The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-03-02
The Abyss Of Niagara.
PROFESSORS STORY WHICH NAY Ex-
PLAIN A MYSTERY.

w
victims carried over Niagara Falls, no
trace has ever been found, either in
Niagara River or Lake Ontario?"
One student suggested that the fall
itself 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
MES of the abyss below the precipice;
and the idea of the third was that the
numerous fishes tenanting the deep pool
would leave slender chance for " contin-
gent remainders."
The genial professor, after hearing the
various theories of his young philoso-
pliers, said that he would not advance
one of his own; but that, in humble imi
tation of greater man, he would tell
them 6 little story" which might pos
sibly throw ray of light upon the sub
iect:
"In my early days." he continued,
II was one of the teachers at an acad-
envy of Berkshire. A pleasant stream
flowed past the village; and. on Satur-
day afternoons, it was an agreeable re-
creation to walk along It's banks for
few miles. until I could see its head
waters issue from The side of asteep hill
which bounded the prospect. Crossing
the stream by a bridge opposite the
schOOl-hOuse, / wandered one hot July
afternoon up the left bank for nearly
two miles. where it takes sudden turn,
bringing the. wayfarer by it's circuitous
windings to my starting piont. Feeling
tired, and the stream being here very
narrow, resolved to ford it, and save
my distance. There is o waterfall at
this spot, aud below it grand expanse
of water, clear and shallow, except i'm
mediately underpea the shoot, where
the depth is about twelve or fourteen
feet. Marching up the bank about two
rods, 1 Invested myself of shoes and
stockings, which l 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? I received in
stanter lesson in dynamics on which l
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 topping
I kept perfectly cool, and never dur
ing the accident lost presence OF mind.
Fear I had none. I was powerful
swimmer; there were no rocks, as we'll
knew, and before reached the verge,
so rapid are operations of the mind, my
course was clearly marked out. AS soon
as 1 pumped into the pool, l would
float to the surface, make for the shore.
have hearty laugh at my mishap, and
enliven my fellow teachers with gay
recital Of it on my return.
lover I went very comfortably, and
that reached the pebbly bottom you
may safely assume; but, to my exceed
ing surprise, found floating up, though
was several yards out OF the torrents
reach, was quite another affair. aban-
doned my stockings and shoes, to which
I had chung in my headlong descent,
and struck out with might and main;
but to no purpose-I could not rise! l
knew that was sound in wind and limb,
and felt no superintendent weight
pressing me down. / struck out and
kicked vigorously in the approved way;
but, no sooner did progress three or
four inches upward, than sort of mag
netic attraction, gentle but irresistible,
drew my toes down to their old resting.
place. It was an incomprehensible
"fix." 1 rsdoubled my efforts again,
and again, with similar result. The
case was becoming desperate. Was
really doomed to die in this wretched
hole, about as pitiful a finale for young
student as Clarence's in the malmsey
butt?
"By this time l 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
were ringing in my ears, and fancied
that blood was beginning to start from
my mouth and nostrils. At this crisis,
when had made up my mind for the
worst, it occurred to me that, ii could
rise, might be able to walk or creep
below water, and thus manage to reach
the brink, which was at no great dis
lance. It was heaven-sent inspiration,
and acted on without an instAnt's delay.
II 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 WAS once more
respiring the warm Summer air. ! was
savedl Throwing myself on the grass
with unutterable thankfulness. rested