Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-06-13
TRAGEDIES OF NIAGARA.
An Old Guide Rehenraes Two Oi
Them.

New York Times reporter:
81 was greatly surprised to see the old
tree trunk still rising in the American
Rapids, between the small islands off of
Goat Island and the American shore.
guess no one remembers when the tree
lodged there, but remember 1t for thirty
years, and it never entered my mind that
it could be there yet. But there 1t was,
and as stood on the Goat Island bridge
last week and looked down at the gnarled
trunk the thought of that early summer
morning, over twenty years ago, when l
was one of the first people at the falls to
discover man clinging to the log, came
back to me with vividness that made
me shudder. No one ever knew how he
came there or who he was, but it was
supposed that he had been rowing across
the river somewhere above during the
night before, and losing control of his
boat had been swept down into the rap
ids, and the boat striking the tree trunk
he had, by some miracle, gained foot
holduponit. Newsnever spread sorapidly
as that of the discovery of this man in
his perilous situation Word was tele-
graphed at once to Buffalo, and party
of life-savers came on special train to
try and rescue the man. Before 10
o'clock thousands of people were gath
cred at every available spot where a
sight of the unfortunate man and the
efforts to save him could be obtained.
All the railroads ran special trains,
and the people came in coDyeyances of
all kinds from the surrounding coun-
try. No one seemed to know at first
how to go to work, but the man chung
to the tree watching every movement
that was made. OF course it was i'm
possible to make him hear or give him
any direction. Finally, life-boat was
attached to a cable and let down from
the bridge toward him. 1t was drawn
toward the log by ropes attached to it
and handled by men on the island. The
boat was making directly for the spot,
and hope that the poor man would soon
be safely drawn ashore began to be felt
by the assembled multitude. Suddenly,
however, it was caught in a whirl of the
rapids, the cable parted like kite
string, and the boat rushed past the
man like a flash within two feet of him,
and was carried over the Falls.
CATER this the life-savers were all
at sea again. Several plans were sug-
gested, and one was adopted which it
took until late in the afternoon to get
in readiness. In all those long hours Of
suspense / don't believe one of the
spectators ever moved from his tracks.
Everything else about Niagara Falls
was forgotten except the terrible scene
of fellow being hanging on the verge
of death and patiently awaiting the sue
cess or failure of the efforts that were
being made to rescue him.
"The plan adopted was to fasten a
strong cable securely to the American
shore, attach stanch raft to it, carry
the loose end of the cable over to the
island and let it belly down with the raft
to the tree trunk. By this means it was
hoped the raft could be drawn steadily
to the small island between the man and
Goat Island, from which no trouble was
anticipated from taking him. Some food
and glass of brandy were placed on
the raft and ropes were fastened to it by
which the man was to tie himself fast.
The raft moved down and reached the
man in safety. AS he stepped upon it,
dashed himself fast, and then eagerly
seized the refreshments, such shout
as went up from the thousands of people
that had watched the proceedings with
beating hearts and bated breath was
never heard before 1t could be heard
above Niagara. The raft was moved to-
ward the island. Everything seemed to
be working to charm. The tension
that was put upon the feelings of the
spectators was so great that many tainted
away. | was strong man, but knew
l wept like a child. Suddenly the raft
stopped. The cable, drawn as it was be-
meath the water, caught on some obstruc-
ton. All efforts to loosen it were un
availing. One groan of agony arose
from the great crowd. Finally the mar
sprang to his feet, undid the fastening'
that held him secure on the raft, and
kneeling for a moment as if in prayer,
sprang into the raging water and pulled
bravely for the island, but few feet
away. At first he gained visibly, anc
the thought that he would be saved
found utterance in another joyful shou
! from the spectators. But when he wa
almost within reach of the shore hi
strength began to fail, and steadily thu
distance between him and the shore in
creased. Then every one knew that al
hope was gone. He made few NOR
desperate strokes, but the wild water
seized him, and pitching and tossing ant
whirling him, hurried him over the grea
cataract. AS he reached the edge of tn
falls he was thrown upward from tn
water until his whole length came in viev
standing upright, and he disappeared
as if he had made a voluntary leap owe
the brink. AS he was dashed to ant
over the Falls not sound was made b
one of the vast crowd, and, terrible a
was the scene, not an eye was turne
away as he was carried along to his dc
struction AS he disappeared in the fac
of the cataract one heart-rending shrie
went up from the crowd. The poor fe
lows body was never found nor hi
identity ever established.
''The other agonizing scene that
was doomed to witness was tn
carrying over the falls of youn
Charles Addington and lit
Eva De Forest. That happened five
six years before the incident / have jul
related. The Addingtons and De Fo
ests were prominent families in Buffal
in those days, and young Charles was Ell
gagged to be married to Ada De Fores
Miss De Forests mother and hi
little sister Eva, accompanied /
young Addiugton and hersel
came to the Falls one day in the summ
to spend the day. While they were G
Goat Island little Eva went away by he
SELF and Mrs. De Forest sent the your
man after her. He found her standir
r,nn,. thn rhnrn un thnI1nhtlesSlN stn