Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-08-19
A Reminiscence of Niagara.

L remember when l was but a boy
that q man got into the rapids here,
having been carried down in a boat,
which was broken to pieces. He had the
good fortune to be dashed on rock, to
which he clung. 1t was at the height of
the season-August, if | recollect-and
he clung there for fully thirty-six hours
Every body streamed out of the hotels
and the village; the banks of the river,
particularly on this side, were thronged
with people anxious to do something to
save him. Dozens of plans were sug-
gested; some attempted, but they all
failed. Thousands of dollars were of
fered to anybody who would rescue him.
The desperate situation of the man had
been telegraphed over the country, and
every train brought crowds of passen-
gers hither to witness 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, or appears to be. unsympathetic,
because the OBJECT for which sympathy
is asked is abstract. When it is tangi--
bic, visible, all is changed There was
an exempli6cation. This poor wretch
could be seen. He was an ordinary, un-
educated man; but he was man, and
the brotherhood and sisterhood of the
race went out to him in pity and intense
eagerness to rescue him. Women Of
fashion, 6lGse 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 seething, roaring waters at the
small dark figure still clinging to the
rock. The morning came; renewed
efforts were made, but they all 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 cheeks. Can't something
be done? Must the poor fellow perish
before our faces? Is there no way to
rescue him? Such questions were in
.cessantly asked; but, alasi no reply
could be given.
The man had good courage and great
strength. He clung to the rock with the
desperation of dying soul. To lose
his hold was to be dashed over the cata-
ract. Apparatus 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 dozen mechanics.
They were laboring to throw out a
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; j;
lie dashed toward the cataract. A low
groan rs from one breath quaked
through the throng; the thousands
shivered with terror. A black object
for moment longer in the waters, and
then disappeared forever. There
was an agony of relief. No one moved !;
no one spoke for a while. All looked in
the direction where the figure had been
swallowed up. 1t was ths enchantment
Of terror; it was the chill Of tragedy dis
tinctly 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 and
lose their lives by.carelessness OF reek less
ness in rowing above the rapids, going
beyond the line of danger. But for
liquor, not more than two lives, he says,
would be lost nnually.-NaagGTa Falls
Letter 10 the So Louis Globe Democrat.