The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-10-05
MANKATo FREE PRESS.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER, 8. 1888.
Escan,s at Niarara.


Not many years ago. SAYS cores
ter was ut work on Second Sisters Is.
land, when he fell into the water. He
was old and weak, and while his posi-
ton was not very dangerous ut first, he
soon fioated down and toward mid
stream. when. just rs he seemed hover
ing on the brink. and exactly forty feet
from it, If contemporary records arc to
be believed, he caught on II rock. How
long would his muscles endure the
strain? And who would rescue him
and how? The crowd was helpless UNI
I'll Il guide appeared with u coil of rope.
One end he left in trusty hands and
with the other he plunged into the boil
ing tide. When he reached the poor
painter the old man still held in his
hand the putty-knife with which he
hail been working. He shifted the
knife to his pocket. tied the painter to
the rope and they reached the shore
safely. In another case bOatman was
crossing the river above the falls, when
a 70" suddenly came up. He lost his
bearings and knew he was drifting to
his death. His cries alarmed the vii
laga, and bells were rung for him to
row toward them. Then an oar broke.
His only hope then lay in u paltry little
anchor and Il common rope. which was.
moreover. much worn. He examined
every foot. nay. every inch of it; he
iuggcd ut the knots at each end. Time
and space were precious, but he could
not afford To make mistake. Then he
threw il over. II bumped along the
stones and his heart beat each time it
failed to catch grip. At last it caught
and brought the boat up standing.
while the tense string thrObbed like the
bass gut of harp. For u moment it
held. How soon would it partp He
shrank from feeling along the strands.
He was more afraid not to lest he should
read his fate in the Irvine tense and
,wanging under the current. Inch by
inca his fingers travelled to his arms
length. So long as it held there he was
safe. Time and time again through the
long night he did this, but never, he
said. without y heart like lead and
hands quivering like II leaf. When
morning dawned, as last it did, he was
easily saved In another case the dan
ger to life. though considerable, was
not imminent. A tug was towing three
scows. when one went adrift. With re-
marSable promptnesS and address the
captain OF the tug cut loose the rest of
his tow and steamed ahead of the drift
in. barge. There he held it by steam
power. and when the others came along
Il line was passed, the throttle was
thrown dead open. and it was sought to
make way up stream. But they had
drif;cd fairly within the grasp of the
spirit OF the waters. and for time it
seemed he would not let 90 his own.
Finally foot was gained, in few min
iites another, AMI then the tug of war
was virtually over. An escape" of
another sort was that of murderer
Tne sheriff was behind him. the river
in front. and only the wires of the old
bridge ut Lewiston to help him across.
Hand-over-hand he began the passage
His hands quickly blistercd, and then
they BLEED. Again and again he rested
his arms by hanging by his legs. Al
last he reached the opposite bank. and
lay painting fully an hour before he
continued his fight The feat was GER
tainly remarkable one for an anna
fplr.