Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-08-08
A Thrilling Scene at Niagara.

The Buffalo Courier gives these particu.
lars of the recent adventure at Niagara.
Some one having said that man had gone
over the falls, Thomas Conroy, one of the
guides, heard the remark. He thought that
a man had fallen from the Tcrrapin tower
bridge and gone over, and he started off lei
surely up the bank. lie had not proceeded
fur when he found that nearly the entire
population of the village had got there be-
fore him, and very soon he deserted the man
on the rock. He hastened his steps Ie
kaew that he was the only man in all that
crowd that could save Mccullough. Some
distance above the rocks he found awaiting
use coil of rope about an inch in thickness
and passed it into the hands of about
dozen or fifteen men. He consulted nobody
he asked no ones advice but with as
much coolness rs if he were proceeding to
his dinner, he took one end of the rope in
his left hand, told them to pay it out to him,
descended the bank and proceeded into the
river, only taking the precaution to divest
himself of his boots About forty feet from
the shore he discovered that the rocks over
which he picked his way We're too slippery
in the strong current, and he returned. lie
sent to the Cave Of the Winds for his felt
shoes and these were brought to him with
the utmost dispatch. These donned, he
again started on his perlous journey from
point about 200 feet above the rock on which
l',,11 IL,
perturbable cooness, he moved ont in an
oblique direction till he had reached point
beyond the line of the rock, the waters ut
every step threatening to sweep him out Of
shallow water, and now in deep, and down
with the angry tide be went till he reached
the rock and found awaiting his coming
man shivering, exhausted and almost incap-
able of uttcrance. Conroy had accomplished
a hcrculean task in reaching the rock as he
did, to say not Il word about the danger he
braved, he had to keep the long line of
heavy rope taut with his left hand while
feeling his way on rocks as slippery as ice
and contending with a current which would
have speedily carried man of ordinary
strength off his feet. In McCullough's hand
he found clutchcd the putty knife he was
using at the time of the accident, and this
he took from him and put it in his pocket.
This done he tied the rope about McCul-
loughs waist, took hold Of it himself with
his left hand simply, and both started for
the shore. For a hundred feet or so Con-
roy had not only to look out for himself but
for the cnlcebled old man in his charge. 1t
was hard work, but they made this distance
without accident.
The end WAS not yet. however, for as they
entered the torrent which ran between the
shore and the rock both were swept off their
feet and buried in the mad waters. The
men on shore pulled the rope as rapidly as
was safe, and Mccullough and his rescuer
were dragged ashore. The paper-mill
whistle blew the hour of noon just as Conroy
and Mccullough reached the bank, and
simultaneously with this huzzas rent the
air and ecstasy usurped the place Of dread
anxiety.
The crowd wishing to testify promptly
and substantially to their appreciation of
Conroy's hcroisn, took up collection for
him, and about $500 were handed to him
a sum very acceptable to poor man. After
the rescue Mr.. McCullough's condition was
found to be quite serious, partial delirium
having set in, but no fatal consequences are
anticipated.
Thomas Conroy, the hero Of this thrilling
rescue, is a guidcat the ''Cave Of the Winds"
and was born in Ottawa, Canada, of Irish
parents. lie is 25 years Of age, stands over
six feet in height, and weighs 2O0pounds.
His strength is enormous and his courage
unfaiing. He was formerly sailor along
the Newfoundland coast and has been n resi-
dent of Niagara for the past seven years. In
1872 he accompanied Prof. Tyndall in the
latter's excursion under the Fails and re-
ccived deserving mention in that eminent
scientists report Of the venture. When the
Courier reporter asked Conroy what his
sensations were when he started out on his
dangerous journey, he quietly replied
"W hen saw that man in the river, made
up my mind was going to have him out
right off, and if he had been out as far again
| would have made for him. Thomas Con-
roy has proved himself true hero and his
name will go down to future generations as
one Of nature noblemen.