The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-02
BATTLES WITH NIAGARA
Schemm's Suicide Recalls an Ex-
citing Incident of Years Ago.
EFFORTS TO SAVE AVERY
For a Night and a Day an Unfortunate
Man Chung TO a Rock lust Above h
Falls, Which Seemed to Mock the
Futile Efforts TO Rescue Him.

adelphia at Niagara Falls last Tues
day and the point at which he leaped
into eternity recalls to mind an excit-
ing incident that occurred on this same
part OF the rapid-running but beauti-
full Upper Niagara river many years
ago. To end his days Schemm picked
one Of the most fascinating spots at
the Falls. and his deed had been done
by others before him. Numerous other
people have leaped to death from this
very same point. or within a few feet
Of IL. The water as IL flows under this
portion OF the bridge has a curl and a
seeming softness that Is coaNing in the
extreme. People are known who never
go across this bridge unaccompanied,
for fear they might be led to throw
themselves into the stream just as
Schemm did. Others have said that 20
them there is an irresistible force that
keeps telling them TO leap in and soon
all will be over. Such folks should new
er so to the Falls without a guide Is
the conclusion Of the officials OF the
state reservation at Niagara.
In his passage from the bridge 10 the
brink of the American fall Schemm
passed not far distant from the single
rock on which Avery lande on the
evening Of July Is, 1853. Had he so de-
] SlItis anu ndu NduEul Oh the tONht AAt
exciting experiences Of 1858, when eff
forts were made to rescue Avery. might
v been repeated. In the history of
all the exciting incidents Of the Mag
ara locality none H. more interesting
than Avery's attempted rescue. The
evening they met with misfortune
Avery and a companion named n
man had been out rowing on the river
above the falls. where all is peaceful
and no intimation is given Of the cruel
waters Just n little distance below. In
some manner they were caught In the
strong current and the dusk Of the
evening hid their destination from view.
Down the river the current carried
them, and before they knew IL they
plunged over the reef that causes the
first breaker above Goat island.
The current sucked their boat I'm be-
tween the main land and Goat island,
and IL was but a few minutes before
both men were struggling I'm the water.
The river at this point Is beautifully
tumultuous, and the rapids are as pref
~ a piece Of water as Is TO be seen in
the remarkable stream that connects
Lake Erie and LAX Ontario. With
frightful rapidity the waters dash to-
wards the American fan. and once in
them a human being has little a M
" life. Hanniman, Avery's companion
that night. was swept 10 death over
Allf ldlls buA ANflN was lRIAAIlhAf
enough TO lodge on a rock midway be-
tween the main land and Goat island
and about 500 feet mp from the preci-
pice. All night long he clasped the
cold. wet. Shiny rock. and when morn
Ing broke the people on shore discuv-
cred his p~rediCamcnt. But In those
days the facilities for rescue from such
places were not 80 available as they
are to-day, and Il was hours after avn
ere the first efforts towards saving the
man were made. In the crowds that
gathered there were many people who
had suggestions TO offer.
First a small boat lashod 60 a strong
cable was dropped down 90 him from
the bridge. but his craft was upset
when IL had been let out n short dis
tanCe II then spun round and round
IN the water until 80 sawed the rope
In two against the rocks. and Do was
carried over the fan. Help bon the res
cue had been asked from Buffalo. and
on the first train that morning. o 80
o'clock. there came % the falls a fine
boat. II was a life boat built 0f sheet
iron. with afr-tirht chambers. n was
pronounced unsuitable and was car
ried from the train 0n the shoulders Of
a score Of men. Two new tw0-innn
cables came with her and many willing
hands grlspod hold NJ them as the boat
was let out. In order 90 keep On,
mans courage up a friend had erect
ed a sheet on the bridge. on which was
printed in German, AveTy's native
tongue. The life boat is coming
When the boat was launched the ev-
element was intense. Small ropes
were attached i1 tho craft 20 direct los
course. The life boat seemed fairly tr
dance ON tho wave and the multitude
felt confident a memorable rescue was
90 DO made. Between the bridge and
the rock there arc n number ~ reefs
and In these rested the danger % tine
boat. There was rejoicing when Tho
first reef was passed tn safety. hut q.
the second she half tipped. swung round
and partly filled with water. As she
approached the rock on which poor
Avery hung the boat became uumau-
aCoahlo. swinging back and forth with
rapidly and for a few minutes 70 look
ca as though The very means provided