The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1879-10-23
A REMIscENcE OF NIAGARA.
LII
A mans Terrible Experience in the
Rapids clinging to a Rock.

Niagara Letter to st. Louis Globe Democrat.
1 remember that when / was a
boy that man got into the rapids
here, having been carried down in
boat, which was broken to pieces.
He had the good fortune to be
dashed on a rock, to which he
chung. 1t was at the height of the
season-August, if l recollect-and
he chung 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 thronged with peo-
pie anxious to do something to
save HIM. Dozens of plans were
suggested; some attempted, but
they oil failed. Thousands of dol
lars were offered to anybody who
would rescue him. The desperate
situation of the man had been tele-
graphed all over the country, and
every train brought crowds of pas.
sengers hither to. witness it with
their own eyes. He was encour-
aged by shouts from the banks, but
whether he could understand any
thing said is doubtful. The world
is said to be sympathetic. 1t is, or
appears to be, unsympathetic, be-
cause the object for which sympa-
thy is asked is abstract. When it
is tangible, visible. all is changed.
There was an exemplification.-
This poor wretch could be seen.
He was an ordinary, uneducated
man; but he was q man, and the
brotherhood and sisterhood of the
the race went out to him. Women
of fashion, blaze club men, selfish
worldlings grew pale as they watch
ed the unhappy wretch, so vivid
was their sympathy. Many per
sons sat up all night looking across
the seething, roaring waters at the
small, dark figure still clinging to
the rock. The morning came; re-
newed efforts were made, but they
all miscarried. The crowd had in
creased; it was immense. Every
body 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? Must the poor fellow perish
before our faces? Is there no way
to rescue him. Such questions
were incesently asked, but, alas, no
reply could be given. The man
had good courage and great
strength. He chung to the rock
with the desperation of a dying
soul. To lose his hold was to be
dashed over the cataract. Appara-
tus and contrivances 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
grippe that rock forever. 1t was
wonderful how he had endured. A
fresh idea had come to the minds !
of half a dozen mechanics. They /
were laboring to throw out a haw-
ser; every muscle was strained;
evey eye was bent upon their work.
Suddenly the man slipped away.
nc Was c8uduSJSu3 no JuIGW VI ulo
arms; he dashed toward the cata-
act. A low groan, as from one
breast, quaked through the throng;
he thousands shivered with terror.
A black object for a moment longer
n the he'll of the waters, and then
disappeared forever. There was an
.gony of relief. No one moved; no !
me spoke for awhile. All looked I
q the direction where the figure 8
ad been swallowed up: it was the 7
hill of tragedy distinctly wrought !
7hich froze every one for the mo- .
lent to the spot. The old resident
he has lived here forty years e
avs that on an average about six o
ersons are carried over the falls d
very year, and that four out o: the
x are wholly or partly intoxica- e
I'd, and lose their lives by careless y
ess or recklessness in rowing a
bovs the rapids, going beyond the Il
ne OF danger. But for liquor not n
ore then two lives, he says, would 5,
Q lost annually. d
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