Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-08-16

very long, and fiat -bottomed It's pas
sage WAS most fortunate, and as she
foated down, even alongside Of the log
without accident, hope beamed in every
countenance, and we all felt the man
might be saved Hope also had re-
vived in him. He stood for some time
upon the log making signals to those
who directed the boat.
He now eagerly seized her, drew her
towards him, jumped into her, and
made signs to them to draw him up
This was commenced, but some of the
tackle had caught, and it was deemed
necessary to let it loose for an iastant
This was done; the boat foated a few
feet down the rapid, swung round the
lower end of the log, entangling the
cable beneath it, and there remained
immOvably fixed Once more the poor
fellow work began. He drew off one
OF his boots, and bailed 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 fruitless eftorts-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 tear it piecemeal into
shreds.
Another plan must be devised, and
this, with American prOmptltude, was
soon done 4 raft OF from twenty to
thirty feet long and five feet broad was
knocked together with amazing rapid
ty, It consisted of two stout poles,
made fast, five feet asunder, by mailing
four or five pieces of two-inch board at
each extremity; thus the machine con-
sisted 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,
Tor the sake of its buoyancy, on the
other a 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, by the way,
had been let down to him already, at
tached 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
fellow committed himself to It's care.
He lashed his legs firmly, and then sig
nailed 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 light cask, dipped beneath ii,
and, as the raft still advanced, the wa
ter broke over it to such depth that
the man was obliged to raise himself
upon 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 rock, and
would not advance The ropes
were slackened, she fell back, but again
hitched in her return. It was then de-
termined to let her swing to another
part of the rapid, where the stream
did not appear quite so impossible.
/ This was done, and second attempt
to draw 1t up was made, half way be
tween the log and the opposite shore
Ca small island). This also failed from
the same cause, therefore it was pro-
posed 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 caughtin the rocks,
and the raft remained stationary. How
ever, she was floating easily, and the
poor fellow could rest.
Early in the day, for the afternoon
was far advanced, one of the large ferry
boats Quilt expressly for crossing be-
meath the falls) had been brought up,
but had lain idle. This was now put
into requisition, and nobly she rode
down towards the raft, whilst In breath
less silence 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 a
boat boat never could return against
Q rapid, however we'll able to float down
il. No sooner V Id her bow come in
contact with than it would dip,
fill, and spin round, as did the first
skiff which was lost.
The poor fellow himself was getting
apatient-visibly 50. 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 on the chest, and he
struggled hopelessly in the overwhelm-
ing torrent.
The exclamation of horror, for it was
not cry, which burst from the thOus
ands who by this time were assembled.
[ shall never forget, nor the breathless
silence with which we watched him,
fighting with the waters as they hur
ried 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 in an instant, the
crowd turned from the spot III dead
silence. The man was lost.