Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-12-07

exipinx - the mighty CURRENT
Both were skilled oarsmen. and 30
rapid and powerful were their strokes
that for the space Of i've seconds they
actually held the light boat motioniess,
= We could see by aligning it with land
marks On the further shore.
But the unequal strife could not last
OF what avail was human muscle here.
Foot BIZ foot, stern foremost, but still
braveiy pulling. they we're borne down
the smooth chnte, nearer and nearer 70
that first awful cascade, which sends its
spray heayenward almost in the center
Of tine rapids upper edge.
Among the watching crowd ON shore
were several women. and these broke
into anguished cries as they saw the lost
men heroicaiiy batting for iife up ."
the last hopeless moment.
Passionately, for the time bereft 81
reason. they appealed TO us TO save
them. but we could only groan IN cur
impotence and await the end.
The poor boys did not cease TO row
until their little craft was on the curling
brink Of the dread plunge. Then ooth
reiinquished their oars, dropped to their
Knees and covered their faces with their
hands. Brief space had they In winch
TO pray, for now the boat was caught by
the writing wall Of water. tossed higii
in air. Willie the men still chung to the
cross seats. and fhen--oh, the horror or
it.-all were whirled over and over and
swallowed up in those cruel depths
from which 10 human creature has ever
escaped alive.
Now for a less painful scene:
On certain summer day a young
woman, half erazed by terror. rushed
along the lower street OF Chippe va,
screaming: "Oh. help. help. help MY
little Jimmy's away out on the big river
and he II 20 over the falls!'
Instead Of jumping at once for boats,
a number of men, as if doubling Mrs.
Armstrong word, ran down To where a
view of the Niagara could be obtained
and there, afioat on its surface IN an ol'
boat, saw Jimmy apparently enJoyihs
his ride, but being gradually carried
outward and down stream.
1t seems that the little five-year-old
fellow had been playing in small scow.
the bow of which rested lightly on the
beach. and had rocked it free Of its hold
10 his great delight and tioated serenely
away.
On the west bank of Welland river.
about $50 yards above its junction with
the Niagara. stood the house and shop
of Joel Lyons, "a stout, muscular shoe
maker and practiced oarsman. On near
ing the alarm given this man wasted no
time in idle EXPLANATIONS, but ran at
once 10 where several boats We're moored
further up stream. Selecting one nl'
ready provided with SOULS, he sprans
into it and was away at full speed be
fore most OF :he onlookers had collected
their senses.
Just at this moment | arrived upon
the scene aud witnessed all that after
ward occurred.
Now there are two entrances and exits
to and from the Welland; one, known
as '.the Cut. being on the upper or west
side of an isolated bluff called Hog is
land and the other-the original chan
Melon the lower or east side.
1t was from ont this last named pas
sage that the child had fioa.ed. and con-
sequently he was much nearer the falls
than if he had emerged into the Niagara
from the cut.
Lyons of course took the east channel,
but he had quite 400 yards OF slack wa
10, hot ltviy ii.n lav
river, and when he reached it the little
scow with its precious freight was at
least that distance from shore and much
closer to the rapids than even the bold
est oarsinan would ordinarily dare to 80.
So utterly desperate appeared the
chances of rescue that. as he sped down
Chippewa creek, the shuddering spec
tators, among whom was Mrs. Lyons,
with one accord called ont to the gal
liant boatman not to throw away his
own life in SO mad an attempt. But the
brave fellow paid no heed to their cries.
Ont to the broad bosom of the Niagara
he pushed, and was presently flying
obliquely down and across stream with
the speed of a racing shell. His wife
screamed aloud in an agony of aopre-
hension, and to even the coolest among
us it seemed all too horribly certain
that we should witness double tragedy.
More and more earnestly, without a
break or skip. and with never relaxing
strength, the experienced sculler hent
to his work, glancin@ now aud again
over his should, at the precious prize
he had determined to win, or die i'll los
ing.
To MS. who, hardly daring to speak OF
breathe, watch d the fearful venture,
its success appeared well nigh impos-
sible. The child could perhaps he
snatched from the boat before reaching
the rapids. But what then? Neither
he nor his rescuer, we felt convinced.
could ever regain the shore.
The poor women-Lyons' wife and
Jimmy's mother-sobbed pitifully as we
all hurried down the edge of the river
so as to keep abreast of the skiff. None
of MS dared TO encourage them by a
hopeful word, for not one of us believed
that either would ever again be clasped
in the arms of husband or son.
The tiny scow was now quite SOC
yards from shore. and with gradually
accelerated motion was drawing fright
fully near the rapids. But the pursuing
boat went four feet to its one and was
swiftly closing the gap between them.
The innocent babe had at last become
alarmed and as Lyons drew near he
stretched his little arms implolingly
toward hiin-2a sight which drove the
women nearly frantic and caused tear
to roll down more than one manly
cheek.
"Oh, hush. hush! not word nor
cheer YETI some one said in a choking
whisper as the two boats came together.
"The fight is still to VIM
As he ranged alongside Lyons pulled
in one oar, leaned over the gunwale,
caught up the child and lifted him into
his own boat. TOO late, Oh. too late.
shrieked his agonized wife. And indeed
it so seemed to each one OF us.
But then the noble fellow. cool as if
there was no danger within a thousand
miles, reshipped his oar and did the only
one thing which could offer a possible
chance for life. He did not vainly at
tempt to stem the current by rowing up
stream. nor even directly toward the
shore, but turned his bow guartering
down. and puliing with nerves of steal
and giant strength shot with arrowy
i.