The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-05-30

OVER NIAGARA FAII.s-A Bleffalo dis
patch of the 26th tells of the thrilin" ride to
a fearful death of noted river pirate, who
went over Niagara Falls in a small boat and
was dashed to pieces on the rocks beneath
Here are the particulars:
A terrible tragedy was enacted At Niagara
Fans yesterday afternoon in the presence o.
smuggier and river pirate, wSnt over the FANS
before their HORNED gaze Fhe Erie Railroad
bad gotten up special SuniaV excursion from
Buffalo. which was patronizod by a large number
OF people, ana Goat Island, I,rospect PARK and
the store near the Cataraet House were covered
with sightseers. SuddeDly some one on tho shore
opposite the upper end of Goat Island raised the
and as the people focked to the edge of the water
they saw a small boat, with single occupant,
slowly being sucked into the white water
The man was rowing for all he was worth, but
he seemed to be dazed either with fear or intoxi-
cation and he was unable To make much head
way. Suddenly the Oarsman caught crab"
his oar new out of the rcwlocks, his head went
down. AMI he lay at length in the bottom OF the
boat. The boat then turned ITS prov down stream
and began to descend the rapids OF the American
falls. its pace growing more anu more swift unII
hnally it struck n rock about two inches from the
surface, stopped, and began slowly TO twist and
turn in the eddying current.
A TEMPORARY SUSPENSE.
The crowd screamed to the man to jump out
and cling to the rock, and the widest excitement
was manifested upon the shore. But he still lay
in the bottom of the boat and made no apparent
attempt to do so. A dozen schemes OF rescue
flashed through the minds OF the spectators, and
two old guides had already started on a run up
! the stream to procure rope and another boat,
{ when the boat swung round once more Ielt the
force of the current, and then begnn lis mad
. plungcs to destruction.
The surging water caught the light skiH in its
clutches as though it were a feather and bore it
downward like a salmon, bow forward, at a mad
, and dizzy pace. But only tor few rods then
. a second rock obscures the way. and with a sh
the light boat struck against it and parted IN
twain the port side gong to pieces while the star
board very badly damaged. The body Of the
man was flung headlong into the eddying mael-
strom, sucked under Tor a moment and then toss
T ed to the surface Just above the bridge which
leads to Goat Island. Tic threw his arms wildly
/ into the air, and those who were on the bridge
saw for an instant white and haggard face set
in the agony of despair; then he was again drawn
below the surface. never to reappear on this side
( OF eternity. Those who this sickening spec
tacle will never forget its especially horrible
features.
GOING TO PIECES
There was something absolutely sublime in the
I relentless grasp OF the hurrying waters. They
fairly seemed to renG the man limb from limb
and old guides who witnessed the catastrophe
say that the body will never be found In a whole
condition that It was literally ground to pieces
/ against the jagged edges of the bOwldcrs against
which IL was tossed. AS soon as the tragedy was
completed and the pent-up feelings of the specta.
tors had found relief in excama tion, the question
! arose. ''WhO was the yictim7' The answer was
not long in coming, for many had the face
above the rapids and not few recognized il as
beloneing to pr Walker, one of the best known
ch aracters about the falls.
All doubt on this score was removed soon alter
ward when a man came running down from the
( village of Port bay and asked after the drowned
man. saying that he had left there shortly before
in his skif in quite an intoxicated condition. Pnd
he had been seen gong so close to the rapids that
IL was feared he had gone over them.
pr has been on n bad spree to-day - said the
man. ri went over to one of the small islands
near Port Day with friend and they had keg
of beer between them which, 1 guess is not very
full now; then he came back to Port Day anc
then started down the river it is thought, 70 row
and could hardly manage his boat