The New York herald., 1873-07-09
DRAWN TO DESTRUCTION.
An ElOpement on Land and Death
on the Water.
OVER THE SWIFT NIAGARA.
The Full Story Of tho Early Comedy and Late
Tragedy o. the Nagara's Taking 0f-In
tho Swift Current and Under
the Awful Cataract

| NIAGARA FALLS July T. 1873
] Since the day before yesterday the principal SUBJ
ject OF conversation In the country for hundred
miles about has been the fearful descent of the
rowing party, swept over the cataract ON the even
| Ing OF the Attn inst
| Every species OF exaggerated rumor has been
given wings and impromptu correspondents have
| hourly rushed from the hotels to the telegraph
Office to send their little series OF contradictory
dispatches TO the papers OF Toronto, Buffalo and
Rochester Every person one met on either side
OF the river, from the "oldest inhabitantn to the
'latest arrvap' was the sole possessor OF reliable
in ormation concerning the personnel Of the VIC
tins and the incidents OF the disaster.
Yesterday went to Chippewa. whence the un-
fortunate voyagers set sail and there learned all
that may be known to-day OF their sad story.
THE TOWN OF CHIPPEWA.
II you follow the river up from Clifton ON the
Canada shore, for distance OF three miles, walk
ing sometimes ankle deep in water, sometimes
leaping from hill0ck to hillock over q spongy
| mOrass and finally climbing up q long, curved
ascent, deeply shaded, to the open, hot,
dusty road across the country you will uit-
mately arrive at Chippewa. A poor struggling
hamlet, consisting OF lew deserted brick build
| ings three sides Of little open place; a fac
tory, or mill, the machinery OF which stopp ed long
| ago, and which presents q broken roof and un-
| glazed window frames to the elements and, per-
! haps, two dozen detached wooden structures Of
different sizes and IN various stages OF decay. In
| fact, the usual Canadian town, where the build
tngs when the slow process of construction ceases
| begin rapid dilapidat0n where moss grows
the roof and doorstep Of the house completed yes
terday; where there is no nerve or ue1-Ue in any
| thing; where transplanted energy dies and where
! everything seems stillbOrn.
| 'THE ROYAL BRITISH -AMERICAN''
Hotel Is OF these sad looking structures, long
and low and dirty white In color and broken down
about the caves, with Q sort Of ap0logetic angle
and q general expression OF selfabasement 1t
was to this hotel that on the evening OF Thursday
last little company came to play merry comedy.
little after five O'Clock on that evening the land
lord, Mr.. william Piummerfelt, standing In the
doorway Of his inn, observed group Of persons
chatting gaily, approaching from the river road.
They were three. The first young gentleman Of
about twenty-five years Of age beardless and with
an open. boyish face. carried heavy valise. BY
his side was very pretty young GIRL OF apparently
eighteen, fashonably dressed and attended by
little fellow OF ten or dozen years who brought up
the rear,
landlord smngly ming T The latter @ bowed wee potsy ana @
stepping back threw open the door Of the little
on ns left Of as ns as you
for the young lady and the little fellow. the ladys
brother and they all wanted su nice supper. Then
and was directed to little shop. near
Kept q his wssdaa lever
in nne gold case-repaired, and before
he came away, bought set OF Jewelry, consisting
he had LETT at the inn The jeweler took the number
OF the watch to be repaired and asked the Lame OF
| his patron. The young man answered that
HIS NAME WAS MCCORMICK,
and afterwards In conversation stated that he had
Returning to the hotel the young man soon pre-
sened himself before the proprietor, with the girl
on his arm and the little fellow at his SIC, side. Ian. and
Mr.. Plummerelt at once explained the danger OF
attempting the passage Of the river and teld them
condition OF a promise that they would connne
themselves to the waters OF
THE CHIPPEWA CREEK,
deep but sluggish stream, which here empties
into the Niagara They all promised readily and
less than hall mile above the vlilage-they were
seen "rocking'' the boat alter most reckless
near the shore saw that In their excitement they
did not notice that the boat was rapidly filing and
sink. SINK He 'i irowed out to them. showed them their
danger and assisted to bail out their boat.
they returned to sn.aon the hote Ees delighted,
roll o. crisp new bank notes, wrapped up in piece
q newspsps1 ron the nip SF pps,11 pocket Of
amount something in excess OF what he owed, say
ing, carelessy, "We shall stay several days. When
saw the then IN this
tleman. and one note was noticed as OF the denom-
ination Of 800. The entire amount has been vari-
ously estimated at from $500 to $500.
THE MARRIAGE LICENSE.
sentieman % | asked where he should apply for mar.
riage license. He was informed that he would
20 e fns mSs
horse aud buggy, with which to ride over on the
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.
AN RLoPEMENT.
'Ts that pretty lady your sister," asked Mr..
eyes SIR" said the boy
where do you 1--we when at homer
"And where does the young gentleman liveS'
'He lives In the states sir but ne used to live
in Toronto. He lived there a little while."
'.And so he and your sister going to be mar
ried"
noon the lovers returned their faces radiant.
'.Can you give US cold lunch, landlord and
''fhe horse viii be SO, sir,n and Mr.. Piummerfeis
brought out lunch OF cold meat, bread, cheese,
The three sat down. They ate but little meat,
but drank freely OF the milk, and left the ale un
touched. After the lunch
THEY ALL WHISPERED TOGETHER
and laughed merry. and soon after they left the
hotel and walked down % 70 The creek, ssv nas.., nm,
from under the shadow OF the inn, with It's caves,
humble S's Cloud eee dsains !. es
a. ss 4 unSsi sas aa9s n canopy when they cetainsa
pleased ana under no restricting promise 20 the
landlord tney turned IT, PROV down the stream,
iighted up the waters and threw glory about the
fair lr IN the stern OF the boat and daxed the eyes
passing Toy Sser the bridge ,Sa, spans sns Sees
httle distance i-om its me-ss attracted
yo the q. sss ' ana sasa,s ass..a sa sm,0s
looking steadily IN that direcuon. Whether the