Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-24
NO. 2o9.

ton to move the boat, but lin vain! An
hour was spent in these fruitless efforts.
An hour of terrible suspense to all who
beheld him. He worked well for he work
ed for his life. Three months after, this
boat retained its position, nor will it move
until the rocks grind its cables in two, or
the water tears 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 consisted of two stout poles, made fast,
five feet asunder, by mailing four or five
pieces of two-inch board at each ex-
tremity; thus the machine consisted of a
sort of skeleton raft, with 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 eask, for the sake Of its buoy
ancy. on the other complete network of
cords, to which the man was to lash HIM
self; also a 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 cord had in every instance snapped,
and the food lost. The raft was finished,
launched, and safely let down to the log
The poor fellow committed himself to its
care, he lashed 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 advanced under the
first pull. but its head, owing to the great
cask, dipped beneath it, and as the rait
still advanced, the water broke over it
to such depth that the man was obliged to
raise himself on 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 in vain,
for the front of the raft, pressed down by
the weight Of falling water, had come in
contact with a rock, and would not ad-
vance. 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 impassable.
This was done. and a second attempt to
draw it up was made, half way between
the log and the opposite shore "a small
island. This also failed from the same
cause, therefore it was proposed to en-
deavor to let the raft float down and
swing round upon the island. This was
commenced, but with the old result, the
cable caught in the rocks, and the raft re-
manned stationary. However. she was
floating easy, 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
requisition, and nobly she rode down
toward the raft, while in breathless ST.
lence 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 by boat; a boat never could
return against such a rapid, however well
able to float down it. No sooner would
her bow come in contact with fall than
il would dip. fill, and spin round as did
the first skiff that was lost. The poor
fellow himself was getting impatient
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 in the
cnest, ana he struggled hopeiessiy In the
overwhelming torrent. The exclamation
of horror, for it was not cry, which
burst from the thousands who by this time
were assembled, shall never forget,
nor the breathless silence with which
we watched him fighting with the waters
as they hurried him along upright, wav-
ing both arms above his head. We lost
sight of him at intervals. yet again and
again he appeared, and thought hours
must have passed in lien 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.-AH the Year Round.