The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-06-17
SAM PATCH OUTDONE.
A New Jersey Fisherman Goes Over a
Fall Eighty Feet High and is
Unhurt.

aii III my CCt hlS iHei 10
Unhurt.
A correspondent of the Philadelphia
Times writes from Milford, N j., as
follows Thomas L. Atkins, a gentle
man from New Jersey, has for the past
few days been stopping at Dingman' s
Ferry for the purpose of fishing the
numerous trout streams IN that vicinity
On Saturday morning last he took his
basket and rod and started for the
Adams, n stream some two miles this
side of Dingman's, and one of the hard
est and most dangerous streams to fish
of any in this country. This creek is
about eight miles in length, and on
either hand rise o perpendicular and
almost unkroken wall of rock, while in
number of places the stream pours over
falls from fifty to $50 feet high Taking
an old wood road at the foot of the
mountain, he bent his steps for point
about a mile above the "High Falls, +"
with the intention of ''striking i'm at
that point, and fishing through to the
Dingman road. Arriving at his desti-
nation, about two hours fishing brought
him to the head of the falls, where he
sat down to rest himself and eat his
falls is close proximity to one another,
being l5O feet, and the others gradually
lessening in height until they reach the
level creek-bed below. In the interven-
ing space between each of these falls
there is a dark foaming pool worn into
the solid rock by the constantly falling
water, and some of which are very deep
After refreshing himself, Mr.. Atkins
arose with the intention of fishing on
through the falls, but after looking about
him he wisely concluded to pass around
them and find place where he could
descend more easily. Gathering up his
rod, he proceeded down the creek, being
very careful to keep back from the face
of the rocks. He had gone but short
distance down the stream when he dis
covered little gully or ravine leading
between high tiers of rocks down towards
the creek. Thinking that he was below
the falls and might not find another place
where he could descend SO easily, he
commenced climbing down, and by
cl1nglng to the laurels which grow along
the sides succeeded in reaching the
bottom of the ravine in safety. Here,
however, he was disappointed, for think
ing that he was below the falls, he found
himself instead upon a level path of
solid rock, about three feet wide, and
below him some twenty feet, in great
in-shaped hole worn in the rock, and
filled with dark, foamy water, was what
is called ''The Devils punch Bowl, and
little further down the stream was
another fall. Not liking to climb back
up the steep raYine, he concluded to
follow the path in which he stood, hop
ing that it might lead him below the falls
and out of his present difficulty. In this
he was terribly mistaken, for after fol-
lowing it short distance he discovered
to his horror that it came to an abrupt
termination directly over the falls As
MIR. Atkins glanced over into the chasm
an 1ndescrlbable terror crept over him
that seemed to chill the marrow in his
bones, and, calling to mind the extreme
peril In which he stood, he endeavored
to shake off the vague fear which held
him spell-bound, and turned to retrace
his steps. The rock all through these
falls are kept wet and slippery by the
spray which is blown against them by
the force of the falling water, and as Mr..
Atkins was in the act of turning (wheth-
er by dizziness Or some other cause) he
lost his balance, and in endeavoring to
recover himself he slipped and fell
With remarkable presence of mind he
caught hold of the projecting rock upon
which he had been standing, and clung
to it with the tenacity of drowning
man. While clinging to the rock he
endeavored to find foothold, and by
that means help himself up or hang on
until help came; but he found none, and,
as If to add to the agony of the moment,
his hands kept gradually slipping from
their hold. Driven almost crazy with
terror, he turned his head and looked
down into the foaming waves of the
pool, full so feet beneath him, and, with
a prayer to Heaven for mercy, his hold
relaxed, and he fell backward and dis
appeared, feet first into the seething
waters. He soon reappea,ed, and, con-
centrating all his remaining strength, he
succeeded in reaching the shore and
crawling few feet up the bank, when
his strength gave way and he fell into a
dead swoon. It was some time before
he came to his senses, and when he did
it was some time before he could proceed.
He finally succeeded in reaching the
Dingman road, where he was fortunate
enough to secure ride to his hotel
This morning he started for his home,
leaving his fishing tackle at the scene of
mis- adventure, and doubtless very thank
full that he escaped with his life.