Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1879-09-04
\ "REMINISCENCES OF NIAGARA.
A Mans Terrible Experience In the
Rapids, ClinEing to a Rock.

that a maj got into the rapids mere
having been carried down in a boat
which was broken to pieces. He hat
the good fortune to be dashed on
rock, to which he chung. 1t was a
the height of the season-August, j
1 recollect-and he chung there 70:
fully thirty.six hours. Everybody
streamed out of the hotels and tn,
village; the banks of the river, par
ticularly on this side, were thronget
with people anxious to do something
to save him. Dozens of plans were
suggested some attempted, but they
all failed. Thousands 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 hisher to wit
ness it with their own eyes. He was
encouraged by shouts from the banks
but whether he could understand
anything said is doubtful. The world
is said to be sympathetic. 1t is, Grit
appears to be unsympathetic, because
the object for which sympathy is
asked is abstract. When it is tangi-
BILE, visible, all is changed. There
Was an exemplifcation. This poor
wretch could be seen. He was an
ordinary, uneducated man; but he
was a man, and the brotherhood and
sisterhood Of the race went out to
him in pity and intense eagerness to
rescue him. Women Of fashion,
blase club men selfish W, r..dings grew
pale as they watched the unh 'ppy
wretch, so vivid was their sympathy.
Many persons sat up all night look
ing across the seething, roaring wa
tiers at the small dark figure still
clinging to the rock. The morning
came renewed efforts were made,
bat they all miscarried. The crowd
had increased it vas immense.
Everybody was excited. Tears were
in the women's eyes. the pallor CLEAN.
ed through the rouge of some Of their
cheeks. Can't something be done I?
Must the poor fellow perish before
our faces? Is there no way to res.
cue him? Such questions we've in
cessantly asked, but, alas, no reply
could be given. The man had good
courage and great strength. He
chung to the rock with the despera-
tlon OF a dying soul. 10 lose his hold
was to be dashed over the cataract.
Apparatus and c~ontrivances arrived
from Buffalo. New experiments and
new failures. Hoarse shouts still
rang across the rapids to hold on
to be OF good heart. The stoutest
heart that ever throbbed could not
grip that rock forever. 1t was won.
derful how he had endured. A fresh
idea had come to the minds OF half a
dozen mechanics. They were labor
ing to throw out a hawser; every
muscle Was strained; every eye was
bent upon their work. Sudd My the
man slipped away. He was exhaust
ed 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 a
moment longer in the Lell Of the wa
tiers, and then disappeared fo'ever.
There was an agony Of relief. No
one moved; 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
years-says that on an average about
six persons are carried over the falls
every year, and that four out Of the
six are wholly or partly intoxicated
aud lose their lives by carelessness or
recklessness in rowing above the
going beyond the line Of dan
ger. But for liqnor not mole than
,wo lives, he says, would be lost an
Louis Globe Democrat.