Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1906-08-08
DARING FEAT AT NIAGARA,

OAEEllNG z EAI AL MI
Crawling twenty-five feet out or a
shaky ladder directly over the brink
of Niagara Falls in the moonlight,
Fireman Thomas Conroy and Patrol
mar Dennis Blake rescued a man who
had attempted suicide, and was about
to be swept oyer the precipice into
the roaring abyss, writes the Niagara
Falls (.N. " correspondent of the
Philadelphia Record. The slightest
slip would have meant death for all
three.
The ladder, resting cl a ledge Of
rock at the river edge, was weighted
down Oh the Snort end by two-score
men, while the intrepid volunteers
crawled slowly cut to where the
Would-ba suicide Was clinging to a
ledge of rcck, ten feet from the brink
of the falls.
AS they reached ' to sieze him,
the nan in the water fought them,
and the struggle for life YVES wit
messed with bated breath by the spec
tators.
The man whose act called forth the
exhibition of bravery gave his name
as Amos Scnwertzer, although the po-
lice believe him to be Amos Robinson,
If Toronto. He was we'll dressed, ana
came here from st. CathaTine. In
his pockets was found $5.45. He re-
fused to make any statement as to
why he wanted to die, when locked
up at police headquarters. Chief OF
Police Maloney has asked the Toron-
to police to look him up in that city.
Schwertzer, or Robinson, was dis
covered by some negroes in the river
close to the Prospect shore early TO-
day. The rushing water swirled about
him, and he seemed about to be swept
from his feet. He was wading out,
and the men called to him to return,
but instead of replying ne went out
further.
The men notified Policeman Blake,
who brought out a long pole. With
Elis he Waded out and :argxs 1t to-
aard Gchuegas!, telling aia to take
hold. Schwertzer cid as hs was bid
den, but instead of coming ashore
pulled Blake out into the stream.
Blake held on as long as he dared,
and finally cast the pole away and
returned to shore.
By this time ScnWartzer had been
carried from his footing, and with a
wild, despairing cry was swept to-
ward the awful abyss 500 feet away.
Just at the edge ne Was hurled
against Thunder Ledge, and this he
seized. In the bright moonlight his
face presented ! CHASTITY hue, while
he held on with the water dragging
at him as though he had changed his
mind as to the value of life
By this time the policeman mad te1e-
phoned to fire headquarters, and Il
fire truck was sent to the scene, ear
rying an extension ladder This was
run out over the ledge. Slowly it was
pushed over the falls, and as it passed
the balancing point, men sat upon It
to keep it from falling into the river
Tiltilly LIlG lOl y -loOL 1ds>dGl
ed its length into the stream. Fiji
teen feet We're on the shore side Of
the iulcrum, and On this two-score
men were seated.
Volunteers were then called for to
go out on the trembling ladder.
Policeman and fireman stepped for
waro, and with Blake in the fore
they crawled out on hands and knees
till they hung suspended directly owe
whsre Schwertzer was fast slipping
to death.
Fireman Conroy reached down and
seized the man by the collar. The
man fought him, but Conroy would
not let go. Aided by Blake, Conroy
drew the struggling form up from the
torrent. Thus, in all, he was car
ried to shore, his rescuer being
greeted with a cheer.