Morning journal and courier., 1880-04-26
Going Oyer the Falls.
The Narrow Escape a Boy Had on the
 Oswegatchie River.


 Last Saturday, little before noon, George Almond, of HaiIesbors, about 12 years of age, commonly known as Grant" because of his devil-daring bravery and cool, ,S unquestioned pluck, and who, if not born web footed, takes to the water as naturally as duck se- cured small boat and set out for pleasure ride on the Oswegatchie, above the upper dam. He roEed about for short time, and then, impelled by his venturesome spirit, fool ishly tempted fate by seeing how near he could propel his boat to the brink of the falls with out going ever. Several people saw and watched his manoeuvres until, pulling just one stroke too far, he lackedth power to avert the threatened peril; and, although bending to his oars with that desperate energy which the presence of known danger lends to the real hero, the power of the rushing water over came his puny efforts, and, more rapidly nearing the brink of the falls, the boy and the boat plunged into the foaming waters below.
 A sudden thrill of terror ran through the minds of all beholders, and caused those who were helpless witnesses of the catastrophe to sound the sudden alarm by shouting, Boy the falls boy drowning!" This soon aroused tho people, but while crowd was gathering, the boat and lad were being swiftly borne by the boiling waters down the shall low rapids toward the greater falls at the Agalite Fibre Mills. George Carpenter rushed to the river brink and vainly en- deavored to reach q pole to the lad, who was being violently rolled and tumbled on- ward by the rushing current Sometimes, with head up and then wholly submerged, he threw his arms aloft, and va1nly tried to swim The danger was immirent-a few moments more and he would be swept over 8 fearful fall of thirty feet and from that boiling, seething cauldron of certain death no human power could rescue him alive.
 All gave him up for lost-no, not all, for Seth Van Nance was there, and he, scorning all personal danger, and remembering only the fate which awaited the lad, who still struggled desperately for life against the an- gry waters which held him in their grasp, ran down the river and dashed into the rush. ing stream quite a distance below, and in spite of all warnings and against the most urgent protests of those present, he dared the supreme danger, and by getting out quite distance into the rapids, the water being nearly up to his shoulders. by the msrest good luck the lad was swept within his reach. Then with the energy of despair ho graspsd the young navigator, and by careful and cautious steps succeeded in bring ing him safely to land. A suppressed mur- nur of applause escaped from the eager null titudo as Seth grabbed and held the boy above the water, and delighted and frantic yell of ''Saved! saved!" rent the air as the strong man landed his helpless and half drowned burden upon the shore.
 The young hero, who was 'tgame" to the last, declared as soon as he could speak, "Gol darn it, could uv swan out of the waves if the rocks hadn't thumped and bumped and hammered me so." But 1t is safe to predict that he will not risk another such ride very soon.