat could live fora moment
in such torrent-the waves would have
dashed tito pieces against the rocks. The
only possible means of saving the boys
life seemed to be for some one to swim to
him with a rope; but to attempt that APP
peared to 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 moment before had been visible
just beneath the surface, now entirely dis
appeared the roaring 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 chung
desparingly 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. In
either event he would be swept to the
Jagged lodges below, and his trail form
dashed to pieces.
The excitement of the crowd had now
become intense. Every one held his
breath, paralyzed by this spectacle of a
human being about TO be swept to destruc-
ton. All at once however, loud shout
arose. Every one fastened to the spot
where 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. He was tall,
powerfully-tormed young man of twenty
TWO OF three apparently, an employee, it
was said, in one of.the great manufacto-
ries on the river, and his clear, brave eyes
gave no sign of fear. Without word he
addressed himself TO his perilous work.
Going up the bank one or two hundred
yards above, he tied the end of a ball of
twine to his body, mounted upon ledge,
made vigorous dive to reach the open
current, and rising struck out vigorously
amid the huge waves. The crowd shout
ed, and then held their breath, gazing at
the figure of the swimmer, who seemed a
mere leaf upon the furious torrent. He
was swept along ike lightning. dashed
over the hugh hidden rock l have men,
toned, and through the great mass of
foam which marked it; moment after
wards another shout assembled, like roar,
from the crowd-the swimmer had reached
the rock whereon the boy stood, and had
clutched a hanging shrub which enabled
him to draw himself up out of the cald-
ron.
We could then follow all his move
ments.. They were rapid, decisive, and
self-possessed. Indeed, not an instant was
to be lost. The water boiled already over
the summit of the mass of rock, above
which only the bending shrubs were now
seen. The young man hastily drew
toward him the twine to which those on
shore had attached rope of the size of
garden-line. The rope at last reached
him he clutched it almos fiercely, tied it
around the boys waist, then in the same
manner securing it around his own per-
son-he in advance-and then, just as the
"hell of waters foamed up around him,
surging waist-high, he threw himself into
the current, drawing the boy after him
toward the shore, where hundred hands
were dragging at the rope.
That few moments struggle with the
fury of the flood was one of the most ex-
citing incidents which have ever wit
messed. The spectacle was indeed fear
ful. The lives of man and boy hung upon
a thread. A thrill ran through all hearts:
n q ~ L.