, 1874-06-06
THE HERO OF NIAGARA.
Thomas Conray, Erof. Tyndnli,s
Guilc-hlis 1koAcuo Of SVillin1n 1lc-
Cull0llrtl,

Guitlc-nais 1to.cuo Of yyillia.1n 11c-
Cull0nEh.
From, ths 9pGato Commercial Adrtrttaer, .J,.ne2.
Many OF our raaderB will recolieot tho promi-
Prof. 9yndall, .aftor His return homo. IN do
Hcribing his explorations bohinl tho falling WI
ters. That this guides Aoroic deed was not
ovorrated NO hnvo ample evidence from hiH
courage exhibited yesterday In roBoulnF William
WeCullough from watery graso...
About 11:ao a. M. yesterday the citizens Of
Niagara woro shocked by the report TINT paint
Or working On tho bridge lending to the socond
sa!or Island had tallon tnte TIC rapids below
was aoon on the spot, md found tho facta aome.
what exaggerated. It aoenos that tho painter,
who Is eomo GO ,yearB OF ago. was engaged III
painting. tho bridges apanning tho ohasnns be-
tween tho throo inlandB known ns tho Sister
Islands. In descending q short ladder to nar-
row Boaifold beside the bridge, lie accidentally
stepped to one Hido Of tho plankH, and fell 10
tho river below, only distance Of few foot.
In an inatant 10 was carried down tho stroam
toward tho falls. George Curtis, a photogra-
phor, who was arranging his camera to tako q
Wow Of tho bridge with tho painter in his por1l-
ous position, hoard D cry, md immediately
crossed to Goat Island and run toward Terrapln
near enough tho shoro to receive wlint ho amp
posed would be corpse after going through the
turbulont rapids.
The unfortunate man rolled over and ovcr
until ho reached dcop place fow rods below
coption Of Ills boots. Tho hoavy current swopt
him on toward tho precipico with equal pace with
tho photographer, until about forty rods below
tho bridge, whom lis hcad appeared above the
water. Not being entirely insonsiblo, ho espiol
rock about six inches out Of lilo water, and,
spreading out his arms, WIS driven with extrc1us
force on 1t. III nonrly exhausted condition he
raised himsolf out Of the water aud sat calmly on
tho rock. Doing not far, from tho shoro, Mr.
@}u orn1 In Yrnu hurt oy,1t }hn
reply that 1lo was uninJurod. Messengers wore
immediately diHpatched to tho paper-mill for
ropes, aud in a few minutes noarly tho whole
village WAS running toward the scene,
Ihe necessary ropes wore soon on tho gronnd,
and q young man volunteered to go to tho
rescue. Fastening tho rope around hss waist he
started for tho rock, but ho had gone but feW
foot WHOM it was oyidout that bin fragile form
could not Withstand tho 1lorco curront, md ho
About this time, Thomns Conroy, o guide at
tho Cave Of tho WiIds, appeared On the scene,
and immediately volunteered to bring nfr. Me-
Cullough ashore. Taking tho ropo III Lis land,
Conroy started toward the isolated painter, but
himself wns ovo too strong for his strong frame,
and ho l,l1owfsc rotreatod. BY this time Mr.. Nc
Cullough could bn aeon trembling with tho cold,
still graspiug tho putty knife, to which le had
many wcro afraid ho would bocomo chilled
through and not DO ablo to holp himsolf ashore
aftor tho rescue. Mr.. Conroy now nscondod tho
river few rods and again started out alone. and
succeeded in roao1ing tie unfortunate man.
Tying tho ropo around NcCullough's breast, and
winding tho end twicn about llis own hand, the
two started asl,ore. They had only gone fow
Btopa whom the stiff current swept their fcot
from undor them, aud many strong hands com-
mencou pulling on tie rope.
Tho tlorca o,lrront, togather with tho rapid
pulling. immediately caused the loadB Of both
to disappear under wator, and In this condition
tIioy were both landed safely. anid tho cheorB
OF tho hundreds who lined the hanks. Both
persons wore nearly suffocated, but soon recoy-
ored. Cheer after cheer won't up for Couroy,
+" Tho hero of Niagara"
A gentleman aud Indy who were stopping ut
ono Of tic hotoIs immediately handed him s15,
aud in q worry short timo tic amount WIS raiBod
to something over $100.
SIr. Mccullough is aged about co years, md q
man worry highly respected by NIL who lnow him.
Although this ahock to his nervous system is
considerable, his personal injuries aro very
blight. Tho rock that was hla refuge from death
for ono hour is only two feet squire, and will
probably hencoforth bo called AlcCnllongll'H
Rock" Tn reaching it, Conroy requested tho
gift Of the putty-knifo as souvenir Of tho oc-
casion, but, very much to his regret, Lost it be-
fpro GettfDg abhpra.