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


For ma.y yeazs I ss1fded n the VII
laGe Of Chippewa. sifuatsd u tie mouth
of Welland river (co0nculy called
Chppewa creekb which 6OwB into the
Niagara about cns and . half miles
above the falls and perhaps three
fourths Of mile shove ths first rough
water Of the terrible rapids.
Notwithstanding the dangerous prox-
unity Of the falls people are continually
crossing and recrossing ths river here
between the American and Canadian
shores,
Great caution is generally exercised
by boatmen. and the loss Of life on this
stretch of water is less than on any body
Of equal width-constAntly traversed BY
small open boats-that know Of. De-
plorable fatalities have occurred from
time to time, but these have always
been the result Of ignorance or gross
carelessness.
Three cases Of this kind have come
under my own observation, and ! was
unhappy enough to sec the victims drawn
down to the first leap Of the rapids, after
which not q trace Of any one OF them
was ever seen.
One Of these instances was that OF q
farmer, who drove his horses and wag-
on into the edge Of the river, at shosl
place about mile above Chippewa, to
let the animals drink-that particular
spot being the only ono for many miles
which was adapted to the purpose.
The man, though perfectly familiar
with the locality, carelessiy drove in too
far, and upon attempting to turn about
one Of the reins caught under the neck
yoke, the horses foundered into deep
water. the heavy running gear sank,
dragged the poor brutes down and
drowned them. while the light pine
wagon box foated off with the man.
The unfortunate fellow was known &c
be good swimmer, and If he had III
stantly jumped out and made for shore
all would have been well. But be was
frightened ont of his wits and did moth
ing but scream for help. Now COMES
the strangest part of the story. The az
cident was witnessed by another farmer,
blowing i'll field close at hand. As he
well knew, there was not boat of any
kind nearer than Chippewa, and yet, In
stead of springing on one of his horses
and riding for life, he actually walked
down along the bank. keeping abreast
OF and talking to his imperiled neisibor
and cheering him by the assurance that
he would get boat and take him of
when he should come in trout of the
village.
Granddaughter such is the trend Of
the current there--as the box fioated
down stream, it was borne further and
further from land, and when it did an
rive opposite the mouth Of Welland
river was fully 400 yards out.
Only then did the sympathizing friend
rush into the village and give the alarm.
From the edge of the Niagara to Chip
pewa bridge. where the nearest boat lay,
was at least 300 yards. This distance he
had TO run and find some one to unlock.
equip with oars and man the boat. The
consequence inevitably was that the
doomed farmer was far beyond human
help even before it started-started only
and then turned back from the hopeless
chase
That awful cry. "A man going over
the falls" resounded through the village
streets, and crowd Of people quickly
gathered.
The hapless castaway was now shoot
ing down that smooth. swift incline Of
water Immediately above the rapids.
He had evidently given up all hope of
rescue, and was kneeling on the bottom
of his frail raft with outstretched,
clasped hands, apparently in prayer.
Faster and faster he was hurried
along, and in another moment we saw
the box lifted high on the crest of the
rapids first tumultuous ridge. shaken
to pieces like pack of cards and fioated
in fragments away amid the seethlIg
hell of waters, while its late occupant
disappeared forever from human view.
The second person whom l. saw thus
done to death was one of party of duck
hunters who had been shooting in the
weedy passage between Grand and Buck
horn islands. In spite of his companions
advice to the contrary, this man deter
mined to remain out all night in the
hope of making good bag in the early
morning.
The last thing his comrades saw of
him-so they told us-he had drawn the
bow of his boat a little way up on a
sandbar at the lower end of Buckhorn
island and laid himself down to sleep in
her.
1t is supposed that, while he slept. a
change of wind caused the water to rise
sufficiently to set the boat free-a mod
crate down stream breeze would do it.
At all events, shortly after daybreak
next morning some one of the Chippe-
ws,s' early risers called out that an
empty boat was going over the falls.
A knot of interested spectators soon
rocked down to the rivers edge to see
the exciting event, opinions being about
equally divided as to whether the light
sk;ff would live to reach the cataract
itself. or would go to pieces on touching
the rapids.
As we thus speculated our idle talk was
suddenly replaced by general cry OF
horror, for. from the bottom of what we
had thought an empty shell, the head
and shoulders of a man all at once be-
came visible, and the next moment he
rose to his feet. Beyond all doubt the
lt,ckless being had only that instant
awakened.
Can human imagination conceive or
mortal pen describe what that awaken
ing must have been?
A few short hours before he had lain
down to rest in fancied security and
with bright anticipations of coming
sport. Now he opens his eyes and looks
around to find himself wfere?-on the
very brink of that wildly tossing, awful
food from which all the wealth, all the
united powers of the world cannot save
him.
The boat was almost i'm the exact
center of the river. Thoselof rs who
had field glasses could see that a group
much larger than our own had congre-
gated on the American shore to witness
the final catastrophe.
1t was not long delayed. In less than
a minute after the poor man had be-
come aware of his situation he took off
his hat, waved it frantically toward
either bank, and an instant later was
gone! Nor did any part of the boat
again appear.