Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-11-02

| poles, maze last HVe t6eG aSunder by
mailing four or FIVE pieces of two incl
board at each extremity; thus the ma
chine 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 large
empty cask, for the sake ofits buoy.
ancy, on the other complete network
of cords, to which the man was to lash
himself; alsoa tin can of refreshments
he having taken nothing since the
evening before, three Or four similar
cans, Icy 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. ~ g. H-a
| 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 sig
nailed 10 draw himself up; thus for the
second time had the ropes began to be
drawn up, the raft advanced under the
first pull, but its head, owing to the
great light cask, dipped beneath it, and
as the raft still advanced, the water
broke over it tosuch depth that the
man was Obliged to raise himself upon
all fours, keeping his chin we'll eleva-
ted, to avoid being drowned. We ex-
pected at every pull to see his head go
under; but alasl they pulled in vain,
for the front of the raft, pressed down
by the weight of falling water, had
come in contact with rock, would not
advance. The ropes were slackened,
she went back, but again hitched on
her return. 1t was then determined to
let her swing TO another part of the rap
id, where the stream did not appear so
impossible. This was done, and sec
ond attempt to draw it up was made,
half way, between the log and the op-
posite shore "a small Island.) This
also failed from the same cause, there
fore 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 re-
manned stationary. However, she
was floating easily, and the poor fellow
could rest.
Early in the day, for the afternoon
was now ar 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 silence7we all watche1 her as
she dipped at the various falls, and
each time recovered herself Ishudder-
ed az she was launched, for began to
see that the man could not be saved
by boat; boat never could return
against rapid, how ever well able to
float ttown it. No sooner would her
bow come into contact with a fall than
it wonld dip, fill, and spin around, as
did the first skiff which was lost.
+ The poor fellow himself was getting
mpatient-visibly 90. He united his
la5hing, stood upright upon the raft, 1
eagerly waiting to seize the boat, and
Jump into her. She had but one more
fall to pass, and that was situated just
above where he stood; she paused at
the brink oft, swung down like light
ing, and, as he leaned forward to seize
her, she rose on the returning wave,
struck him in the chest, and he strug-
gied hopeles5ly i'll the overwhelming |
torrent.
The exclamation Of horror, for it was
not cry, which burst from the thous-
ands who by this time were assembled,
1 shall never forget, nor the breathless
silence with which we watched him,
fighing with the waters as they hurried |
him along upright waving both arms
above his mead. We lost sight of him !
at intervals, yet again and again he re-
and thought hours must |
have passed in lieu of one brief half |
minute But the end came at last,
lnce more / saw his arms wildly waved /
above his head, and, in an instant, the
crowd truned from The spot in dead ST.;
Ience. The man was lO5t.-AH the
Year Around. t' i. "h !