The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-09-04
A RcmInlscence or Niagara.

remember when vas but n boy that
man got into the rapids here, having
been erried down in boat, which was
brokon TO pieces. He he'd the good for
tune to be dashed on rock, to which he
clupg. II was mt the height of the sea-
son--August, .recolcct-and he clung
there for fully inirty.six hours. Every.
body streamed out Of the hotels and the
::.lage; the banks Of the river, particu-
larly on this side, were thronged 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 any
body who would rescue him. The despe.
rate situation of the man had been tele-
graphed over the country and every train
brought crowds Of passengers hither to
witness j. with their own eyes. He was
encouraged by shouts from the banks,
but whether he could understand any.
thing said is doubtful. The world ie said
to be sympathetic. It is, or it appears to
be, unsympathe!ic, because the object for
which sympathy is asked is abstract.
When Ii is tangible, Visible, all is
changed. There was an exemplification.
This poor wretch could be seen. He was
MI ordinary, uneducated man; but he
was q man, and the brotherhood and
sisterhood OF tine race went out to him
In pity and Intense eagerness TO rescue
him. Women of fashion, blase club men,
selfish worldlings grew pale as they
watched the unhappy wretch, 80 vivid
was their sympathy. Many persons sat
up aii night looking across the seething,
roaring waters at tho small dark figure
IN fta
came; renewed efforts were made, but
they all miscarried. The crowd had in
creased; It was immense. Everybody
was excited. Tears were in the women's
eyes, tho pallor cleaned through the
rouge of some of their cheeks. Can't
something be done? Must the poor fell
low perish before our faces? Is there no
way to rescue him? Such questions were
incessantly asked, but, alas, nc reply
could be given. The man had good
courage and great strength. He clung
TO the rock with the desperation of a
dying eeMl. TO loso his hold was 70 be
dashed over the cataract. Apparatus
and contrivancea arrived from Buffalo
New experiments and new failures
Hoarae shouts still rang across the rap
ids to hold onto be of good heart.
The stoutcst heart that ever throbbed
could not grip that rock forever. 1t was
wonderful how he had endured. A fresh
idea had come to the minds of half n
dozen mechanics. They were lahoring
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 shiv-
cred with terror. A black object for a
moment longer in, the hell of 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. 1t was she.epchantment
OF terror; It was the chill i: III { tTustiiy
distinctly wrought which froze every one
for the moment to the spot. The old
resident-he has lived here forty years
says that OH an average about ak feraona
are carried over. tho falls avery year, and
that four ont Of the ak are wholly or
partly intcs;ccsssssd anu iiaAe their lives by
carelessness Eorl rockiessness In rowing
above the rapids, goinr beyond tho line
of danger. Bnt for liquor not more than
two ), hesays, would be lost annu
ally.