Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1883-09-21

At SHUTDOWN one day last week q
man was carried over the falls. Who
he was Is not known. His dress and
appearance indicated respectability,
and after he got into the rapids his
selfpcssession was extraordinary. His
boat was very good one, decked over
the bow and should think would
carry three or four tons. No other
than person unacquainted with the
current above the rapids would ven.
tureso near them. | was on the head
Of Goat Island when l first discovered
the boat, then nearly half a mile be.
low the foot Of Navy Island and near.
ly two miles above the falls. There
seemed TO be two in the boat. II was
directed toward the American shore
the wind blowing from the shore and
the sail was still standing. Being
we'll acquainted with the river, l re-
gsrded the position Of the boat as ex.
trsordinary and hazardous and watch
ed ii with intense anxiety. Soon /
discovered the motion Of an oar. aud,
from the changing direction Of the
boat, concluded il had but one. While
constantly approaching nearer and
nearer the rapids, could discover j.
was gaining the American shore, and
by the time it had got near the first
fall in the rapids, half a mile above
Goat Island, Il was directly above the
island. There il was turned up the
river and for some time the wind kept
it nearly stationary. The only hope
seemed 10 be 10 come directly TO Goat
Island, and whether | should run half
a mile TO give an alarm, or TO remain
10 assist in case the boat attempted 10
reach the island. was a question Of
painful doubt. But soon the boat
was again turned toward the Amsri-
can shore. Then it was certain ii
must go down the American rapids.
l ran for the bridge. rallied a man at
the toll-gste and we ran to the main
bridge in time TO see the boat just be-
fore Il got 10 the first large fall in the
rapids. Then I saw but one man
he standing at the stern with his oar
changing the course Of the boat down
the rapids and as il plunged over he
sat down. / was astonished to see the
boat rise, with the mast and sail stand
ing and the man again erect directing
the boat toward the shore. AS he
came TO the next and 10 each succeed.
ing fall he sat down and then would
rise and apply his oar in the interme-
diate current. Still there were hopes
that he would come near enough to
the pier to jump. hut In moment ii
was gone. Another, that he might
jump upon the rock near the bridge;
but the current dashed him from it
under the bridge, breaking the mast.
Again he rose on the opposite side.
Taking his oar aud pointing his boat
toward the main shore, he cried:
''Had | better jump from the boati"
We could not answer, for either seem.
ID certain destruction. Within a few
rods OF the falls the boat struck a
rock, turned over and lodged. He
appeared to crawl from under ii and
wan with the oar In his hand till he
went over the precipice. Without the
lower TO render assistance, for half an
,our watching strong man strug-
fling with every nerve for life. yet
doomed with almost the certainty Of
lestiny TO an immediate and awful
ieath, still hoping with every effort for
lis deliverance, caused an intensity Of
excitement pray never again to ex-
'erience. Il Buffalo Commercial Ad-
'ertiser.. |,