The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-08-24
PERTLS OF THE RAPIDS.
rHRIhLING INCIDENTS THAT HAVE
OCCURRED AT NIAGARA.
People Who have Been swept to Death Over
the Fdils--some Fearful Adventure aud
Narrow Fs mes.


the Fiils--some Fearful Adventure aud
Narrow rs apes.
There were daring men before Cap
tain Webb and, of course, they found
their way to Niagara, says the New
York Times. One jumped from the
bridge, 1872 feet, into the swirling cur
rent. For fifty feet he fell like a
plummet. Then he turned over twice.
Al last he struck the water with an
awful slap. This man died, probably
before he reached the water. And yet,
perhaps, that idea, too, has gone to
meet the exploded legend of William
Tell. But such little accidents only
stimulate the reckless. Another
jumper soon appeared, as soon another
swimmer may. He wore a harness
over his shoulders. To it was attached
a wire, running loosely over a cylind,
on the bridge That kept his feet
stright toward Dayy Jones' locker, and
he survived the leap, to his consider
able personal profit. From bridge to
the water he went in four seconds
the only time on record.
OF accidents some very strange
ones are recorded. One lady sto Jped
for a cup of water, lost her balance,
and was out of reach and over the
falls almost before her amazed hus-
band knew what happened. Another
lady stopped to pluck a flower on the
brink of Table kock. She was t. ken
up dead from the rocks below. In
1915 an accident equally sad ami fool
ish occurred. An engaged couple
went behind the ia Is, into the Cave
Of the Winds, without guide. The
lady actually sought to bathe in pool
which even the guides never visited.
Her lover lost his life in trying to save
hers Perhaps the most dramatic ac-
cident was the following: A playful
young man caught up a charming
child who was watching the tumbl ng
waves. "Now, Lizzie, l am going to
throw you into the water" he said,
and swung her back and forth. She
screamed, struggled and slipped from
his hands. He gazed after her, realized
what he had done, and leaped. Rescue
was helpless. Perhaps he did not de-
serve death, and at least censure may
die with him.
OF escapes, there are one or two
narrow almost beyond belief, and
which involve stories of skill and
bravery well worth telling. Not many
years ago a painter was at work on
Second Sisters Island, when he fell
into the water. He was old and weak,
and while his position was not very
dangerous at first, he soon f1oated down
and toward m.dstream, when, just as
he seemed lowering on the brink, and
exactly forty feet from it, if contem-
porary records are to be believed, he
caught on rock. How long would
his muscles endure the strain? And
who would rescue him, and how ?
The crowd was helpless until a guide
appeared with coil of rope. One end
he left in trusty hands and with the
other he plunged into the boiling tide.
When he reached the poor painter the
old man still held in his hand the putty
knife with which he had been work
ing. 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 fog suddenly came up. He
lost his bearings and knew he was
drifting to death. His cries alarmed
the village, and bells were rung for
him to row toward them. Then an
oar broke. His only hope then lay in
q paltry little anchor and common
rope which was, moreover, much
To nn1
every inch of it; he tugged at the knots
at each end. Time and space were
precious, but he could not afford to
make a mistake. Then he threw it
over. 1t 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 a harp. For the moment it
held. How soon would it part? He
shrank from feeling along the strands.
He was more afraid not to lest he
should read his fate in the Irvine tense
and twanging under the current. Inch
/ by inch 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 heart like
lead and hands quivering like q
leaf. When morning dawned, as at
last it did, he was easily saved. In an
other case the danger to life, though
considerable, was not imminent. \
tug was towing three scows, when one
went adrift. With admirable prompt
ness and address the captain of the tue
cut loose the rest of his tow anC
steamed ahead of the drifting barge
There he held it by steam power, ant
when the others came along IA line was
passed, the throttle was thrown deaC
open, and it was sought to make wa,
up stream. But they had drifted fairly
within the grasp of the spirit of thu
waters, and for time it seemed 1t
would not let go his own. Finally ;
foot was gained, in few minutes an
other, and then the tug of war wa
virtually over. An "escape" of anoth
er sort was that of murderer. TIT
! sheriff was behind him. the river il