Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-08-24
which the man was to lash himself: also a

which the man was to lash himself; 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 cords had in
every instance been snapped, and the food
lost.
The raft was finished, launched, and
safely let down to the log. The poor fell
low committed himself to It's care, he
dashed his legs firmly, and then signal ID
to draw him up; thus for the second time
the ropes had begun to be drawn up, the
rait 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 to such depth
that the man was obliged to raise himself
upon all tours, keeping his chin well
elevated, to avoid being drowned. We
expected at every pull to see his head 90
under, but alas they pulled in vain, for
the front of the raft, pressed down by the
weight of falling water, had come in con-
tact with rock, and would not advance
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 50 impossible.
This was done, and second attempt to
draw it up was made, halfway between
the log and the opposite shore Ia small is
land) 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 com
menced, but with the old result, the cable
was caught in the rocks, and the raft re-
NAMED stationary. However, she was
floating easily, 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 requisi.
ton, and nobly she rode down toward the
raft, whilst in breathless silence we all
watched her as she dipped at the various
falls and each time recovered herself l
shuidered as she was launched, for began
to see that the man could not be saved by
boat; boat never could return against
rapid, however well able to float down
it. No sooner would her bow come into
contact with fall than it would ding fill
and spin round, as did the first skif which
was lost.
The poor fellow himself was getting i'm
patient-visibly so. He united his lash
ings, stood upright upon the raft, eagerly
waiting to seize the boat, and jump into
her. She had but one more fail 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
chest, and he struggled hopelessly in the
overwhelming torrent
The exclamation of horror, for it was not
a 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,
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
his head, and, i'll an instant, the crowd
turned from the spot in dead silence. The
man was lost.-AU the Year Round.