Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-05-09
A Struggle for Life.
By JOHN EsTEN COOKE.


which witnessed in Richmond more than
twenty years ago.
1t occurred at 'the falls"-opposite which
the city stands-a point at which the river,
rushing over u bed of rocks more or less eIe-
vated above the surface, forms a variety of
rapid streams, in which it 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 4 good swimmer; but,
when the current is swollen by rains, they
become very violent and dangerous-so dan
gerous, indeed, that the best swimmers make
haste TO get to shore.
At the time mentioned I was bathing in
the falls, when the sudden rising of the stream
warned me of the coming danger, and 1
hurried from the water. ln an inconceivably
brief space the river rose several feet; and,
half an hour afterward, the whole breadth of
the falls was n roaring, raging, fOaming mass
OF waves, dashed against the ged rocks, to
fall back in clouds of loan. The spectacle
was at once beautiful aud terrible, The citi>
zens had hastened down to witness the sight;
crowds liued the banks and all eyes were
directed toward MayO's Bridge, against which
the waves were beating with ever-increasing
force when suddenly intelligence ran through
the crowd that \ boy, who had been swim
ming, was caught Ou n mass Of rock, in mid.
With the rest l hurried to the point of
interest, aud reached the banks opposite the
rock upon which the boy had taken refuge.
1t rose about fifty yards from the shore. and
was already euvIrUned by the raging current
which boiled around it, throwing up clouds of
tOam. The boy was about sixteen, slender,
entirely naked, Tor his clothes had been washed
away aud we could that he was white
with the anticipation Of swiftly coming de-
structiOn. lie clung to a small mass Of shrubs
growing out al the rock, aud his eyes were
alternately turned upon the furious torrent
around HIM and upon the crowd on shore.
Many hundred persons had quickly as
sembled. aud each one hurriedly suggested
some means Of rescue. None seemed pos
sibIe. No boat could live Tor n moment in
such a tOrrent-the waves would have dashed
it to pieces against the rocks. The only pos.
slble means of saving the boys life seemed to
be for some one To swim to him with a rope
but to attempt that appeared 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 enter
prise. Meanwhile the water steadily rose
higher, and grew ever more threateDing.-
Rocks III the current-One large one especial.
(which n moment before had been visible
just beneath the surface, now entirely disap-
pcared; the roaring waves steadily crawled up
the sides of the mass upon which the boy
stood aud at last the angry waves washed his
very feet, as he cIung dcsparingly to the
swayinS shrubs. \ few moments now. all saw
plainly. would end the tragedy. The un-
happy lad would be quickly washed away or
submerged. In either event he would be
swept to the jagged lodges below, and his
fraIl form dashed to pieces.
The excitement of the crowd had now be-
come intense. Every one held his breath,
ParalS zed by this spectacle of a human being
about to be swept to destruction. All at once,
however, n loud shout arose. Every one
fastened to the spot where man was throw
ing off his clothes. \ brave spirit had re.
solved to attempt the rescue of the boy and
| hurried with the rest to look at him AsI
reached him he had stripped tor the desperate
wrestIe. lie was tall, powerfully formed
young man of twenty two or three apparently,
an employee, it was said, in one of the great
manufactures on the river, aud his clear,
brave eyes gave 10 sign Of fear. Without a
word he addressed himself to his periIOus
work. Going up the river-bank one or two
hundred yards above, he tied the end of ball
of twiDe to his body, mounted upon a ledge
made vigorous dive to reach the open cur,
rent, aud rising struck out vigorously amid
the hugh waves. The crowd shouted, and
then held their breath, gazing at the figure Of
the swimmer, who seemed n mere leaf upon
the furious torrent. He was swept along like
lightning, dashed over the huge hidden rock
have mentioned, and through the great mass
of foam which marked it; a moment afrer-
ward another shout asceuded like a roar. from
the crowd the swimmer had reached the
rock whereon the boy stood, aud had clutched
n hanging shrub whi;h enabled him to draw
himself up out of the cauldrOn.
We could then follow all his movements
They were rapid, decisive, aud self possessed.
Indeed, not an instant was TO be lost. The
wafer boiled already over the summit of the
moss of rock, above which only the bending
shrubs were now seen. The young man hastily
drew toward him the twne, TO which those on
shore had attached 4 rope of the size of
garden-line. The rope at last reached him;
he clutched it almost ferceIy, tied it around
the boys waist, then in the same manner se-
cured it around his persOn-he in advance
aud then. Just as the hell OF waters" loaned
up around him, he threw himself into the cur
rent, d awIng the boy after him toward the
shore, where 4 hundred hands were dragging
At the rope
That lew moments struggle with the fury
Of the food was one Of the most exciting in
cidenis which have ever witnessed. The
spectacle was indeed fearful. The lives of
man aud boy hung upon thread. 4 thrill
ran through all hearts; loud exclamation
followed. The'boy had disappeared beneath
the waves--the rope pulling him under-and
then a huge. laundering. remorseless wall of
foam rushed over the head OF the young man
too; he sank, the torrants swept over him.
and not a trace of either man or boy was visi-
BILE to the agOuized eyes OF the lookers-on.
A moment airerWard what seemed two
g
rent. a dozen hands caught them, and
! Laahla Innrnnnnt nE thn --.r,.... .....-,- -