Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-09-13

Remarkable seIf-Possession OF SNah
Doomed 10 Sure Death.
Buffalo Commercial advertiser.

Buffalo Commercial -AuftElh~f-
At shutdown yesterday a man was
carried over the falls. Who he was
IS not known. His dress and appear
ance indicated responsibility, and after
he got into the rapids his self-posseS-
sion was extraordinary. His boat
was a 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 venture so
noar them. 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 seem
ed to be two in the boat. 1t was di-
rected towards the American shore
the wind blowing from the shore, and
the sail was still standing. Beng
we'll acquainted with the river, | re-
earded the position of the boat as OK
traordinary and hazardous. and
watched it with intense anxiety. Soon
| 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 that time it had got near the
first fall in the rapids, half mile
above Goat Island There 1t was
turned up the river, and for some
time the wind kept it nearly station
airy. The only hope seemed to be to
come directly to Goat Island, and
whether | should run half a m lie to
give an alarm, or remain to assist IN
case the boat attempted to make the
island. was a question of painful
doubt. But soon the boat was again
turned toward the American shore.
Then it was certain that 1t must go
down the American rapids. | ran tor
the bridge, rallied a 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.
| was astonished to see the boat rise,
WITH lllt mast anu SILL SldilullAS3 anu
the man again erect directing the boat
toward the shore. AS he came to the
next and to each succeeding fall he
sat down, and then would rise and
apply his oar in the intermediate cur
rent. Still there was hope that he
would come near enough to the pier
to Jump, but in a moment it was gone.
Another, that he might jump upon
the rock near the bridge; but the cur
rent 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 | better
Jump from the boatl' We could not
answer, for either seemed certain de
struction. Within a few rods of the
falls the boat struck a rock, turned
over and lodged. He appeared tC
crawl from under it, and swan with
the oar in his hand till he went over
the precipice Without the power tc
render assistance, for half an hour
watching strong man struggling
with every nerve for life, yet doomed
with almost the certainty of destiny
/ to an immediate and awful death
still hoping with every effort for hi
1 deliverance caused an Intensity of eX
element l pray God never again t.
experience.