The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-12-24
MisFeAaneuns.
lAqHRMLINGS ENEATNAGARA.

The Buffalo Courier gives these pirti u
Lars of the recent adventure at Niayar.
Some one having said that man had
gone over the falls, Thomas C0nroy, one
of the guides, heard the remark. He
thought that man had fallen from the
T"rrpin tower bridge and gone over,
and he started off leisurely mp the hank.
He had not proceeded far when he found
that nearly the entire population of the
village had got there before him, and
very soon he deserted the man ON the
rock He hastened his steps. He krew
that he was the only man in all that
crowd that could save McCullough.-
Some distance ab I'VE the rock he four d
avail ing use a coil Of rope alb IL, an Ia h
in thickness and pas ed it Into the hands
of dozen or fifteen men. He consulted
nobody-he asked no ones advice; but
with aS much COolness as if he were pro-
ceeding 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 diyest himself o. his
boots. About forty feet from the shore
he discovered that the rocks over which
he picked his way we're to slippery in
the strong current, and he returned. He
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 perilous journey
from point 200 hundred feet above the
rock on which sat Mccullough Cau-
tiously, but with imperturbable coolness,
he moved out in an oblique direction till
he had reached a point directly beyond
the line of the rock, the waters ut every
step threatening to sweep him out of
sight, Carefully he picked hir way. now
in shallow water. and now in deep, and
down with the angry tide he went till
he reached the rock, and found awaiting
his coming a man sh yering, exhausted
and almost inc, pable of utterance. Con-
roy had accomplished herCulean task
in reaching the rock as he did, to say not
a word about the danger he braved. lie
had to keep the long line Of heavy rope
taut with his left hand while feeling hi,
way on rocks as slippery as ice, and con-
tending with Il current that would have
speedily carried man of ordinary
strength OIL his feet.
In McCullough's hand he found clasped
the putty knife he was using at the time
ofthe accident, and this he took from him
and put it in his pocket. This done he
tied the rope about McCullough's waist ,
took hold of it himself with his left hand
simply, and both started for the shore.
For Il hundred feet or 50 Conroy had not
only to look out for himself but for the
enieebled old man in his charge. 1t was
hard work, but they made the distance
without aCciCent,
The end was not yet however, for rs
they entered the torrent which ran be-
tween 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 us was safe, and MCCul-
lOugh and his resCuer were dragged
ashore. The paper mill whistle blew the
hour for noon just as Conroy and McCul-
Tough reached the bank, and simultane-
ously with this loud 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 herOism, took up collection
for him, and about $500 were handed to
him-a sum very acceptable to a poor
man. After the rescue McCullOugh's s
condition was found to be quite serious,
partial delirium having set in, but no ia
tai consequences are antici pated.
Thomas Conroy, the hero of this thrill
ling res,ue. i, II guide at the Cave of the
VIII d WIS born in Ottawa, Canada, Of
Irish larem, He istwenty-fye years of
age, st.u H. over six feet in height, and
weighs 200 pounds. His strength is enor-
nous, and his courage unfailing- He
was formerly asailor along the Newfound-
land coast, and has been resident of
Niagara for the past seven years. In 1872
he accompanied Prof Tyndall in the lat
ter's excursion under the Falls and receiv-
ed deserving mention in that eminent
scientists report of the venture.
When the Courier reporter asked Con-
roy what his sensations were when he
started out on his dangerous journey, he
quietly replied: "When saw that man
in the river, | made up my mind that |
was going to have him out right off, and
if he had been out as far again | would
have made for him." Thomas ConrOy
has proved himself true hero, and his
name will go down to future generations
as one of natures noblemen.