Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-09-16
TWO TRAGEDIES OF NIAGARA.

More than twenty years ago Niagara
witnessed a tragedy which, while of q
heartrending character, was marked by
| an act of heroism seldom eQualIed in
grandeur. Mr.. Charles Addineton, a
| young man q or - years af age, vas
afianced to Mrs. DeForest, both being
residents of Buffalo. One day a happy
party, comprising Mrs. DeForest, Miss
DeForest, young daughter. Eva, a
beautiful child five or six years old. and
Charley" Addington. as his friends
| we're accustomed to call him, visited the
Falls.
They crossed the bridge to Goat Isl
| and, And, while resting under the trees,
little Eva strayed away from the group,
| and approaching the bank of the mar
row but deep and swift stream that
| rusiles between Goat Island and the
small island lying between it and the
| main American rarids. was amusing
| herself by casting sticks into the water
| and watching them as they vhlrled
swiftly away. Mrs. DeFerest, alarmed
for her child's safety, reques' cd Charles
Addington to bring her back. Charley
at once proceeded to the bank, and,
thinking to give the little one fright,
approached her stealthily from behind,
and. catching her under the arms, held
her threateningly over the stream.
The startled child threw her arms up
over her head, and instantly she slipped
through AddiRgton's hands and fell
itto the rapids.
The realization of the horrible calam-
ity must have come home to Adding
toms brain with the rspidity of the
liehtning's fash. He saw that his rash
act had cost the child's life, and that
one desperate chance of saving her re-
mained-that the world was at an end
for him forever. Tearing off his coat.
he rushed along the bank until he had
passed little Eva, who WAS KEEP. aiioat
by her clothing: then plunging in ahead
of her, he seized the child and aesper-
ately strove to throw her on the bank.
As he made the effort he fell back into
the rapids and was whirled over
the small fall that intervenes between
the American and the Horseshoe
fails. Little Eva s.rssk the top of
the bank, but all power h.l apparently
gone from her, and she rolled ick into
the stream and was hurried to hsr
dreadful fate. The mother aud sister
stood powerless and paraly zcd with
horror while tragedy almost instsn-
tsIIeous in its action passed before their
| eyes. leaving it's dark cloud hanging
nver all their futnre lives. Charley Ad-
| aington had made 4 herus atonemeut
for his tn, ughtless and reckless act.
An accident with very dramatic ac-
compartments occurred a few years
After the sad event that cost Charley
| Addinetsn and Eva DsForrest their
lives. Oue morning, soon after day
break, the early risers at the falls dis
! ever Il something III m1ving Oh huge
old log or trunk II tree, which for
years had shown itself above the boiling
rapids on the American side. having
been caught by and fi-ml, wedged into
the rocks on It's way to the falls. Look
ing downward from the bridge, this log
was and is still in full sight, in the
fiercest part of the rapids, considerably
nearer to the small island on the Ameri-
can side of Goat island than to the
American shore. The moving object
was soon found to be a man, and it was
evident that his boat had been carried
over the falls during the night. whilo be
had miraculously been cast against the
log, nv which he had managed to stop
his fearful rush toward death. Dis
patches were Immediately sent to Buffa-
10, to the coast life saving service, and
Capt. Derr hastened to Niagara by n
special train, carrying with him two
metallic life oats, and plans to save the
man weie concerted. But, before all
the arrangements wele completed. the
news had been spread abroad, and many
thousands of persons had reached the
falls by special trains.
The first attempt at rescue vas by
means of large Francis metallic life
boat attached to a cable, which was
Stacked off from the bridge opposite the
log and guided by ak ropes. The boat
had not got far from the bridge when
| tho rapids soized it, turned it round and
round and seemed to be endeavoring to
try aud crush in its sides. The cable
snapped like whip cord, and the poor
fellow, who had been hopefully await
ing the effect made for his rescue, saw
the boat whirled past him and swept
over the falls, as IL in mockery of his
would-be rsscuers. Considerable time
was then used in celebrating new
plan, and II WAS proposed to fasten a
| cable to some building on the American
side, o carry it over to the island until
| it would sag near the log, and then to
| rescue the man by means of n basket
let down by rings, and then to be let
/ down aud pulled in by smaller ropes.
The materials for this experiment could
not bc procured, so at last 1t WAS
decided To send down strongly
| constructed raft in tie same
manner as the life boat had
been launched; and II IL reached the
man i'll safety, 10 ease it over toward
the sinall island, from whence his res
cue would be comparatively easy. The
raft WAS built, but it was four O'Clock in
the afternoon before all was ready. The
day had passed without the flight OF
time being noticed.
The excitement was intense. Men
4 and women, who had stood many hour.
without food, we're plainly agitated. The
raft moved: IL withstood bravely the
Wild assaults of the angry rapids. II
ineared the log. Theaman stood up and
waved his arms. The raft came within
his reach and he go: on to it, ate tn.
food, dsanksA SMALL quahtity of veal
brandy and water that had been put OF
board. and fastened himself To the lash
inss which had been prepared, and tho
intent of which he understood. Ther
the raft WAS cautiously and steadil,
moved toward the island with its pre-
| oAOus freight.
The people shouted. and many wep
from overwroncht feelings. Suddenl,
the raft came 10 a staud. The rope wa
fast. IL had caught in rock. To at
tempt fo force IL WAS TO risk its parting
and the fatal conseQ iences could not b
Misunderstood. The poor victim SCENE,
20 take in the situation and grow des
rerate He lnfastened the lash'nes
J stood up. made spring I ON the raf
in the direction of the island. and wa
in the foanlng waters. Instantly h
struck ou. for tho island. He seeme'
to be powerful swimmer, and thou
sands of men and women held thei
breath in painful suspense. He ar
peared to near the island in his despel
ate endeavors. Then arose the CRY
Hes saved. he's saved
But suddenly those on the bridge. VIII
. could zee more distinctly from their ID
. cation. became aware that the distanc
\ n "A