Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-08-07
Bradford, VT, Aug. 7, 1915.
A Thrilling Incident.

lying cquidistant between the
American shore and the islands,
and Bath Island Bridge and the
brink of the Falls, u rock projects
two or three feet above the water.
The eye rests upon it merely AZ up
on a speck in the midst of this
angry flood with every dash Ofthe
torrent pouring down from the
plateau above it is half submerged,
and sometimes wholly hidden from
sight. At the time Of this casualty
a log, three or four feet in length,
had been jammed in or uuder this
rock, and protruded from it. The
spot was one that WAS in daily
sight of hundreds, and in the early
hours of that memorable summer
morning the first man who had oc-
casion to cross the bridge was star
tied and Mortified to see u human
form standing erect, in the midst OF
the raging, swelling floods, on this
little point of rock, wildly waving
his arms. He must have shouted,
too, but his cries were drowned in
the uproar of the rapids. 1t was
Joseph Avery, the sole survivor OF
the unfortunate boats crew. 1t was
conjcctured that the boat must have
sped down to this point unharmed
by the rocks or rapids, and that
striking here, Avery was thrown or
sprapg ont, finding just room
enough for perilOus fOothOld,
while the other two, with tho boat,
were swept on over the cataract.
The alarm quickly spread. 1t is
not difficult to draw u crowd at
Nia.ara--tor the excitement seek
ers OF the world are there-and in
halt an hour the bridge and ada.
cent shores were thrOnged with
Mortified yet curious spectators.
With them came some dozens of
bOatmen, lahorerS and others, who
comprehended at once that there
was a chance for rescue, and i'm
medlately began to devise a plan.
In the meantime the man had been
recognized by some one, and while
preparations were being made
large board was rudely slettered
with the words, in German, "WE
WILL SAVE YOU " aud held up so
that he could read it.
AS noon approached the first at
tempt was made for his rescue. A
large raft had been constructed of
heavy plank, bound together cross
wise, and this was to be lowered
down from the bridge, with strong
ropes. to the castaway, when it was
thought that he could be drawn up
without great difficulty. The ven
ture was a failure from the start.
The rapids seized and whirled it
away before the men at the ropes
could check it; the ropes became
entangled, the raft was carried far
below the rock, and at last went
heIplessIy over the Falls.
1t was Il bitter disapointment-as
we'll to the sympathizing, expect
ant throng as to the imperlled man.
But, nothing daunted, the stout
hear is and ready hands Immediate
~ set about the making of anOth-
er raft, while others were occupied
in conveying food and drink to poor
Avery.
The building of the second raft
progressed but, although every.
thing was done to hasten it, dark
ness found it unfinished. and the
crowd Unwillingly dispersed for the
night. The Omniscient alone can
tell how that poor torlorn soul
passed the dark, dreary hours that
interviewed before morning-sleep.
less from necessity-weary, lonely,
with the waters raging like unchain.
ed beasts all around him, and the
great abyss Of terror yawning al
most at his feet. Some sweet hope
must have sustained him in that
trying time, or the morning would
have found him dead there upon
the rock of his dreadful exile.
Daylight came, and with it the
eager crowd FASTENED back to their
points of sight. The incoming
trains all that day brought more
and more spectators, and before
noon the bridge was literally crowd
ed with them, leaving but a small
space in the center for the workmen
with the raft ; and on either side
the bank was lined-nay, packed
with spectators. There were thou
sands upon thousands present, all
eager, curious and yet sympathetic.
Avery appeared as on the day be-
fore, still hopeful, eating and drink.
ing what was sent down to him.
motoring with his hands and arms,
and watching all that was done on
the bridge and the shore,
The crises of the excitement ar.
rived when, about the middle Of the
second day, the second raft was
launched from the bridge upon the
hurrying flood. Strong and willing
hands held the ropes, and it was
cautiously lowered until it almost
touched the spot where the cast
away stood. With a bound he placed
himself on the raft ; and then arose
such shout of rejoicing from the
lips of that multitude that 1t was
heard above the roaring of the wa.
ters.
1t was a short.lively joy. The
ropes were manned by all the hands
that could find place, and the raft
struggled up little way in the