The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-08-13
NIAGARA NARROW ESCAPES.


ReKu9 Umoergone ny FooAhhhoy N1N~
ors at the Falls.
OF accidents ct Niagara some very
strange ones are recorded. One lady
stoopcd for cup OF water, lost her ball
ance, and was out Of reach and over the
falls almost before her amazed husband
knew what happened.
Another lady stopped 10 pick flower
on the brink Of the Table Rock. She was
taken up dead from the rocks below.
Perhaps the most dramatic accident
was the following: A playful young man
caught up a charming child who was
watching the tumbling waves. Now,
Lizzie, / am going TO throw you into the
water" he said, and swung her back and
forth.
She screamed, struggled, and slipped
from his hands. He gaZed after her, real
lied what he had done, and leaped. Res
cue was hopeless. Perhaps he did not
deserve death, and at least censure may
die with him.
OF escapes, there are one or two narrow
ones almost beyond belief, and which in
volve stories OF skill and bravery well
worth telling. Not many years ago a
painter was at work on Second Sisters
Island, when he fell into the water.
He was old and weak, and while his
position was not very dangerous at first,
he soon hoated down and toward mid
stream, when, Just as he seemed lowering
on the brink, and exactly forty feet from
1t, II contemporary records are to be be-
lieved, he caught on rock.
How long WOULD his muscles endure the
strain2 And who would rescue him, and
howf The crowd was helpless until .
guide appeared with a coil of rope. One
end he left in trusty hands, and with the
other he plunged into the boiling tide.
When he reached the poor painter, the
old man still held in his hand the putty
knife with which he was working. He
shifted the knife to his pocket, tied the
painter to the rope, and they reached the
shore safely.
In another case q boatman was crossing
the river above the falls, when q fog sud-
denly came on. He lost his bearings, and
knew he was drifting to death.
His cries alarmed the village, and bells
were rung for him to run towards them.
Then an oar broke. His only hope, then,
lay in paltry little anchor and a COM
mon rope, which was very thin, and,
moreover, much worn.
He examined every foot, nay, every
inch Of it; he tugged at the knots at each
end. Time was precious, but he could
not afford to make a mistake. Then he
threw ID over.
1t bumped along the stones, and his
heart beat each time 1t failed to catch q
grip. At last it caught and brought the
boat up standing, while the tense string
throbbed like the bass gut Ola, harp as
the water rushed by 1t.
For the moment 1t held. How soon
would 1t part2 He shrank from feeling
along the strands. He was more afraid
not to, lest he should read his fate In the
Irvine, tense and twanging under the cur
rent.
Inch by inch his fingers travelled to his
arms length. 30 long as 1t held there he
was safe. Time and time again through
the long night he did this, but never he
said, without heart like lead and hands
quivering like q leaf. When morning
dawned, as at last it did, he was easily
saved.
In another case the danger to life,
though considerable was not imminent.
A tug was towing three scows, when one
went adrift. With admirable promptness
and address, the captain OF the tug cut
loose the rest Of his tow, and steamed
ahead ofythe drifting barge.
There he held it by steam power, and
when the others came along line was
passed, the throttle was thrown open,
and it was sought to make way up stream.
But they had drifted fairly within the
grasp OF the spirit of the waters, and for a
time it seemed he would not let go his
own. Finally foot was gained, and in a
few seconds another, and then the tug Of
war was virtually over.-Cincinnati Com
mercial- Gazette. ..=