Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-08-21

A REMINIsCENCE OF NIAGARA.-I remem
bsr when was but boy that man got iuso
| the rapids here. having bscn carried down 10
bont, which was broken to pieces. He had
the good fortune to be dashed On O rcck, to
| which be cIuug. Il was at tho height of tho
season-Aueust, if l recoIlcct-snd he clung
there for fully thirty six hours. Everybody
streamed out of the hotels and the village; tho
banks Of the river, particularly on this side,
were throDged with people anxious to DO some
thing to save. Deems of plans were suggest
ed; somo attem pied, bat they all failed.
Thousands of dollars werc offered to anybody
of the man had been tcegraphed over the coua.
try aud every train brought crowds Of p.sscu.
gers hither to witness it with their own eyes.
He was encouraged by shouts from tGo banks,
but whether ho could understand a0ythiug said
is doubtful. The world is said to be sympa,
thetlc. ltis, or it appears to be. uusympathetis
becaus, the obcc. for which sympathy is asked
Is abstract. When il is tangible, visible, all is
changed. There was au cY application This
poor wretch could be seen. lie vas an ordinary,
unedusatod man. but he was mau, aud the
brotherhood and sisterhcod of the rae, wart ou!
to him in pity and intense eagerness to rescus
him. Women Of fashico, baso club men. sal
hsh Worldllops grew pale as they watched tho
unhappy wretch. so vivid Was their sympathy.
hisny persons sat Up sll night lo0kiog across
the seethlng. roaring waters ct the small dark
hgura, still o!inging to the rock. The muruiog
came; renewed ctflrtS We're maGc, but they all
miscarred. The crowd had increased; i. WAS
immense Everybody was excltod. Tesrs wero
i'll the women's eyes. the palor cleaned through
the rouge Of some Of their cheoas. Can't some-
thing be done? Must the poor fellow perish
before our faces? Is .here no way TO rescue hinl
Such questions were incessanty alked bat, a,ha.
no rapIy could be given. Tho man had gooi
courage aud great strength. he ciung to tho
rock with the desperation ofa dying soul. 70
lose his hold was to be dashed over tho cataract.
Apparatus snd contrivsnces arrived fro,n Bur'
fslo.
New experiments and nov failures. Hoorse
shouts still rang across the rapids to hold on
TO be Of good heart. The stou.cst he.yt that
ever throbbed could not grippe that rock forever
II wss wonderful how he had endured. Afrosh
idea had como to tho minds Of half 8 doz3n ne
chanics. Tney were lsborlng TO throw on!
hsWser; every muscle was strained; every eye
was bent upon their work. Suddenly the man
slipped away. He was exhausted he throw W
L is arms; he dashed toward the Cataract. A low
2roan, as from oae breast, lake1 through tho
throng; the thousands shiyered with terror.
A black object for a nomen: loagar in tha
hell of tho waters. and then disappeared forever.
AAeFe "As al agony VI Ieie'. No oIe LnoVel
no one spoke for awhile. All looso1 in the di
rection where the figure hsi bean swolowad up.
1t WAS tho enchantmen. OF terror; II WAS tho
chill Of ftrsgedy distinctly wrought which fto2l
eVory one fer the moment to the spot. The old
resident-hc has lived there forty ycs-.-ssys
that on an average about six persons arc carried
over tho falls every year, and that four out tho
SIX are wholly or partially intoxicnted and lose
their lives by careessness or recklessnes.in row.
ing above the rapids. going beyond the limo OF
danger. But for liquor notmore than two lives,
he says, would bs lost annually lctts'.