The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-05-15
A DIVE FOR LIVE.
Ivan Bibbers Rock" and Its Thrilling
Story.

The Van Bibher mentioned in the follow
ing thrilling story is 4 relative of the Van
liibbers of this county, who came here in
the early part of the last century and set
tied on Bohemia Manor, where they became
the owners of large tracts of land. They
intermarried with the Petersons, and sub
sequently became identified with the agri-
cultural interests of the country around
Middletown, where the family continued
to own much real estate until 4 compare
lively recent period. The Van Bibbers, of
Bohemia Manor, were the descendants of
Jacob |. Van Bibber, one of the original
German settlers of Germantown, now part
Of Philadelphia, and for Il long time took
conspicuous part in the public affairs of
this county; one of them, Matthias Van Bib
Der, being presiding justice Of the justices
court, and another one occupying the re-
sponsible position of sheriff. The distin-
guished DR.. w. C. Van Bibber of Balti-
more, and his no less distinguished brother,
Thomas f. Van Bibber, late of Carroll coun-
ty, Md, now of San Francisco, California,
from whose pen several highly interesting
articles have from time to time appeared in
the columns of The Wing, are of the same
family.
Just below the kanawha Falls, in West
Virginia, writes a correspondent, is an over
hanging rock of immense size jutting ont
about one hundred feet over the seething
whirlpool, and about the same height above.
This was once the scene of 4 remarkable ad.
venture. The Indians were in pursuit of
Van Bibber, n settler and man Of distinction
i'll those early times He was hard pressed
and all access to the river below and above
being cut off, he was driven to this .jutting
rock, which proved to be the jumping-otf
place for him. He stood on the rock, in full
view of the enemy above and below, who
yelled like demons at the certainty of his
speedy capture. He stood up boldly, and
with his rifle kept them at bay. AS he
stood there he looked across the river-saw
his friendships wife with her babe in her
arms-all helpless to render assistance
They stood as if petrifed with terror and
amaZement. She cried at the top of her
voice: Leap into the river and meet me-
Laying her babe on the grass she seized the
oars and sprang into the skitf alone. AS
she neared the middle of the river, her hus-
band saw the Indians coming in full force
and yelling like demons. "Wife, wife, he |
screamed, "Im coming; drop down little
loNeT w iIu lHlS lie SpTlnp lTOhi his I
crag and descended like an arrow into the /
water, feet foremost The wife rested on
her oars few moments to see him rise to |
the surface, the little canoe floating like Il
cork, bobbing about on the boiling flood. |
1t was an awful moment; it seemed an age |
to her. Would he ever rise? Her earnest |
gaze seemed to penetrate the depths of the
water, and she darted her boat farther down
the stream. He rose near her; in a moment |
the canoe was alongside of him, and she /
helped him to scramble into it amid shower .
of arrows and shot that the batfled Indians .
poured into them. The daring wife did not .
speak a word; her husband was more dead .
than alive, and all depended on her strength .
being maintained till they could reach the
bank. This they did, just where they had .
started, right where the babe was still ly-
ing, growing and laughing. The men pulled
the skiff high up on the sand, and the wife .
slowly arose and helped TO lift Van Bibber
to his feet. He could not walk, but she laid
him down by his babe, and then seating
herself she wept wildly, just as any other
woman would have done under the circum-
stances. That babe is now a grandfather,
and that rock is called evan Bibber's Rock
n this 1ay