, 1877-03-02
The Abyss ofNiazara.
PRoFEssoR's STORY WHICH MAY Kx-
PLAIN MYSTERY.


victims carried over Niagara Falls, no
tnace has ever heen found, either in
= Niapnra River or Lake Ontario?" q
One student suggested that the fall
;tself was sufficient TO dash to atoms any
body whatever; another thought that
the weight Of water could not but keep
the body effectually down in the cram
pies OF the abyss below the pfecipice;
and the idea OF the thiEd was that the
numerous fishes tenantipg the deep pool
would leave slender chance for contin-
gent remainders." ~
The genial professor, after hearing the
various theories of his young philoso-
phers, said that he would not advance
one Of his oYn; but that, in humble imi-
tation of greater man, he would tell
them a little story" which might pos
sibly throw ray oflight upon the sub
ject:
"In my early days." he continued,
II was one of the teachers at an acad-
emy of Berkshire. A pleasant stream
flowed past the village; and. on Satur-
day afternoons, it was an agreeable re-
creation to walk along Its banks for a
few miles, until could see its head
waters issue from The side of asteep hill
which bounded the prospect. Crossing
the stream by bridge opposite the
school-house, I wandered one hot July
afternoon up the left bank for nearly
two miles, where it takes q sudden turn,
bringing the wayfarer by its circuitous
windings to my starting piont. Feeling
tired, and the stream being here very
narrow, I resolved to ford it, aud save
my distance. There is a waterfall at
this spot, and below it a grand expanse
of water, clear and shallow, except i'm
mediately underneath the shoot, where
the depth is about twelve or fourteen
feet. Marching up the bank about two
rods, 1 divested myself of shoes and
stockings, which took in hand and
prepared to cross. Four steps would
land me on the other side. The run
was scarcely foot deep, and slip
perry green moss, somewhat smoothed
by the current, lined its bed invitingly.
Threw out good stout leg, and plant
ed one foot on the silky verdure.
Did I say planted? 1 received in
stanter lesson in dypamics on which
had not calculated, and which may save
the dignity and the equilibrium Of future
= typographical engineers. In the twink
ling Of an eye, the force Of the current
had swept me off, and was whirled
down helpless as an infant, TO the falls
below. Even in the moment of toppling
kept perfectly cool, and never dur
ing the accident lost presence of mind.
Fear I had none. / was a powerful
swimmer; there were no rocks, as well
knew, and before reached the verge,
80 rapid are operations of the mind, my
course was clearly marked out. As soon
as 1 pumped into the pool, I would
float to the surface, make for the shore,
have hearty laugh at my mishap, and
enliven my fellow teachers with gay
recital oft on my return.
lover I wentvery comfortably, and
that I reached the pebbly bottom you
may safely assume; but, to my exceed
ing surprise, found floating up, though
l was several yards out of the torrents
reach, was quite another affair. aban-
doned my stockings and shoes, to which
had clung in my headlong descent,
and struck ont with might and main;
but to no purpose-I could not risel l
knew that I was sound in wind and limb,
and felt no superintendent weight
pressing me down. 1 struck out and
kicked vigorously in the approved way;
but, no sooner did I progress three or
four inches upward, than a sort of mag
netic attraction, gentle but irresistible,
drew my toes down to their old resting
place. 1t was an incomprehensible
fix" I rsdoubled my efforts again,
and again, with similar result. Tho
case was becoming desperate. Was !
really doomed to die in this wretched
hole, about as pitiful q faalefo o young
student as Clarence's in the malmsey
butt?
By this time was nearly paralyzed,
through sheer exhaustion, and felt but
too surely that endurance had reached
Its limits. Ore more terrible struggle,
and, alasi my plight was worse than
ever. Noises as Of thousand cannon
we're ringing in my ears, and / fancied
that blood was beginning to start from
my mouth and nostrils. At this crisis,
when I had made up my mind for the
worst, it occurred to me that, if I could
rise, / might be able to walk or creep
below water, and thus manage to reach
the brink, which was at no great dis
tance. Itwas q heaven-sent inspiration,
and acted on without an instant's delay.
" found, to my Joy, that there was
no hindrance to this mode Of progress
sion; and, crawling along on the bottom
like crab, in less than twenty seconds
my dripping head emerged from the
treacherous bath, and I was once more
respiring the warm Summer air. I was
sayedl Throwing myself on the grass
with unutterable thankfulness, rested
for few minutes, and then deliberately
waded in again to recover the shoes and
stockings had left behind, which was