Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-09-18
A RemInIsceDce OF NIagara.

l remember when / was but n boy
that IA man got into the rapids here
J having been carried down In boat,
which was broken to pieces. lie had the
good fortune 10 be dashed on rock, Ia
which he clung. 1t was mt the height oi
the season August, If / recollect-and
he clung there for fully thirty-six hours.
Everybody streamed out OF the hotels
and the village; the banks of the river,
particularly on this side. were throngcd
with people anxious To do somei hing 10
save him. Dozens of plans were sug-
gcstcd; some attempted. but they all
failed. Thousands of dollars were Of
iered 10 anybody who would rescue him
The desperate situation.of the man had
been telegraphed over the country. and
every train brought crowds of pnsgen-
gers hither TO witness IL with their own
eyes. lie was encouraged by shouts
from the banks, but whether he could
understand anything said Is doubtful.
The world is said to be sympathetic.
1t IL, or appears 10 be. unsympathetic.
because the object for which sympathy
is asked is abstract. When it Is tangi-
bic, visible, all Is changed. There was
an cxempliiication. This poor wretch
could be seen. He was AN ordinary, un-
educated man; but lac was n man, and
the brotherhood and sistcrhood of the
race went out to him in pity and intense
cagcrncss TO rescue him. Women of
fashion, 6idsc club men. selfish world
lings grew pale as they watched the un-
happy wretch, SO vivid was their SYM
pathy.
Many persons sat up all night looking
across the sccthing. roaring waters at the
small dark figure still ciinging to the
rock ff'I. t,.avt,,,.,. a
efforts were made. but they nll miss
carried. The crowd had increased It
was immense Everybody was excited.
Tears were In the wOman's eyes the
pallor CLEANED through the rouge Of
some of their checks. Can't something
be done2 Must the poor fellow perish
before our faces? Is there no way to
rescue him? Such questions wcrc in
ccssantly 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 10 be- dashed over the cata-
ract. Apparatus and contriyanccs
arrived from Buffalo. New experiments
and new failures. Hoar-e shouts still
rang across the rapids 10 hold on, 10 be
of good heart. The stoutcst heart that
ever throhbcd could not gripc that
rock forever. II was wonderful how he
had endured. 4 fresh idea had come 10
the minds of half n dozen mechanics.
They were laburing 20 throw out n
hawsor; every muscle was strained /;
every eye was bent upon their work.
Suddenly the man slipped away. He
was exhausted; hc thrc" up his arms /;
hc dashed toward the cataract 4 low
groan as from one breath quakcd
through the throng; the thousands
shiycrcd with terror. 4 black object
Tor moment longer in the waters. and
then disappeared forever. 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. II was th, enchAntmcni
Of terror; IL wa. the chill of tragedy dis
tinctly wrought which frozc every one
for the moment to the spot.
The old rcsidcnt--lfe has lived here
forty ycarF-says that on an average
about six persons are carried over the
falls every year. and that four out Of the
six arc wholly oI partly intoxicated and
lose thoirtliycs hy caTcIcssuoEs or reckless
ness in rowing above the rapids. going
beyond the line Of danger But for
liquor. not more than two lives. lac says
woud be .us' mnul Niagara FhN,
LcttcT % hic - Louis GlDJC- DcDiocrdt.