The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-04-07

! and we all felt the man might be saved.
Hope also had revived in him. He
stood for some time upon the log MAX
ing signals to those who directed the
boat.
He eagerly seized her, drew her to-
ward him, jumped into her, and made
signs to them to draw him up. This
was commenced, but some of the tackle
had caught, and twas deemed necessary
to let it loose for an instant. This was
done; the boat foated few feet down
the rapid, swung round the lower end of
the log, entangling the cable beneath it,
and there remained immovably fixed.
Once more the poor fellows work began.
He drew off one of his boots and bailed
the boat, he pushed at the log, climbed
upon it, and used every possible exer-
ton to move the boat, but in vain! An
hour was spent in these fruitless efforts
-an hour of terrible suspense to all who
beheld him. He worked well, for he
worked for his life. Three months after.
this boat retained its position, nor will it
move until the rocks grind its cable in
two, or the waters tear it piecemeal into
shreds.
Another plan must be devised, and
this, with American promptitude, was
soon done. A raft of from twenty to
thirty feet long and five feet broad was
knocked together with amazing rapidity.
It consisted of two stout poles, made
fast, five feet asunder, by mailing four or
five pieces of two-inch board at each ex-
tremity; thus the machine consisted of a
sort OF skeleton raft, with small stage
at either end. On one of these stages
that to which the cables (cf which there
were two) were lashed-was tightly fixed
large empty cask, for the sake of its
buoyancy, on the other complete net
work of cords, to which the man was to
lash himself; also a tin can of refresh
ments, he having taken nothing since
the evening before; three or four SINH
lar cans, by the way, had been let down
to him already, attached to strong pieces
OF new line, but the cords had in every
instance been snapped, and the food lost.
The raft was finished, launched, and
safely let down to the log. The poor
fellow committed himself to its care, he
lashed his legs firmly, and then signaled
to draw up. The raft advanced under
the first pull, but its head, owing to the
great light cask, dipped beneath it, and
as the raft still advanced the water broke
over it to such depth that the man was
obliged to raise himself upon all tours,
keeping his chin we'll elevated to avoid
being drowned. We expected at every
pull to see his head go under, but alas
they pulled in vain, for the front of the
raft, pressed down by the weight of fall
ing water, had come in contact with
rock and would not advance. The ropes
were slackened, she fell back, but again
hltched in her return. It was then de-
termined to let her swing to another
part Of the rapio, where the stream did
not appear quite SO impossible. This
was done, and second attempt to draw
it up was made, half way between the
log and the opposite shore "a small
island). This also failed from the same
cause. therefore it was proposed to en-
deavor to let the, raft float down and
swing round upon the island. This was
commenced, but with the old result, the
cable was caught in the rocks, and the
raft remained stationary. However, she
was floating easily, and the poor fellow
could rest.
EARLY in the day, for the afternoon
was now far advanced, one of the large
ferry boats Quilt expressly for crossing
beneath the falls) had been brought, but
had lain idle. This was now put into
>requisition, and nobly she rode toward
the raft, while in breathless silence we
all watched her as she dipped at the va
rious falls, and each time recovered her
self. l shuddered as she was launched,
for I began to see that the man could
not be saved by boat; boat never
could return against rapid, however
we'll able to float down it. No sooner
would her bow come in contact with a
fall than it would dip, fill and spin
round, as did the first skiff which was
lost. --
The poor fellow himself was getting
impatient visibly SO. He united his
lashing, stood upright upon the raft,
eagerly waiting to seize the boat and
Jump into her. She mad but one more
fall to pass, and that fall was situated
just above where he stood she paused
at the brink Of it, swung down to it like
lightning, and, as he leaned forward to
seize her, she rose on the returning wave.
struck him in the chest, and he strug-
gled hopelessly in the overwhelming tor.
rent.
The exclamation of horror, for it was
not cry, which burst from the thou
sands who by this time were assembled
shall never forget, nor the breathless
silence with which we watched him,
fighting with the waters as they hurried
him along upright, waving both hands
above his head. We lost sight of him
at intervals, yet again and again he re-
appeared, and I thought hours must
have passed in lien of one brief half
minute. But the end came at last
once I saw his arms wildly waved above
his head, and, in an instant, the crowd
turned from the spot in dead silence.
The man was lost.
A Strange Cure.