Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-16

A wrestle with Niagara
From All the Year Round.l


yards nearer to the Horseshoe along the brink
OF the rocks, and opposite the American fall
The ground must have been about the same
height As the opposite fall, but owing to the i'm
mense Hill down which the rapids rush, il was
Possible to distinguish any object the size of a
boat considerable distance above the fall, so
that. now IL was pointed out to me, 1 saw in the
middle of the rapids q huge log OF wood, the
trunk of q tree which had lodged there seine
years before, and upon IL black speck.
This, after some observations L perceived to
move. 1t was a man. Yes; he and his two
companions had, on a previous night, been row
ing about some distance above the fall. By
some means or other they had ventured too near
the rapids, and lost all command of their boat,
and had been hurled away to destruction. 1t
was supposed that about half mile above the
fall the boat had upset, and, with two wretched
men still cllngiDg Ia it, went over the fall about
nine or ten O'Clock at night, while the third
man was driven against this log of wood, climbed
upon it and sat astride of it through the dark
ness of the night, amid the roar, the turmoil,
and the dashing spray OF the rapids.
i crossed the river, ascended the rock by the
railway, and hurried TO the spot, where found
him so neaS that could almost distinguish his
countenance. He was then lying along the log
grasping il with both arms. and appeared eS-
hausted to the last degree. He was evidently as
wet fom the spray a though he had been stand
ing under water. BY this time people were
asst milling, and different plans for his rescue
were proposed and discussed on all sides:
already, indeed, one effort had been made. A
small boat had been firmly dashed to a strong
cable, and dropped down to him from the
bridge, which crossed the rapid between the
MAINLAND ana Goat Island, about sixty yards
This boat had proceeded few yards in safety
was upset, spun round like piece OF cork at the
| end OF thread by the force of the water, which
| finally snapped the cable in two, and the boat
| disappeared over the fall.
But now a dispatch had been sent TO Buffalo
Ga distance Of little more than twenty miles) by
| telegraph, desiring that q boat should be
sent by the first train, $50 a. m, and this in
| time arrived, borne on the shoulders of about
twenty men. and a splendid boat she was, large,
built entirely OF sheet-iron, with air tight cham
4 btrs; boat that could not sink. She was grit
/ round with strong ropes, and two new two-inch
| cables brought with her. All this arrangement
naturally took up much time, and the poor
wretch's impotence seemed extreme, so that il
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
III Dutch (his native language), +" the life boat
! II coming" He stood up, looked intently for a
/ minute, and then nodded his head. When the
Loaf was at last launeh he'd the excitement was in
! tense. Two cables, each held by many men, were
/ let down from either end of the bridge, so that
I 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 a cork.
The rapid consists of number of small falls
distributed uneyenly over al parts of the river
so that there are thousands of cross currents
| eddes and whrircols, which 1t would be utterly
impossible to avoid and iii which lies the dan ger
| 81 transit for any boat between the bridge and
first; she arrived at the first fall she trpIed IN
/ and swung round with a rush, but continued
| E1r course safely. only half-flled with water
! Again she descended with safety, but at length
| approaching the log she became nnm .nayeabie
| swinging either way with immense force spin,
ming completely over, and finally dashing yainst
| the log with such violence that fully expected
/ the hole thing, man and all, TO have been dis
| LOGGED and hurried down the rapid. But, no. it
stood hTm-the boat had re ached its destin alton
| lct, alas bow useless was his position liz Law
- Ga h.1-- he
! its hollow inside directed toward the bridge
played upon by the whole force of the currert =
which fixed its keel firmly against the log. Ii
| sec med immOvab!e- The man himself climbed
I toward II, and in vain tried to pull, lift or
shake the boat; nor was il moved until both
cables being brought To one side Of the river by
the united force OF fifty or sixty men, she was
disiodged, and swung down the rapid upside
down, finally pitching hcad,Ong beneath an
eddy entanglins one of her cables on the rocks
J anu there lying beneath a heavy fall of water
until, in the course OF the day, one cable heinz
| lroktn by the efforts of the men to disodpe her
| and the other by the sheer force OF the carrent
she went over the fals-the second sacrifice TO
| The POOR fellow, who still chung TO the log
| swayed between hope and fear. The loss OF this
/ beat seemed q great blow to him, aud he ap-
| peaTed, a. Tar as We could judi, at "a distance
| az times to give way TO the utmost despair. a
| third boat was now brought-wOoden very
| long, and hat-bottomed Its passage was most
| fortunate, and she foated down. even alon gsiia
| OF the log. without accident hope beamed in
| every countenance, and we felt that the man
might lie saved. Hope also had revived him.
tie stood i Tor some time upon the log. making
He now eagerly seized her, drew her toward
| him, jumped into her, and made signs to them
10 draw him up. This was commenced, but
| some of the tackle had caught a. nd it was deemed
necessary to let it loose for an instant This was
/ done; the boat hoated a few feet down the rapid,
swung round the lower end Of the log. entahgiing
the cable beneath il, AM there remained i1nmo-
vably fixed. Once more the poor fellows work
/ began. He drew off one OF his boots and baiIed
the boat; he pushed at the log. climbed upon it,
and used every possible exertion to move the
boat; but in vain. An hour was spent in these
frnitless eforts-an hour of terrible suspense To
/ all who beheld him. He worked well, for he
worked for his life Three months after this
boat retained its position, nor will it move until
| the rocks grind its cable in two or the waters
! an it piecemeal into shreds.
t Another plan must be devised, and this
I with American promptitude, was soon DONE A
rait twenty or thirty feet long and five feet
bread was knocked together with amazing
ffapdaly. ~ consisted OF two stout poles, made
pieces of two-inch board at each extremity: thus
the machine consisted OF a skeleton raft, with a
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 cask, for the sake OF its buoyancey on
me other complete network of cords, to 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 nv
the way, had been let down to him already
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 fellow committed
Ia msef to its care, he dashed his legs firmly and
then signaled to draw him up; thus Tor the second
me TIE ropes had begun to be drawn up, and
| TIE raft advanced under the first pull but its
! head, owing TO the great light cask, dipped be-
| he alh 1T, and as the raft still advanced the
water broke over IT to such a depth that the man
vas obliged 10 raise himself upon all tours. keen
| ing bis chin well elevated to avoid being drown
ed. We expected at every pull to see his head 20
under, but, alas they pulled in vain for the front
OF the raft pressed down by the weight OF the fall
| ing water, had come in contact with a rock, and
W vi not advance. The ropes were slackened
| she fell back, but again hitched in her return
| IL Was then determined to let her swing to an
| other part OF the rapid, where the stream did
not appear quite 70 impossible. This was dome
4 and second attempt to draw it up was made
halfway between the log and the opposite shore
I "a small island.) This also failed from the sam
Cause therefore II was proposed to let the raft
feat down and swing round upon the island.
~ his was commenced, but with the old result.
| the cable was caught in the rocks and the raft
T, NAMED stationery. However, she was float
| ing easily, and the poor fellow could rest
! airy IN the day, for the forenoon was nou