The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-06
whiriing Down Niagara.
A THRILLING STORY or THE RESCUE OF FOUR
MEN BY A BRAVE CANADIAN.

I
MEN BY BRAVE CANADIAN.
buffalo Commercially
Just rs grain-scow containing n crew
OF four men. and lowed by two horses
swung out Of the Chippewa cut into the
Niagara river, she met a raft OF timber
rather near 10 the shore for the scow to
pass between it and the land. The scow
was forced to take the outside. The driver
Of the horses did his best TO keep the line
clear by urging his horses. but IL finally
caught In the logs and snapped. As the
rope parted the boat trembled on the sur
face OF the water for an instant, as IL in
dread of the terrible fate that awaited 1t,
and then swung around and started for
Niagara Falls at a terrific pace. The scow,
being destined for canal navigation, had
no small beat or anchor.
Approaching in an instant their awful
danger, the men on the scow yelled TO the
men on the raft TO get boat quick. one
of their number sprang ashore and ran !or
Chippewa, shouting as he ran Help; a
boat, quick; men going over the falls! y
| The sound OF his voice reached the village
considerably in advance OF the man. and
the cry was there taken up and repeated
| from street to street. The people poured
out OF their houses and shops, each in
curing OF the other what could be done.
Some scattered to hunt for one, while those
who felt that they could be Of no use II a
boat were found, ran down the creek-bank
TO see what was the situation on the river
On reaching IL we were Mortified to see
that the scow had already got considerably
below the mouth of the creek, and was
shedding down stream with its precious
human freight to what seemed certain de-
struction. Some OF the men on the vessel
were on their knees, with clasped hands
and upturned faces, commencing their
souls TO God. Very soon the Canadian
bank OF the river was lined with hundreds
Of people, while quite crowd could also
be seen on the Goat Island side. They
were all agonized witnesses OF four fellow
beings in horrible terror.
Just as all hope had been abandoned, APP
parently, by people on land and the men
on the scow, a voice cried from the upper
end of the crowd, "Here comes q boat"
In an instant every eye was turned in the
direction of Chippewa creek, and there
most OF them recognized the tall and ath-
letic form OF a bargeman named Smith, in
an ordinary cinker boat, boldly pulling
into the river.
As he forged out into the stream he
made a TASTY survey Of the situation and
then piled the white ash with redoubled
energy. As he sped along, the boat almost
leaping from the water at each stroke,
cheer arose from the people on the shore
that fairly rent the air. The moment Smith
appeared the attention OF the men on the
scow was riveted upon him and his frail
craft. On and on he shot, each stroke mar
rowing the distance between him and the
scow, but the latter was getting alarmingly
close to the rapids, to enter which was GER
tain destruction to all on board.
Those OF us on shore could not help adj
miring and applauding the heroism of
young Smith, but we could only feel that
the result Of his daring would be to add
another to the list of the lost. As he
neared the scow lie turned his head and
shouted TO the men: "Scatter along the
side OF the boat and drop in as pass by"
The command was promptly obeyed, and in
an instant the little craft was alongside.
One after another the men sprang in, until
the four were safely in the bottom.
Now came moment Of painful anxiety.
" What will he do 2" was the query that
came to every mind. Smith had his plan
of action and never hesitated a moment.
At point some distance from the Canada
shore the current divided at the head of
the rapids, part of the stream flowing
around an island i'm the vicinity OF the
burnt spring. In reaching the current
leading around the island lay the only hope
of escape. Takinga diagonal course across
and down thestream Smith bent every effort
to reach the Canadian divide. 1t was a
desperate struggle for the life of five men
between the seething, boiling waters and
the muscle and endurance Of young Smith,
with the odds seemingly against him. But
the divide was finally gained, with not
boats length to spare, and the frail craft
shot down between the island and the
mainland like rocket. At the foot OF the
island the channel widened materially, the
current slackened, and the water became
more shallow, and here young Smith land
ed his boat, having performed one OF the
most heroic and daring ieats ever perform
ed by mortal man.