Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-08-16
OVER NIAGARA FALLS.
Details offhe Recent Dreadfai .9ccitien

young ladvs little brother. Before re
firing OH Thursday night the young
gentleman asked where he should supply
for marriage license. He was inform
ed that he would have To 90 10 W elland.
the county seat, in ordor to obtain one.
He then made arrangements for horse
and buggy, with which TO ride over on
the morrow.
Before noon he started, accompanied.
by the young GIRL, whose little brother
was left behind. During the absence
of the lovers the landlord at intervals
chatted with the child.
.a , AN ELorEMENr-
'Is that pretty lady your sister 2 ask
cd Mr.. Plummcrtelt. ...I...
"Yes sir" said the boy. ... ..
"Where do YOU live when at homer
AT Toronto
"And where does the young gentle
man live = p. ''''
ale lives in the States. sir: but he
used to live in Toronto. lie lived there
little while. - 30" ''I
And so he anil your sister are going
to be married 2 r,.f
"Ycs sir. ..,....f
This was on Friday, the iih of July.
In the afternoon the lovers returned,
their faces radicnt, ,and went out rowing
in Chippewa creek, which emptics into
the river above the Falls, and were be-
having carclcssly in their boat when art
IN Al ,..l,A pasSin.r
the bridge that spans the creek IL little
distance from lis mouth, was attracted
by the light laughter that came up from
the boat, and paused q few mo'uenIs,
looking steadily in that direction.
Whether the young man at tho oars
was 1T the moment too much engaged
in looking into the pretty face directly
in front OF him on not IL Is Impossible To
say, but the oil gentleman remarked
that he was very unskilliul in the man
agemcnt of the boat.
While the old gentleman was look
ing, the boat, floating with the current,
though little impclied by the oars, pass
ed ont into the Niagara Now, at this
point, less than three miles from the
cataract, it is possible TO row across the
river. Not only is it possible, but, as u
matter of constant occurrence, IT is con
sid,rcd comparatively safe. But IN
| crossing from the American side, leay
ing the pier near tho Erie depot, it IL
necessary To row up the river rs far ~
tho end of Grass Island AMI then To
cross, still pulling diagonally up the
stream and bending to work for dear
life when in the dark looking waters,
pointed out from the shore as the chan
mel of the current. On the other hand,
rowing from the Canada shore you still
pull long way up the stream before
YOU venture to diagonaizc across.
Down below tho mouth of Chippewa
Creek, some twenty rods away, there il
''riyer fence" beyond which tho cur
rent sets with fearful force towerds tho
rapids. The old man watched the boat
moving along in direction diagonally
down the stream and heading for out
side of the ''riyer fence" lIc tottered
back and caught at the railing Of tho
bridge for support, Ills face grew death
" pale, and he trenIblcd like mn aspcn
leaf ~ ,-utl ..Ii 80
AS the water fence was passed and
the current was bearing them along
swiftly specks of froth dotted thcwatcr.
The girl looked from these beyond, aud
caught glimpse of the white foam and
mist thrown now and again high in tho
air along the crest Of tie first rapids.
She uttered cry and pointed in the d'-
rcction of the first line of descent above
Goat Island. Her lover looked over his
shoulder, and an expression OF horror
must have settled upon his face. There
was. doubtless, none OF the bright color
in girls check that made her the a'lmi
ration of the rustics in the village sllo
was leaving behind othy lialf short
hour before. Her frantic lover graspcd
of the oars with frantic haste, aud with
both hands he thought 10 fnri the boat
in the middle of that current running
like mill race. lie looked then, appa
rently, for the other oar-loOked in, tho
bottom of the boat aud on every, sido
franticaIy. lie bad lost the oar in tho
moment Of his first appalling horror
lie had dropped one oar IN the water
and il was carried away in second be
yond sisht and beyond sound. down IN
the depths of the foaning abyss Of the
rapids now yawDing beneath them. The
boat darted down the first crest OF
rocks, the stern swinging about; mo
Inent she was lost TO view, and then
came swinging on, seeming 10 point
toward Cedar Island Then she rose
on the point OF . great foam covered
rock and dartcd down bow foremost, as
thongh stccrc.l by invisible bawls.
From tl,e new tower the poor wrtfcDts
who had gone 70 gaily forth on tho
frail cocklcshell were seen rlipgn.g 10
each other in the bottom Of the boat
Then a cloud Of mist and spray, yeiled
the whole from SIGHT, and for aniDslant
only, iast under the arch Of ile railroad
over the cleft Of the Horse Shoe Falls,
the end Of the boat protnidcd from The
foam and mist; another instant for the
space OF the lightniDg's fash, twoblacl.
fragments Of the breaking boat were
seen, and tTiat was all The waters nil
all else, and have continued TO hide all,
save a few fragments Of tho boat, which
were washed ashore beneath the cataract
neP. S-Later accounts announce tho
finding of,the girls body some thre or
four miles below the Falls, with one of
her le,,s and one OF her arms broken.