Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-05-01
ESCAPE WAS MIRACULOUS.

There was an exciting time along the
Wisconsin rivers banks on Thursday
evening, when report was sent out
that party OF three had lost their
lives by being carried over Big Bull
falls dam and through the rapids below
the dam. Hundreds of people lined
the shores, bOnfires were built and q
search tor the bodies conducted far in
to the night. Happily, however there
were no deaths and the parties lived to
read their own obituary in the Milwau-
kee Sentinel next day-an incident not
happening to many in this world.
The tale is something like this: Hen
~ Mckay, bookkeeper for the III E.
McEachron company, owns a launch,
which he lately had fitted up with a
! b. p. gasoline engine. He has here
tofore taken great pride in his craft and
with 1t has sailed the stormy waters of
the Wisconsin and Rib rivers until the
perlls OF water caused him no more
fear than the same perils had for Sir
Ralph, the Rover. But the incident of
Thursday night has caused Henry to
doubt his ability as mariner and to
thank his lucky stars that he is now
alive-slightly distigured, but, etc.
That evening Mr.. Mckay intended
Tip up Ill6 IlNGI anu luNlI6u
Mr.. and Mrs. Theodore Blank to ride
with him. They started from near the
McEachron mill at about eight O'Clock,
Henry rowing out into the main stream,
intending to start the gasoline engine
after getting well out into the river.
The current, however, carried the boat
downsthe river. The parties in it saw
their peril for they were gradually
nearing the dam and destruction of
craft and loss of lives seemed certain.
Row as hard as he could Mr.. Mckay
could make no Roadway, but managed
to keep the bow of the boat up stream,
to which fact the parties owe their
lives, for had the boat turned down
stream they certainly would have been
carried over the dam and rapids. In
his efforts to keep the boat from the
dam it was gradually carried toward
the western bank, and in one of his
strokes Mr. Mckay struck rock indi-
eating shallow water He Jumped out
and was followed by Mr. and Mrs.
Blank. The water was nearly up to
their chins and very swift, but the two
men succeeded in getting the lady out
of the water and saving themselves.
They climbed up the bank and went
directly to the Blank home, where a
fire was kindled and they warmed
themselves.
Several parties saw the boat go over
the rapids, bottom side up, and when
it was ascertained that Mr.. Mckay and
Mr. and Mrs. Blank had few minutes
previous started out in it, the story
that they had been drowned spread and
soon hundreds of people gathered on
the rivers banks. The parties who
saw the boat go over the falls did not
see the above mentioned climbing up
the river bank, and so, of course,
naturally thought they were drowned
1t was nearly two hours later that Mr.
Mckay discovered the situation, and
soon allayed the fears of those who had
gathered at the river. He and Mr.
Blank are scratched and bruised from
coming in contact with rocks in the
river, but otherwise suffered no i'll eff
fects from their exposure in the cold
water. The boat was later picked up
down the river, in badly battered
condition, its engine gone, aud indicat-
ing the fate that would have been me.
by the three had they been carried
over the rapids.