Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-03-21
One Chance In a Million.

When something IKE thltu Oh
century ago, the first wire suspension
bridge was thrown across the mighty
gorge of the Niagara river, about a
mile and a half below the falls, the
structure was so seemingly frail and
SO sensitive to the feet OF animals,
that neither man nor beast felt over
comfortable while crossing it. The
flooring, in anything like a stid
breeze was as billowy as the ocean;
but it was under the weight OF limo
OF carriages or seething drove OF cat
tie that it's commotion became abso-
lutely appalling.
had a very timid friend staying
with me, quite convenient to the gate
on the Canada side, whom, after re-
peated solicitations, at last induced
TO creep out one fine morning before
the hackmen began TO move, to take
view OF the falls from the center OF
the aerial highway, at the edge Of
which there hung beneath a strong
iron cradle that ran on puileys from
shore to shore, and was used tot
tightening nuts and for other pur-
poses under the flooring ! Was I'm
able TO accompany him, so he sat
alone, and soon, as | supposed he
picked his steps with fear and trem-
bling to point had indicated
lie had not been gone more than
ten or fifteen minutes, however when
my attention was attracted by q loud
hallooing near the gate glanced IN
the direction, and perceived that q
drove OF cattle had Just passed IN be-
tween the towers close by, and We're
jostling each other ia Wild confusion
as they rushed forward toward the
American side oi the river This 50
alarmed me for he safety Ofmy friend
that | Instantly started for tha gate.
but before reached it what WAS niy
dismay and CONSERVATION 10 behold.
through some mistake OF the gutekccp-
err another drove oi cattle rushing Ht
the same moment from the opposite
end oil the bridge while my poortricnd
who seemed crazrd with fear, was
making the best OF his way over The
wire cables, Np h view 81 cliugiug to
. them outside, so that hr should not
be trampled or gored To death when
both droves met.
He succeeded IN gaining the outer
narrow ledge OF the flooring, and was
hanging over an awful gull oi upward
OF 300 feet in depth, when the crash
came between the animals TINT now
appeared to have become iuiurtatg,i
from some unknown cause The col.
lision was terrific, and to render III
more appalling ii was accompanied
with dreadful bcIowiugs. Il took
place Just AZ the point where H. was
! all but dangling over the blind chnsm,
/ through which one 81 tile most savage
I floods in the world rolled III thunder.
! From moment the struggling among
! the animals was indcscribabIy ter.
rible, while the bridge sWayed 10 and
fro IN the most frigttfuI manner H.
| might have withstool the shock how.
ever, had not some OF the cattle THAT
had been dashed against the wire.
shaken him from his hold, when M
fell with long. loud cry;
| closed my eyes IN horror, and sank,
I almost tainting. on one Oi the wood
en- seats hard by, where buried nv
face in my hands in an agony 81 al
gtIish and despair.
How long ! had remained IN TIT.
! position was unable 10 say when my
name was called, and hand AZ III,
same time placed tremblingly on my
| shoulder.
looked up. but refused to beliey,
my senses, for my friend, pale anG
| CHASTITY, stood before me.
|: | started TO my feet. II was no iIlu
sion. He had dropped into the iror
cradle, which had broken from II.
slight mOorings and through the i'm
petus given il by the shock had run il
along the wire rope and landed him al
my feet