Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-07-13
TOWARDS NIAGARA.
A Thrilling Story Of the Rescue
of Four Men by q Brave Cana

A Thrilling Story Of the Rescue
of Four Men by a Brave Cana.
dian
During the winter of lS47-S," said an
Did resident of Chippewa, Ont. "a scow
had been bailt for use on the Erie Canal.
With the view of delivering her in Buff
falo she was fitted out with crew of
four men, and team of horses to tow
her up the river. A start was made,
but just as the scow swung out of the
Chippewa Cut, into the river, she met a
raft of timber rather near to 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 it finally caught in the
logs and snapped. AS the rope parted
the boat trembled on the surface of the
wafer for an instant as if in dread of the
terrible fate that awaited it, and then
swung around and started for niagara
Falls at terrific pace. The scow being
destined for canal navigation. had no
small boat or anchor.
"Appreciating i'll an instant their aw-
tul dduSeI tut Iitli Ou tilt SCOW SGlleu
to the men on the raft to get boat quick
ran for Chippewa, shouting as he ran
Help! boat, quick, men going over
the fallsw The sound Of his voice
reached the village considerably in ad-
vance 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 inquiring of the
other what could be done. Some scat
tered to hunt for one, while those who
thought that they-could be of no use if a
boat were found ran down the creek
bank to see what was the situation of
the river. On reaching it we were hor-
ritied to see that the scow had al eady
got considerably below the mouth Of
the creek; and was speeding down stream
with its precious human freight to what
seemed certain destruction. Some of the
men on the vessel were on their knees
with clasped hands and up
turned faces, commencing their
souls to God. Very soon the Canadian
bank ofthe river was lined with hun
dreds of people, while crowd could al.
so be seen on the Goat Island side.
They were all agonized witnesses of
four llow-beings in horrible terror.
Just as all hope had been abandoned
apparently by people on land and the
upper end of the crowd, "here comes a
boat" In an instant every eve was
turned in the direction of Chippewa
Creek, and there most of them recog-
nlzed the tall and athletic form of Young
Smith. have forgotten his first name, in
an ordinary clinker boat, boldly pulling
into the river. He found boat while
the rest ofus were gazing at the move
ments of the scow, and had used all pos
siblee dispatch in reaching the scene.
AS he forged out into the stream he
made hasty survey of the situation,
and then Piled the white ash with re-
doubled energy. AS he sped along, the
boat almost leaping from the water at
each stroke, cheer arose from the peo-
pie on the shore that fairly rent the air.
The moment Smith appeared the at
tention of the men on the scow was riv-
eted upon him and his frail craft. On
and on he shot, each stroke narrowing
but the latter was getting alarmingly
close to the rapids, to enter which was
certain destruction to all on board.
Those OF US on shore could not help
admirlng 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 he 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?" was the query that
came to every mind. Smith had his
plan Of action and never hesitated mo-
ment. 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 in the vicinity
of the burnt spring. In reaching the
current leading around the island lay
the only hope of escape. Taking dag
onal course across and down the stream
Smithbent every effort to reach the Cam
adian divide. twas desperate struggle
for the life of five men between the
seethlng, boiling waters, and the muscle
and endurance Of young Smith, with the
odds seemingly against him. But the
divide was finally gained with not a
boats length to spare, and the
frail craft shot down between the is
land and the mainland like rocket.
AT the foot OF the island the channel
widened materially, the current slack.
ened, and the water became more shall
low, and here young Smith landed his
boat. having performed one of the most
herioc and daring feats ever performed
by mortal man. The stepping ashore
Of the men was the signal for another
cheer that for moment drowned the
roar OF the cataract, and the rescuer was
literally borne upon the shoulders Of the
excited people. He received $40 apiece
nar .ae e ha seroe Ga
scow went down the rapids and lodged
on the brink of the horseshoe falls,
about one third projecting over the
precipice. 1t remained in this position
about six weeks, then broke in two and
disappeared. Buffalo Commercial Ad-
vertiser.
Love is the Simplest Thing In the