Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-09-06
REMINIsCENCE OF NIAGARA.
Terrible Experience i'm the Rapids.


l remember when l was but boy that
a man got into the rapids here, having
been carried down in boat, which was
broken to pieces. He had to good for
tune, been dashed on a rock, to which he
clung. 1t was at tie height of the sea-
son-August, if recolect-and he ciang
there for fully SO hours. Everybody
streamed out of the hotels and the viii
lage the banks of the river, particularly
the west side, we're thronged with people
anxious TO do something to save him.
Dozens Of plans were suggested; some
attempted, but they all failed. Thous-
ands of dollars were offered to anybody
who would rescue him. The desperate
situation of the man had been telegraphed
over the country, and every train brought
crowds Of passengers hither to witness it
with their own eyes. He was then en-
couraged by shouts from the banks, but
whether he could understand anything
said is doubtful
The world is said TO be sympathetic.
1t is, or appears to be, unsympathetic.
because the object for which sympathy is
asked is abstract. There was an exem-
plfcation. This poor wretch could be
seen. He was an ordinary uneducated
man but he was a man. and the broth
erhood and sisterhood of the race went
out to him in pity and intense eagerness
to rescue him. Women Of fashion,
blose club men, selfish worldings grew
pale as they watched the unhappy wretch,
so vivid was their sympathy,
Many persons sat up AL night looking
across thc scething, roaring waters at the
small dark figure still clnging 10 the
rock. The morning came renewed ef
forts were made, but they all mscarried.
The crowd had increased it was i'm
mense. Everybody was excited. Tears
were in the women's eyes the pallor
cleaned through the rouge of some of
their cheeks. Can't something be done?
Must the poor fellow perish before our
faces ? Is there no way to rescue him
Such questions were necessarily asked
but, alas no reply could be given.
The man had good courage and great
strength. He clung TO the rock with the
desperation Of a dying soul. To lose his
hold was to be dashed over the cataract.
Apparatus and contrvances arrived from
Buffalo. New experiments and new fail
ures. lloarse shouts still rang across the
rapids to hold on, to be Of good heart
The stoutest heart that ever thrGbbed
could not grippe that rock forever. 1t was
wonderful how he had endured. A fresh
idea bad come to the minds of dozen
mechanics. They were laboring to throw
out hawser every muscle was strained;
every eye was bent upon their work
Suddenly the man slipped away. He
was exhausted he threw up his arms
he dashed toward the cataract. A low
groan as from one breast quaked through
the throng the thousands shivered with
terror. A black object for moment
longer in the hell Of the waters, and then
disappeared forever. There was an agony
Of relief. No one meved no one spoke
for while. All looked in the direction
where the figure had been swallowed up
1t was the enchantment of terror; it was
the chill Of tragedy distinctly wrought
which froze every one for the moment to
the spot.
The old resident-he has lived here |
forty yeaTs-says that on an average about
six persons are carried over the falls every |
year, and that four out of the six are
wholly are partially intoxicated and lose
their lives by carelessness or recklessness
in rowing above the raj ids, going beyond
he line of danger. But for liquor not
more than two lives, he says, would be
lost annually Cor. 81. Louis Globe
Democrat.