The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1909-02-05
They would be at the head Of the cata-
racts before we could bring boat from

/
the village and start to rescue them,
which at best would be desperate
venturing Of our own lives. The plash-
ing OF their heavy sweeps was still
audlble-but not long Suddenly a
sharp snap was heard, and we knew
that one of the oyerstrained sweeps
had broken short off. At this, break
ing their silence, they shouted again
and again for help. Too late! No hui
man power could save them.
We could not even follow them
along the shore, because the broad
creek interyened. Shuddering, we lis
tened to their ever receding shrieks.
Presently these ceased and all was still
save for the steady roar of the Falls.
Poor critters! They're gone," said
Johnson, as we turned sadly away.
There was lots OF good In them fellers,
and two Of them was married men.
They must have swallowed too much OF
the whiskey, or they'd "a known bet
ter than to go out In that tub. Drat
the whiskey trade, anyhow! I'm
blamed If I'll ever touch another drop
OF the stuff; not duck huntin', nor
hshin', nor no time"
"Bullamore, I'm there, too" exclaim-
ed Van Wyck, and they shook hands
on It,
On the afternoon of the next day, two
men came over from Grand Island, in
qulring for the hapess smugglers.
On learning the melancholy facts,
the men went at once to the Whirl-
pool below the Falls, whose circling
eddies sometimes carry TO shore the
remains of objects that have taken the
great plunge. Here they found part OF
the broken oar, a fragment Of the scow,
one keg Of whiskey intact, but no trace
III human bodies. Indeed, the fearful
rock-strewn depths above the whirl-
pool do not always give up their dead.
Having their worst fears thus con-
firmed, the messengers returned home
with the mournful tidings, leaving me
to feel almost like a murderer, though
| had acted from a strict sense OF duty.
| For months / brooded over the events
OF that terrible night. Whether wax
ing or sleeping, the dying shrieks OF
| the unfortunate men seemed ever ring
dozen different ways in which |
might have averted their fate. Vain
regrets! The mischief was already
done.
Late in November Of that year, |
heard that the wives of Isaac and
Moses Schram. whose mourning for
their departed husbands had been, my
informant said, extremely violent, but
brief, had sold off their household eff
tects and mysteriously disappeared.
For unknown reasons the widows had
so artfully covered their tracks that
no one was able or cared to trace them
beyond Buffalo. | could not have told
why this news comforted me, but il
did, and | gradually recovered from my
depression.
One October afternoon, six and
quarter years afterward, | was sitting
in the Office of a Minneapolis hotel,
when | noticed respectfully dressed
farmer-like man glancing alternately
at the register and at me.
After a few words with the clerk, he
seated himself by my side, making
some commonplace remark about the
weather. He seemed a wellinformed.
agreeable fellow, and we were soon en-
gagged in conversation.
By-and-by, apropos of field sports. he
said,-
Stranger, the clerk tells me you're
out on a shooting trip. Now, live
about twelve miles out of town, and
we're just overrun with prairie-chick-
ems. If you like TO come out and put
up with us, it won't cost you a cent
and you'll have loads Of fun"
Thank you-glad Of the chance"
said l. And what is your name, my
friend!" for he had repeatedly used
mine
We'll" he laughingly replied, IF you
call me Peters you won't be far out OF
the way"
Soon jumped into Mr.. Peters spring
wagon and away we went, behind a
pair of lively trouers, After an hour
and quarters delightful spin my
driver stopped beside a handsome
farmhouse, and ushered me into the
great. CHEEKY kitchen. where bright
faced woman was busted in preparing
supper, while two sturdy-looking men
each dandling a child on his knee, sat
waiting.
do you know who this is, boys?"
asked my conductor, as both rose.
The men had no more than glanced
at me then they placed the babies on
the floor, rushed across the room and
warmly grasped my hands, while one
of them fairly shouted
Guess we do, Pete! It's the man
that did us the best turn OF our whole
lives"
Then the woman, who had been cook
ing, and another one, who had mean
time come in. heartily Joined in the
hospitable greeting.