Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-03-04

and the log. The life-boat's course was
steady at first; she arrived at the first
fall, she tripped up and swung round
with rush, but continued her course
safely, only half filled with water
Again she descended with safety, but at
length approaching the log she became
unmanageable, swinging either way with
immense force, spinning completely over,
and finally dashing against the log with
such violence, that fully expected the
whole thing, man and all, to have been
dislodged and hurried down the rapid.
But no, it stood frm-the boat had
reached it's destination. Yet, alas how
useless was its position 1t lay COM
pletely ON it's side above the log, and
with its hollow inside directed towards
the bridge, played upon by the whole
force of the current, which fixed its keel
firmly against the log 1t seemed i'm
movable. The man himself climbed
towards it, and in vain tried to pull, lift,
or shake the boat; nor was it moved
until both cables being brought to one
side of the river by the united force of
fifty or sixty men, she was dislodged,
and swung down the rapid upside down,
finally pitching headlong beneath an
eddy, entangling one of her cables on
the rocks, and there lying beneath a
heavy fall of water, until in the course
of the day, one cable being broken by
the efforts of the men to dislodge her,
and the other by the sheer force of the
current she went over the falls-the Sec
ond sacrifice to the poor fellow, who still
clung to the log, swayed between hope
and fear. The loss of this boat seemed
great blow to him, and he appeared, as
far as we could judge at a distance, at
times to give way to the utmost despair
A third boat was now wooden,
very long and fat-bottomed. Its pas
sage was most fortunate, and she foated
down, even alongside of the log without
accident; hope beamed in every coun-
tenance, and we all felt that the man
might be saved. Hope also had revived
him. He stood for some time upon the
log making signals to those who directed
the boat
He now eagerly seized her, drew her
toward 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 instant. This was
done; the boat foated 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 fellows 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 exertior
to move the boat, but in vain An houl
was spent in these fruitless efforts-ar
hour of terrible suspense to all who be
) held him. He worked well, for ht
, worked for his life. Three months aftel
!, this boat retained its position, nor vii
it move until the rocks grind its CABLE
in two, or the waters tear it piecemea
into shreds.
Another plan must be devised, an(
this with American promptitude, wa
soon DONE A raft twenty to thirty fee
long and five feet broad. It consistet
of two stout poles, made fast five fee
asunder, by mailing four or five pieces 0
two-inch boards at each extremity; thu
the machine consisted of skeleton raft
with a small stage at either end. Oh
: one of these stages-that to which tn
:, cables (of which there were two) wer
= lashed-was tightly fixed large empt
: eask, for the sake of its buoyancy, o.
. 9 the other complete network of cords
: to which the man was to lash himself
also tin can of refreshments, he havin
= taken nothing since the evening before
J three or four similar cans, by the way
u u had been let down to him already, at
y tached to strong pieces of new line. bu
: the cords had in every instance bee
> snapped, and the food lost.
y The raft was finished, launched, an
: safely let down to the log The poo
fellow committed himself to its care,
! lashed his legs firmly, and then signalle
< to draw him up; thus for the secon
:; time the ropes had begun to be draw
y up, the raft advanced under the frs
y pull, but its head, owing to the grea
u y light cask, dipped beneath it, and as tn
- raft still advanced, the water broke owe
J J it to such depth that the man was oblie
y ed to raise himself upon all fours, keel
% ing his chin well elevated to avoid bein
! drowned. We expected at every pull I
- see his head go under, but alas! the
y pulled in vain, for the raft, presse
- - down by the weight of the falling watt
: had come in contact with a rock, an
IL would not advance. The ropes wei
= slackened, she fell back, but again hitcl
- ed in her return. 1t was then determil
}, ed to let her swing to another part
70 the rapid, where the stream did not al
pear quite so impossible. This W;
y done, and second attempt was made
y y draw it up, halfway between the le
"' and the opposite shore "a small island
!. This also failed from the same caus
~ ~ therefore it was proposed to endeavor
~ ~ let the raft float down and swing rou1
az az upon the island. This was commence
% . but with the old result. the cable w
~ caught in the rocks, and the raft r
~ ~ manned stationary. However, she W
~ 10 floating easily, and the poor fellow cou
~ rest.
nd Early in the day, for the afternoon W
cb now far advanced, one of the large ferr
,r- boats Quilt expressly for crossing b
,e. meath the falls) had been brought u
ad but had lain idle. This was now p
lie into requisition, and nobly she rode doy
m toward the raft, while in breathless
on lence we all watched her as she dipp
in at the various falls, and each time
fe- covering herself. shuddered as S
ed was launched, for | began to see th
ed the man could not be saved by boa
asst a boat never could return against rap
60 however well able to float down it.