Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-10-04
CARRIED OVER NIAGARA
Remarkable Seif-POssessIOn OF IL Man
Doomed TO Sure Death.
Buffalo Commercial Advertiser.

Buffalo Commercial AdvertiseT.l
AT sundown yesterda. man was carried
over the falls Who he was is not known.
His dress and appearance indicated respecta-
bility, and after he got into the rapids his
selt-pOssession 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 unac-
uuainted with the current above the rapids
would venture so near them. l was on the
head of Goat Island when / first discovered
the boat then near half mile below the
foot of Navy Island, and nearly two miles
above the falls. There seemed to be two IN
the boat 1t was directed toward the Amer
lean shore-1he wind blowing from the shore,
and the sail was still standing. Being we'll
acquainted with the river, l regarded the
position Of the boat as extraordinary and
hazardous and watched it with intense anxl-
ETY..
Soon l discovered the motion of an oar,
and from the changing direction OF the boat,
concluded it had but one. While constantly
approaching nearer and nearer the rapids |
could discover it was gaining the American
shore, and by the time it had got near the
first fall in the rapids half mile above
Goat Island, it was directly above the Island.
There it was turned up the river, and for
some time the wind kept it nearly stationary.
The only hope seemed to be to come direct
ly to Goat Island, and whether | should run
half mile to give an alarlh, or remain to
assist in case the boat attempted to make
the Island, was question of painful doubt.
But soon the boat was again turned toward
the american shore. Then it was certain
that iu must 90 down the American rapids.
l ran to the bridge, rallied man at the
toll-gate and we ran to the main bridge IN
time to see the boat just before it got to the
first large fall in the rapids. Then | saw but
one mamie standing at the stern with his
oar changing the course of the boat down
the current and as it plunged over he sat
down. l was astonished to see the boat rise,
with the mast and sail standing, and the
man again erect directing the boat forward
to the shore. AS he came to the next and
each succeeding fall, he sat down, and then
would rise and apply his oar in the inter-
mediate current STILL there was hope that
he would come near enough to the pier to
Jump, but in moment it was gone. An
other, 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, and pointing his boat toward
the main shore, he cried: Had l better
Jump from the boat 2" We could not answer,
for either seemed certain destruction. With
in few rods of the falls the boat struck a
rock, turned over and lodged. He appeared
to crawl from under it, and swan with the
oar in his hand until he went over the preci-
pice. Without the power to render assistance,
for half an hour watching a strong man
struggling with every nerve for his life, yet
doomed with almost the certainty of destiny
to an immediate and awful death, still hop
ing with every effort for his deliverance,
caused an intensity of excitement / pray
God never again to experience.