The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-12-10
Oyer the Falls.

The Helena Independent relates the
following startling incident "John
Mangels and III. Zerbest built small
boat in Helena, and launched il in the
Missouri river, mt point nearly oppo-
site here. During rain and wind
storm. they discovered that their boat
had struck and fastened to huge rock,
and that they were in the midst of the
rapids. Ignorant of the river and OF
the surrounding country, the beating
rain. bowling wind, and roaring waters
well. nigh frightened the two travellers
out of their wits. They supposed, and
correctly, that they were near to the
first Great Fall of the Missouri. Unable
to loosen their boat from the rock, Ter
best left it and swan toward the shore,
i'm the hope of landing the boat. He had
not gone beyond twenty five wards when
he found it impossible to proceed
further. Just then Mangels cried to him
TO stop, and he could join him. Look
ing back, he saw him coming forward,
and in a few minutes after Mangels dis
appeared in the water, and was not seen
again.
"Appalled ut the loss OF his friends,
unable to reach the shore on account of
the deep water and stronger current
which carried everything before it, and
the certain death which must attend
ride over the Falls, he returned to The
boat. his mind filled with horror as he
contemplated the danger. The wind
was blowing gale and chilled him to
the bone. Not living soul was near,
nor was there any hope of assistance
from the shore. With starvation staring
him in the face, should he determine to
await there the turn OF events, he quick
ly decided that his only hope rested on
going over the Falls with his boat.
q" As soon as he came to this cOnclu
sion, he set about loosening the boat
from the rock. Fastening one end to the
boat, he tied the other end around his
body, and with an oar i'll hand he start
ed on his perilous journey. Reaching
the first fall, which is about twelve feet,
he passed over it easily also the second
fall, which is about twenty five feet. On
he went, and as he swept over the third
fall, which is about ninety feet high, he
remembered that the boat was hanging
over him. With presence OF mind, he
knew that he must avoid the descending
boat, and on reaching the foot OF the
fall, ne ulVeu 1ntO lne current ana
while under water unfastened the rope
from his body, and by wonderful exer-
tons reached the shore. Stunned by
the fall and greatly bruised, he looked
and watched in hope of seeing his miss
ing friend. For three days, without a
morsel to eat, he wandered along the
banks of the river in search of him. On
the first day hunger seemed to consume
him. On the second and third days,
drinking water appeased his appetite,
and WEAKNESS grew upon him. He was
10th to give up the search, but gnawing
hunger, aching bruises and the sur
rounding desolation conquered his anx
iety for his friend and babe him save
himself. Slowly he dragged himself up
the mountain summit which overlooks
the scene of his peril, and footsore and
sick at heart followed the mountain
range that led to the haunts of life. He
arrived at Bird fail Station utterly ex-
hausted, where he recruited, and then
took the coach, arriving here last night.