Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-09-28
Carried Over Niagara.

About shutdown one evening recently
man was carried over the falls. Who
he was Is not known. His dress and
| appearance indicated Responsibility. and
! after he got into the rapids his self-pos-
session was extraordinary. His boat
was a very good one. decked over the
bow, and 1 should think would carry
three or four tons. No other than a
person unacquainted with the current
above the rapids would venture so near
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 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 stand
ing. Being well acquainted with the
river. L regarded the position of the
boat rs extraordinary and hazardous.
and watched il 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 l could discover il
was gaining the American shore. .and
by the time 1t had got near the first fall
IN the rapids, half a mile above Goat
Island, 1t was directly above the island.
There 1t was turned up the river. and
for some time the wind kept it nearly
| stationary. The only hope seemed tc
be TO come directly to Goat Island. and
whether 1 should run half mile TO give
the alarm or remain TO assist in case
hnnN N farr fol -. 4. Al Il \
was question OF painful doubt. But
soon the boat was again turned toward
the American shore. Then it was GER
tain that 1t must 60 down the American
rapids. l ran for the bridge, rallied a
man at the toll-gate, and we ran to the
main bridge in time to see the boat Just
before 1t got to the first large fall in the
rapids. Then i saw but one mamie
| standing at the stern with his oar chang.
ing the course of the boat down the
current, and rs 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 toward the shore. As he came 10
the next and to each succeeding fall he
sat down, and then would rise and an
ply his oar in the intermediate current.
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 current dashed him
from II 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 boat?n
We could not answer, for either seemed
certain destruction. Within few rods
of the falls the boat struck a rock.
turned over and lodged. He appeared
to crawl from under il, and SWAN with
the oar in his hand until he went over
The precipice. Without the power to
render assistanoe-for half an hour
watching strong man struggling with
every nerve for life, yet doomed with
almost the certainty OF. destinv to an
immediate and awful death, still bopino
with every effort for his deliveranceE
caused an intensity of excitement / prav
God never again to experience.-Bufaic
advertiser.