Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-06-26
PERiLoUs RIDE ON A RAFT.
rhs Adventures of Two Rash Citizens Of
>teuben County.

rCorring y. ~ Cor. y. Y. Tines
Two prominent citizens Of Steuben Coun-
ty, Col Henry Baldwin, Of Addison, anl
r. L. Hollis, Of Woodruff, had thrilling
experience and narrow escape from death
by drowning in attempting To make the
trip on q raft on the TuscarOra creek be-
teen woodhuu aud Addison few days
ago. The distance is fourteen miles, aud
the stream for that distance generally
has "a wide and rapid flow, but IN time of
food il becomes a torrent, flowing between
high. rocky banks. and bordered by over
hanging trees whose branches extend
directly above the channel. The creek has
fall OF four hundred feet in fourteen miles,
and no attempt had ever been made 20
navigate IT, Colonel Baldwin had business
In WOodhull. and after transacting it he
and Mr. Hollis walked % the creek 20 see
the Hood which was roaring between its
banks there being iercer current than
had been known for years. While looking
at IL, Colonel Baldwin, who Is bold and
experienced river pilot, bantered Hollis
20 make a trip with him ON a raft % Addi-
sou. Hollis agreed % the proposition, and
they spent the day in constructing a strong
raft, sixteen feet long and six feet wide.
They got it ready 20 pull out" and started
at 4:5O Z. VI. The news Of the proposed
voyage had become known in the neigh
borhood and by the time the men started
the creek was lined with excited people for
two miles below Woodhull, while others
had horses saddled and wagons in readi-
ness % follow the raft to see the result of
the trip. The current was 80 strong. how
sight IN the gorge through which the creek
flows Telephone messages were sent To
Addison announcing the rash attempt To
navigate the stream, and almost the entire
popuIace gathered at the creek 10 await
the arrival OF the two men. They did not
come, and the belief became universal that
they had been wrecked and drowned 1t
was late the next morning when the news
was received that the raft had been
wrecked after the journey was half made,
but that the men had escaped.
| Seven miles from Woodhull the stream
/ had cut two extra channels through La
deus Island. Across the main one a large
beech tree had fallen, and its branches
made a network obstruction below the sur
/ face. For six miles the voy ayers had been
/ compelled % lie dat most OF the time 70
/ avoid being swept OF the raft into the tor
/ rent by the low hanging branches of trees,
and they had lost one OF their oars in a
1 collision with a rock which nearly swamped
/ them. As they approached the island
where the beech-tree lay across the main
/ channel they saw their danger, aEd put
/ al their strength to their remaining oar TO
pilot ths raft into one Of the other chan
/ nels. The torrent was too swift, and the
| raft kept straight on it's course and swept
I down upon the obstruction at a terrific
I rate of speed A. soon as it struck the
I tree it was carried under the surface like a
I fash. the men disappearing with it. Orson
/ Lsdieu and his wife had seen the raft com
I ing AMI witnessed It's destruction. II did
I not seem possible % them that the men
/ could fail 90 he entangied in the network
I Of branches beneath the water and
I drowned, but 70 render aid 20 them was
I Impossible. Suddenly. however. the raft
rose % the surface. fifty feet below the
/ tree, badly stove mp and without any oar.
I The next second Colonel Baldwin came
up. fortunately within reach II the
/ raft. which ia grasped and drew HIM
/ self cut upon IT, Hollis did not ap-
/ pear Tor some time afterward. aud then
the raft had passed beyond his reach. He
vas swept BY the current swiftly down
stream. hut finally clutched an 0verhang-
I ing branch and drew himself out on the
/ shore OF one ~ the ISLANDS where he could
I not - reached. COLONEL Baldwin. being
I left ou she raft without anything - steer
I if with. was carried down the stream. in
co0staut danger ~ heisl- dashed into the
/ rocks AMI after a ride ~ half a mile was
thrown upon projecting point ~ the
shore. where h. iumped or Hurrying
bark to Iadiea's. he with the ART Of Ia
I lieu. tried - reach Hollis by means ~
another raft they had hastily constructed
T This pian vas unsuccessful Finally after
az hours's trial. AMI when e looked a. &
Hollis would 10 compelled 20 remain on
the island over night. Lsrlieu succeeded IN
throwing a rope ~ ham. He fastened this
about his bosiv. and. jumping into the tor
reuf. eas hauief ashore nearly drowned
Frantpf Treatments soon restored him.
however The triD frem Wo'ihal was
nfssie in thirty minutes. r. Is ms a. al
likely that another attempt VIII soon he
( ssalia ~ navigate Tuscarors crees-