The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-08-14
SkitterS and the Falls.
Continued from Page One. J

stones and watched the writing water
come out from the shadow of the preci-
pice with queer long streaks in it.
Bowers and Skitters and the man who
had charge of the boat pushed off in
this. They went a long way out and
as far as they dared upstream. Yet
it was close inshore and very near us
that we caught sight of the object Of
our search, and the sight of it gave
us all a start. "See, see! There 1t isv'
muttered old Gill and pointed We
watched it with q kind of awe, as
though it had been uncanny, and as we
watched the figure stirred and swan.
"Alivew Skitters stood up in the
boat, reckless of the river and flushed
with the pride of victory, Napoleon at
Austerlitz, Caesar on the triumphal car.
He bowed as though to invisible
crowds. l believe that for moment
he thought he owned the falls. Gen
tlemen," he almost sobbed, 81 didn't
quite plan it this way, but we've got
here the biggest attraction that the
world has ever yet seen. Wen be
known all over America tomorrow"
Help me to get him out of this"
cried Bowers. They had lowed the
bulky figure in toward land, and the
arms kept swimming and convulsively
clutching air. We drew it up upon the
beach and began to open the pneumatic
suit, wondering to see how this had
been bruised and strained. One of the
legs hung Imply smashed in spite Of
all the armor
What followed next find it not easy
to describe. We got the helmet off at
last with nervous fingers, and we saw
a smothered, distorted countenance, the
eyes closed tight, as though to shut
out fear. They opened in a moment,
with the strangest blankest expression
in them, and did not see us. and a
voice began to speak, or to gibber,
rather, no matter what the words were.
What would the words be of one whose
reason had snapped suddenly and left
mind all blank or topsy turvy?
suppose, in fact, that the Germans
brain, long dwelling upon that fool
hardy feat, may have become unsettled
at the last and have given way rapidly
ids. That had been no sane man who
swan at the falls before us, and the
mental wreck had been completed at
last by possibly the greatest physical
shock that human being has ever yet
survived. Life was there still In that
wrenched and battered form. but not a
spark of reason. But Skitters. with an
Ell Dorado of dazzling possibilities still
before his eyes, refused to accept the
truth. and he strove to revive the shat
tered man with words of glittering
cheer.
Just think Of it,. he bawled above
the stunning uproar-'you're made
man now! Think of the Midway up
yonder! Think of those great big
crowds streaming in from all America,
and you alive and the biggest thing Of
all, the biggest inducement in all the
bunch, the man who went over Mag
ara! No fake about this show, and I
your manager" Thus he gabbled to
the man before him, and the other was
Cabling something about green girls
who swan in the water and turned the
lights out when one fell off the world,
Meanwhile the solemn cataract above
Numbered on increasingly, Indifferent
to us and our small tragedy. Once
Curley Bowers turned toward it and
exclaimed, with touch of respect he
rarely showed, II guess it doesn't pay
to monkey much with you" ! am dis
posed to agree with this opinion, for
indeed those giant things of nature
would seem to have certain stern re-
sentfulness, and Niagara, like the Mat.
terhorn. took vengeance ON her con-
querors at last.
But think of that situation! He, b.
q. Skitters, of all the men ON earth, Is
forced by the might of circumstances
to shake his head and deny knowledge
of feat as to whose possibility tho
world is arguing. He has the pneu-
matte suit all ready for exhibition; he
has, If he could produce him, the only
man alive who ever saw Niagara from
point on the middle of the Horseshoe
fall, yet the public waits in vain, and
the harvest hours are passing.
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