Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-02-16
THEIR TERRIBLE CALLING.
They Risk Life and Limb to Gather Rich
Flotsdam From Niaeara's whirlpool.

They Risk Life and Limb to Gather Rich
Flotsdam From Niagara's whirlpool.
The men who follow this weird call
ing of seeking for treasure in the rag
ing waters of the whirlpool are al
most the only Inhabitants of that
lonely and mysterious section Of the
shore known as "The Unknown
Niagara" 1t is wild stretch that
lies on the base of perpendicular rocks
that tower away to the skies, and at
whose feet are the waters that whirl
and whirl eternally. 1t is here that
thls curious class of men with their
Few hardy wives live from day to day,
dulled to the fearful roar of lie waters
and but little impressed by the spec
tacle about them. Here they lie in
wait and watch the turbulent tide like
hawks or eagles watching for their
prey, and no upheaval, no relic Of
tragedy, nothing vomited up by the
submarine eddies Of that unrestful
stream ever escapes their eager at
tention.
Once their watchful eyes catch but
a glimpse Of Its bobbing surface-be
II cask OF supposed treasure that slip
ped by unwittingly from party on
mains that anxious srelatives await
and are willing to pay dearly for
these bold men are about and up and
into the whirl of death-dealing waters.
And then by a system of daring Of
their own by series of evolutions
by which they have long, studied to
laugh and mock at death they enter
the very clutches of that grim element
htin nt,f; ;,.,, tl,n f,,p
which they entered. 1t may prove to
be but log worth nothing, and it
may prove to be a body laden with
wealth, but whatever it is. they grasp
it, and back again they leap through
the buffetings of death, and upon the
shores where the perpendicular rocks
rise sheer to the skies
One man, bolder and more daring
than the rest. stands ready on the
shore with the stoutest of ropes about
his breast waist and portions of his
limbs, and so arranged as not to inter
fere with his movements when he
takes the leap into the whirlpool. And
that leap. Those who have seen him
take il say they hold their breaths
and their hearts beat as he disappears
beneath the raging surface. Seven
shore. and then when he rises, to be
tossed and buffeted about, they take
a double grip and shut their teeth.
And when he appears it is again only
for Il moment, and the face is white
and gasping. but even then plainly
showing the grit of this strange race,
as they might be called, who hazard
life and all in this weird way.
1t is a long and strong pull, Il pull
altogether, and with shout the dar-
ing swimmer is strained away up on
shore and out of the rapid whirl.
Then the bold swimmer-man that
he is-faints and drink of good
Canadian whiskey is brought. 1t is
poured down his throat and he quickly
recovers. When he is able to move
about in a moment or two, he is the
most active in the work of preparing
the remains for inspection. The body
is then gotten in shape for the recep-
ton of relatives, and if it be that Of
rich man, the daring rescuers are
made the recipients of handsome COM
pensation. 1t may be body laden
with treasure-rings of value, costly
jewels, or with money in dank, saggy
wallets, and if no one calls the money
is held for Il while and then divided