The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-04
THE HERO OF THE CATARACT

THE HERO OF THE CATARACT.
Terrible Experience OF william McCul-
Tough and His Extraordinary Rescue
Thomas Conr0y, the Hero Of Niagara
Falls.
The telegraph has already informed us OF the
narrow escape from death ofWm. Mccullough, VINO
fell from bridge anu was only saved from gong
over Niagara Falls by cnging to a rock until
rescued by guide named Thomas Conroy. rne
Buffalo Courier OF Tuesday has the following de-
tails:
William Mccullough, a painter by trade, aged
citizen OF Niagara Fails, was engaged III painting
the middle bridge which spans the ent that
PUSHES between the first anu second OF the Three
Sister Islands. He occupied u position with a
companion on scaffOd winch had been swung
down on the lower side OF the bridge. App oact-
ing mis- fellow workman, he asked him Tor some
putty. and, receiving the same, stepped back JUST
a little too Tar, and IN an instant Was on his back
AT the bottom OF the torrent. Right where he Iell
the Hermit's Cascade pOurs Its angry waters ana
In less time than II lakes to write ABOUT It the un-
fortunate man was borne away IN the direction or
the Horseshoe Fail. Tue other workman and Mr..
George f. Curtiss, who witnessed the accident,
and who were paralyzed by what seemed to DE the
inevitable late OF Mccullough, watched the dlsap-
pearng form TIL 1t was swept out Of the more
rapid current into small eddy, from the Mast OF
which rose u rock. Against this rock winch is
fairly submerged, Mccullough was thrown, having
been rolled over on hls face Just before reaching
II, and, with tine instinct Of a drowning man, he
chung TO 1t. At the rocs the water is between TOUR
and i've leet Deep and, although stunned by the
lal and exhausted by the angry waters which had
borne him about l,6u0 lee5 III the direction of
grave, he mad strength enough remaining to ena.
Die Nun to climb the rock anu to seat himself upon
IL. The two men who Witnessed the fearful
descent, seeing that Mccullough was at least tenn.
porarlly SALE speedily gave the alarm IN the
village. and soon.
AN EXCITED MULTITUDE
lined the rivers bank aud contemplated the scene
with sucn feelings OF emotion as may not be de-
scrIbed. Men, women and children instinctlvely
sought to determine upon some means OF rescue.
even while their hearts TIL ObDed with terrible
lear. The rock on which sat the man upon whom
all eyes were eagerly centred was the last that
projects from the reef below the islands. Between
1t and the shore swept wide. ami deep torrent.
while below 1t the river opens out to Its fullest
obstruction before il takes its nna plunge into the
gorge, some sixty rods below. The plan oI
rescue was not easy TO sove, ana the question OF
the power OF endurance remaining to the Old man
was serious one IN tns connection. Fortunately
Mr.. Petllbone had informed the people at the Cave
or the Winds that man haG allen IRON the bridge,
THOMAS CoNRoY,
one Of the guides, heard the remark. He thought
that man HAD fallen from the rerrapin tower
bridge and had g0Ee'over the Falls. and started
on elsurely up the bank He mad not proceeded
far when he found tIat nearly the entire popua-
ton OF the village had got there before nm. and
very soon he deserted the man Oh the rock. He
man IN ali that crowd that could save Mccullough.
Some distance above the rock he found awaiting
use COIL OF rope about an men IN thickness ana
passed 1t into the hands OF about dozen or fl
teen men, He consulted nobody-ne asked
ones advice: but, with as much GOODNESS as II ne
were proceeding to his dinner. he took one END OF
the rope III his lett hand, told them to pay 1t out to
him, descended the bank and proceeded
to divest himself OF his boots. About foity
feet from the snore he discovered that me
rocks over. which he picked mis- way were too
slippery IN the strong current, and he returned.
He sent TO the Cave OF the Winds Tor his lett
shoes and these were brought 20 him with the
utmost despatch. These donDed he again started
on his perilous journey from point about two
hundred feet above tine rock on which sat McCul-
louyh Cautiously. but with imnerturpable cool
had reached point beyond the line Of the rock,
the waters At every step IL reatening 70 sweep
now IN swallow water and now In deep. and down
with the angry tide he went till ne reached the
ing, exhausted ana almost incapable OF utterance.
Conr0y had accomplished herculean TASK in
about the danger he braved; he he had to Keep
his his left hand while ieenng his WI way On On
rocks as slippery as ice and contendiug with
current which would have speedily carried man
OF ordinary strength or his eet. In McCuoughs
hand ne found clutched the putty KNIFE he was
using at the time OF the accident and this he took
from him and put 1t in ms pocket. THIS done he
Of It Win his lett nana Simply ana b no
started for the shore. For hundred ieet or SO
Conroy had not only IT, look out for himself but for
the enieebled old man in mis- charge 1t was hard
WORK, but they made this distance without accl.
dent. ~.
however. for as they entered the torrent which
ran between the shore and the rock both were
swept or their feet and buried III the mad waters.
The men on shore pulled the rope as rapidly was
sale, 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 usuiped the place OF dread
anxiety.
wishing to testify promptly and substantially 10
their appreciation OF Conrcy's herolsm, took up
collection for him. and about 5000 were handed to
him-a sum very acceptable to poor man.
AFTER THE RESCUE
Mr.. McCulough's condition was found to be quite
serious. partial dellrium having sci in, but no fatal
consequences are anticipated.
it THOMAS CoNRoY,
who has proved himself every inch a hero, was
born III ottawa, Canada, twenty-five years ago. OF
Irish paren tage, hut spent his early boyhood In
Montreal. For seven years he was u sailor along
years have elapsed since he first became u citizen
OF Niagara Falls. In the fail OF 1872 he made an
excursion with Professor Tyndall under the
Fails, in n report OF which the eminent
scientist showed his appreciation OF Conroy's
heroic qualities. lie IS u quarter OF an inch
pounds, although his iull avordupos IS 100 He
mas powerful frame, a quiet pair OF eyes, brown
hair and sandy mustache. His lace Is Il pleasant
one, ana would he boyisn " ii were not Ior his
physical proportions. lie has enormous strength
and uniaiiing courage and seems unwilling oil the
possession OF any great qualities OF body, mind or
heart, all OF which are prominently his. lie has
wife and three children, oil whom he is proud,
and works hard as Il guide at the Cave OF the
winds Tor their maintenance. When the courier
reporter asked him what his sensations were when
ne started out On his dangerous journey, he