River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-08-23
BEFORE CAPT. MEBB.
FooIhardy Risks and Remarkable
Escapes at Niagara Falls.


Escapes at Niagara Falls.
There were daring men before Capt
Webb, and Of course they found THEFT
way to Niagara One jumped from the
bridge, 1872 feet, to the swirling current
Then he turned over twice. AT last he
struck the water with another slap
what the boys call "belly-whopper.h
This man died, probably before he
reached the water And yet perhaps
that idea, too, has gone to meet the ex-
ploded legend of William Tell. Butsuch
little accidents only stimulate the recks
less. Another jumper soon appeared,
MS soon another swimmer may. lie wore
a h trness over his shoulders. To 1t was
attached a wire, running loosely over a
cylinder on the bridge. That kept his
feet straight toward Davy Jones' locker,
and he survived the leap, to his sconsld'
cradle personal profit. From bridge 70
water he went in four seconds-the only
time on record.
OF accidents some very strange ones
are recorded. One lady stopped Tor
cup of water, lost her balance, and was
out of reach and over the falls almost
before her amazed husband knew what
happened. Another lady stopped to
pluck flower on the brink OF Table
Rock She was taken up dead from tne
rocks below In 1875 an accident equally
sad and foolish occurred. An engaged
couple went behind the falls, into the
Cave OF the Winds, without guide. The
lady actually sought to battle In q poor
which even the guides never visited.
Her lover lost his life in trying TO save
hers. Perhaps the most dramatic accl'
dem was the following. A playful young
man caught up charming child VINO was
watching the tumbling waves. Now
Lizzie. i am going to throw you into the
water" he said, and swung her back
and forth. She screamed, struggled,
and slipped from his hands. He gazed
after her, realized, what he had done and
leased Rescue was helpless. Perhaps
he did not deserve death, and ~ least
uensure may die wlth'hiIu.
OF escapes, there are one or two mar
row almost beyond belief, and which
! envolve stories of skill and bravery we'll
! worth telling. Not many years ago "a
| painter was at work on Second Sisters
! Island, when he fell into the water.
| He was old and weak, and while his po-
| sition was not very dangerous at first,
| he soon foated down and toward mid
stream, when, just as he seemedhoyer-
| ing on the brink, and exactly f0fty&cet
| from it, if contemporary records are To
he believed, he caught on rock. How
long would his muscles endure the
| strain? And who would rescue him, and
| how? The crowd was helpless, until a
guide appeared with a coil ofrope. One
end he left in trusty hands and WITH the
other he plunged into the boiling tide.
When he reached the poor painter the
old man still held in his hand the putty
knife with which he had been working.
He shifted the knife to his pc cket, tied
the painter 10 the rope, and they
| reached the shore safely.
In another case bOatmau was cross
ing the river above the falls, when a log
suddenly came up. He lost his bearings
and knew he was drifting to death. His
| cries alarmed the village, and belts were
| rung for him to row toward them. Then
an oar broke. His only hope then lay
in paltry little anchor, and II common
rope, which was, moreover, much "orn.
He examined every foot, nay, every
inch, of it; he tugged at the knots at
each end. Time and space were precv
cious, but he could not afford to make
mistake. Then he threw it over. II
bumped along the stones, and his heart
beat eaca time it failed to catch grip.
At last il caught and brought the boat
throbbed like the bass gut of n harp,
For the moment it held How soon
would it part? He shrank from feeling
along the strands He was more afraid
not to lest he should feel his fate in the
Irvine tense and twanging under the
current. Inch bv inch his fingers tray
eed to his arms length. So long as il
held there he was safe Time and time
again through the long night he did
this, but never, he said, without a heart
like lead and hands Quivering like leaf
When morning dawned, rs at last it did
he was easily saved. Ia another case
the danger to life, though considerable
was not imminent. A tug was towing
three scOws, when one WIS adrift. VIII
admirable promptness and address the
captain of the tug cut loose the rest o.
his tow and stea med ahead of the drift
ing barge. There he held ID by steam
power, aud when the others came along
a line was passed, the throttle was
thrown dead open, and 1t was sought tC
make way up stream. But they had
drilted fairly within the grasp Of the
spirit of the waters, and for time il
seemed he would not let go his OWE. Fi-
na!ly foot was gained, in few minutes
another, and then the tug Of war was vir
tually over. An escape" of anothersor
was tnaJ OF murderer. Inc SHcflH WA
behind him, the river in front, and only
the wires of the old bridge at Lewiston
to help him across Hand over hand be
began the passage. His hands quickly
blistered, and then they bled. Agar
and again he rested his arms by hanging
by his legs. AT last he reached the OPP
posite bank and lay painting full an hou
before he continued his fig Int. The fea
was certainly a remarkable one for al
amateur-New York Times.