The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1884-05-06
TRAGEDIES OF NIAGARA.
Memories Recalled by the Veddor-
Pearson Horror.
New York Times.

New York Times.
To think that I should have left
Niagara Falls twenty years after kav-
ing been a witress of two terrible
tragedies of the Falls, and then upon
nv first visit to them in that time be
there in the midst of the excitement
of the Veddor-Pearson horror!
The speaker was an old man who
said his name was An1rex Dalrymple.
of Camden. He was a pas enger on
the Erie railway train Yesterday, re-
turning from visit To Niagara
Falls. where he said he was a hack
man and guide for ten years.
i Was greatly surprised to see the old
tree trunk still rising in the Ann rican
rapids, between the small stands off
of Goat Island and the American
shore. / guess DO one remembers
when that tree lodged there, but |
remember it for thirty years, and it
never entered my mind that it could
be there yet. But there it was, and
as I 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 | WAS one Of the first
people at the falls to discover a man
clinging to the log, came back to ME
with a vividness that made me sbud-
der. No one ever knew how he came
there or who he was, but it was sup
posed that be had been rowing across
the river somewhere above during the
night before, and losing control of his
boat had been swept down into the
rapids. and the boat striking the tree
trunk he had, by some miracle, gained
a foot-hold upon it. News never
spread So rapidly as that IF the dis
covery of this man in his peri,Ous stu
alton. Word was teiegraphed at
once to Buffalo, and a party of life
savers came on special train 10 try
and rescue the man. Before 10
o'clock thousands of people were gath
cred at every available spot where a
sight If the unfortunate man ard the
efforts to save him could be obtained.
All the railroads ran special trains,
and the people came in conveyances
of all kinds from the surrounding
country. No one seemed to know at
first how to go to work, but the man
chung 10 The tree watching every
movement that was made OF course
it was impossible to make him hear or
give him any direction. Finally a
life-bOat was attached to 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 d.
rectIy for the spot, and hope that the
poor man would soon be safely drawn
ashore began to be felt by the assembl-
ed multitude. Suddenly, however, it
was caught in a sudden whirl of the
rapids, the cable parted like a kite
string, and the boat rushed past the
man like a flash within two feet Of
him, and was carried over the falls.
After this the life-savers were
all at sea again. Several plans were
suggested, and one was adopted |
which it took until late in the after
noon to get in readiness. In all those
long hours of suspense [ don't believe
one of the spectators ever moved from
bis tracks. Everything else about
Niagara Falls was forgotten except
the terrible scene of a ellow-being
hanging On the verge of death and
patiently awaiting the success or
failure Of the efforts that were being
made to rescue him.
The plan adopted was to fasten a
strong cahle securely to the American
shore, attach a staunch raft to it,
carry the loose end of the cable over
to the island and let belly down with
the raft to the tree trunk. By this
means it was hoped that the raft
could be drawn steadily to the small
island between the man and Goat
island, from which no trouble was
anticipated in 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 tine refresh
ments, 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
toward the island. Everything SEEM |
ed to be working to a charm. The
tension that was nut upon the feel |