Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-08-13
The Niagara Falls Horror.

ESGCLFED IN THE CAVE OF THE wrSns
AND DRAWN INTO THE VORTEX OF
BRAVE MAN DROWNED.
From me Niagara FnJls Register
"A party; consisting OF Mr.. Ethelbert Par
A. Philpott, jr., and wife. Miss Hattie Fields
OF Buffalo, and Mr.. Chas Ii. Phiipott startei
for the Cave of the Winds about 1--WE O'Clock.
Ihey chose this time because at no hour or
the day can the rainbow be seen In sucI per-
lection. Arrived at the cave they were adj
Vised by Mr.. Wright, the lessee of the cave.
10 rake guide, but as they were all thor
made repeated trips through the cave in for
MGR years, they declined the rroffara assist
ance, and started down the Bidile stairway
lhey lollowed the usual pathway until they
reached the extreme ca stern end of the rail
irg, when they clam bered out upon the rocks
lmm6 dlateiy in front of the cave. VIM PAIL
lott anu his wife seated themselves on The
rocks, while the other four ventured out sfill
further, and descended 10 a stream which
flows down over the rocks, In front AMI n
little To the right OF the cave. Here they re-
inalneu Tor some time, amusing them sci yes
IN The water which brawls over the rocksand
rusheS thrOu sh the cTevices with great force
FINALLY Miss LOltie went still further down
the river and entered an eddy, which how
ever, was partially protected by encircling
boulders. Here she played In the water
when az this place afiords an excellent cur
rent bath, and was soon reioined by her three
other friends. Mr.. Parsons entered the water
with her, and while he was getting a foot
hold, that he might guard against any posi-
bic accident, she slipped. He had hold of
her hand, and, as she fell. he caught her, ami
together they were swept into The current
which bore them down about thirty feet to-
ward the river. Those on the rocks report
that Miss Lotto was next seen standing up
in the water and leaning against a large
rock. They were now in a powerful current
and both seemed TO be making endeavors TO
save one another Her position was the
more precarious since the slightest move
ment either way would expose her 10 the
full fury of the water, And once fairly in the
full power of the current all hope OF escape
would be ended. Mr.. Parsols, from his no.
sitlon, could have easily saved himself. but
thinking that he could rescue her, he seized
her ana tried TO reach the rock above them.
Though lie battled with the raging current
with that strength which despair alone can
give, they both We're swept from their want
age ground on the rock and whiried iuto
The maddening flood below. Twice they
were seen TO disappear below the surface
BY this time they had been ca rried well out
into the river, and 10 their agOnized friends
on shore they appeared TO be staining on
rocks, about eight rods or so from tho edge of
the river. To one unacquainteI with the
great depth of the river and the tremendous
force OF the under current, IL seemed that
they had at last found place of safety, and
might yet be rescued. But the treacherous
current was bearing them rapidly down the
river 10 the death which was now inevitable.
PARSONS made heroic endeaVOrS 20 reach the
shore with her for whom he had risIed his
life lie was a strong swimmer, and was
seen noatlng on his back, supporting her, and
struggling against the current. All his eff
forts were OF no avail; the fatal current sepa-
rated them, and Miss LOttie, deprived of the
strong protecting arm that had before upheld
her, disappeared with hands raised despair
lngly above her head. Mr.. Parsons must
have seen her go under the water, but he
sun made brave efforts to preserve his own
life. From the shore he was seen struggling
In an aimless way TO keep his head above the
water. "A thick cloud OF spray interviewed for
a moment between the downing man and
The friends who were powerleSS TO lend him
AID, and when II disappeared Parsons was
gone, and the cruel river swept on as though
this tragedy had not been. The spot where
they were last seen is about one third the
distance from the Cave TO the American
Falls.
Miss PhilpOtt was twenty five years of age,
and the only daughter of Mr.. William Phil
pott, an old and highly respected resident OF
the Falls. Ethelbert Parsons, who lost his
own life in the heroic attempt TO save that
OF his companion, was twenty-nine years OF
age, AID the son OF Horatio \. Parsons, esq,
of La Sale.
At last accounts the bodies had not been
recovered.