Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1900-05-22
i, "A HARD BATTLE FOR LIFE.
Two Small Boys Fell in tho River Sunday,
and One Had 4 Desperate Struggle
-. Before Rescued. o.8 \,

hours Of and 10, a few persons wit
messed one of the most desperate
struggles for life that a human being
has ever made and it was made by q
small boy, not over years of age.
Two boys named Miller, sons OF
John Miller, who recently removed
here from Burbank, and resides on
First avenue southeast, near the
river. were out fishing from q log
jam just below the sluiceway Of the
dam. That portion of the jam on
which they stood broke loose and
went down the river through the
seething torrent that comes from the
sluiceway. and those who witnessed
the struggle that followed would
not care to witness a similar one
again. >.
The Oldest boy who is about II
years old stood in the center Of quite
a large bunch OF logs, and by jump
ing from one to another he reached
the shore In safety, but not until he
went down between the logs and three
times narrowly escaped death.
The younger boy was less FORUM
ate. He had only a single log, and
it was 80 far out that it would have
been impossible for anyone but an
expert swimmer to have reached
shore and he could not swim at all.
Both boys called loudly for help but
there were only few persons on the
shore at that time and unfortunate
ly none that could swim.
However. those on shore were
calm. and succeeded in a measure in
reassuring the imperiled boy, ami
he gave up his cries for help and
devoted his entire attention and
strength to keeping on the log.
With face hlanched to the paleness
CLASHES thefrighented child continued
the unequal struggle long after many
and cider persons would have gone
down. Through the heavy
swells OF the rapids the boy and the
log went and although the struggle
lasted Is or 20 minutesit seemed that
the lad was under water half the time.
The log was a large one but the
boys weight would roll it, and the
hope of those ON shore of reaching
the boy before he gave out was often
very low as, they watched him roll
off the log and sink into the water.
He had rare presence OF mind, how
ever, and each time he emerged from
the water he renewed the struggle
with all the strength he could COM
mand. Once he was about to for
sake the log and try to reach shore,
but it was in q very bad place and a
person on shore again treasured him
and told him to cling to the log.
There wasn't boat in sight, but
finally one was secured at a house
several rods up the bank. It was
hastily launched, bnt before the boat
reached him. and just as his strength
had all but given ont, Gilbert King,
about II years of age rushed down
to the river, ran out on a wing jam
and jumped to the log as it went
past. Quickly he reached the boy
and pulled him up on the log, and
none too soon, for the boy was CON-
pletely exhausted and could have
continued the fight but a short time
longer. King IL an adept on logs
and had no difficulty in holding it
steady until the boat reached him,
when he placed TIE boy in the
boat, and ne was taken ashore.
The boat was small one and leaked
like sieve, so King was compelled
on to go down river on the log, but
reached shore easily by running
across some logs that were in the
eddy near the outlet Of the slough.
1t was a great relief to those who
watched his desperate fight for life
to see the boy landed safely on shore.
Seldom does a lad OF his years show
the pluck, presence of mind and en-
durance that he did, and without
either OF these qualities in a marked
degree he would have succumbed
long before assistance could have
reached him.
The boy was soon able to go home
to his parents. who did not know of
his danger until he reached home.
This will no doubt prove a lesson
to those two boys and it should to
other lads Of their age to keep away
from the river. The police were noti-
fed, and hereafter, the river will be
patrolled and all boys OF that age
will be compelled to. keep off the
logs.
T,,~ox DUony~~ Co~~