The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-02-22

current Of Niagara, which strikes
against Hog island and takes q strong
outward trend.
Doubtless they thought they could
by tightening their boat, work theil
way diagonally up and across thu
stream to safe posi- ton; for now, al
the island hid them from view, We
could hear them pitching the whisky
overheard and shipping their sweeps
In only one way, however, could they
possibly save themselves.
Putting his hands, funnel-shapc. tc
his mouth, Van Wyck hailed: Turn
your bow down stream, you fools, and
scoot ashore just above the old channel
That's your last chance
No reply was made to this friendly
advice, and we heard the men begin to
pull desperately. But not for one min
ute could they hold their own against
that tremendous rush of water. A
light skiff needs strong arms to get
ashore there. Every instant they were
swept flu rther down and out, while the
sound of their rapid oar strokes grew
fainter and fainter.
1t was impossible for us to aid them.
They would be at the head of the cat
aracts before we could bring boat
from the village and start to rescue
them, which at best would be a des-
perate venturing of our own lives. The
FLASHING of their heavy sweeps was
still audible-but not long. Suddenly
a sharp snap was heard, and we knew
that one of the over-strained sweeps
had broken short off! At this, break
ing their silence, they shouted again
and again for help. Too late! No hui
man power could save them.
We could not even follow them along
the shore, because the broad creek in
tervened. Shuddering, we listened to
their ever receding shrieks. Presently
these ceased, and all was still, save for
the steady roar of the falls.
Poor critters! They're gone," said
Johnson, as we turned sadly away.
There was lots of good in them fell
lers, and two of them was married
men. They must have swallered too
much of their whisky, or they'd "a
known better than to go out in that
tub. Drat the whisky trade, anyhow!
I'm blamed if I'll ever touch another
drop of the stuff; not duck-huntin', nor
tishin', nor no time"
'Bullamore, Pm there, too" ex-
claimed Vert Van Wyck, and they
shook hands on it.
On the afternoon of next day, two
men came over from Grand island, in
luiring for the hapless smugglers.
On learning the melancholy facts,
the men went at once to the whirlpool |
below the falls, whose circling eddies |
sometimes carry to shore the remains |
If objects that have taken the great |
plunge. Here they found part of the |
broken oar, fragment of the scow,
me keg of whisky intact, but no trace |
If human bodies Indeed, the fearful |
depths above the whirl-
,ool do not always give up their dead.
Having their worst fears thus con-
irmed, the messengers returned home
With the mournful tidings, leaving me
o feel almost like murderer, though
had acted from strict sense of duty.
Tor months brooded over the events
# that terrible night Whether wax
ng or sleeping, the dying shrieks of
he unfortunate men seemed ever ring
ng in my ears, and / now thought of
dozen ways in which might have
verted their fate. Vain regrets! The
nischief was already done.
Late in November of that year,
eard that the wives of Isaac and
loses Schram, whose mourning for
heir departed husbands had been, my
Informant said, extremely violent, but
,rief. had sold off their household eff
ects and mysteriously disappeared.
or unknown reasons the widows had
o artfully covered their tracks that no
ne was able or cared to trace them
eyond Buffalo. could not have told
Thy this news comforted me, but 1t
id, and l gradually recovered from
~ depression.
One October afternoon, six and a
uarter years afterward, was sitting ,
! the office of Minneapolis hotel,
hen I noticed a respectably-dressed,
man glancing alternately :
the register and at me.
After few words with the clerk, he I
sated himself by my side, making /
ome commonplace remark about the |
Gather. He seemed well-informed, 9
greeable fellow, and we were soon en-
aged in conversation, a
By and by, epropos of field sports, '
e said: Stranger, the. clerk tells me @
ou're out on a shooting trip. Now, 1 C
We about twelve miles out of town, L
nd we're Just overrun with prairie a
lickens. If you like to come out and @
ut up with us it won't cost you a cent v
i'd you'll have loads of fun"
'Thank you-glad of the chance" r