Year: 1871

!
the river so that there are thousands o
cross currents, eddies and whirlpOols
which il would be utterly impossible tc
avoid, and in which lies the danger oi
transit for any boat between the bridge
and the log. The life boats course was
steady ut first she arrived al the first fall
she tripped up and swung round with 8
rush, but continued her course safely only
half filled with wafer Again she des-
cended with safety, but ut length ap-
preaching the log she became unmana-
geable, swinging either way with inn
mense force, spinning completely over,
and finally dashed against the log with
such violence that l fully expected the
whole thing, man and all, TO have been
dislodged and hurried down the rapid.
But, no, it stood firm-thc boat had
reached its destination Yet, alas, how
useless was its position. 1t lay completely
on its side above the log, and with lis
hollow inside directed towards the bridge
played upon by the whole force of the
current, which fixed its keel firmly
against the log. 1t seemed immovable
The man himself climbed toward, it, and
in vain tried 10 pull, lift or shake the
boat nor was il moved until both cables
being brought To one side of the river by
the united force of fifty or sixty men she
was dislOdged aGt swung down the rapid
upsidc-down, finally pitching headlong
beneath an eddy, cntangling one of her
cables on the rocks, and there lying be-
meath heavy fall of water, until in the
course of the day, one cable being broken
by the efforts of the men to dislpdgc her,
and the other by the sheer force of the
current, she went over the ialls,-ihe sec
ond sacrifice To the poor fellow, Who still
clung 10 the log swayed between hope
| and fear. The loss of this boat seemed
great blow to him, and he appeared, Us
far rs We could judge at distance. at
times to give way 10 the utmost despair
y third boat was now brough wooden
very long and fla; -botiOmed. It's Passage
WAS most fortunate, and a. she floatcd
down, even alongside of the log without
accident, hope beamed in every countc-
nance, and we all felt the man might be
saved. Hope also had revived in him.
He stood for some time upon the log
making signals 10 those Tho directed the
boat


lie now eagerly seized her, drew hel
towards him, jumped into her, and made
sign, to them to draw him UP. Thi, was
commenced, but some of the tackle had
caught. and II was deemed necessary to
let il loose Tor an instant. This WAS done !:
the boat fioated II few fee; down the
rapid, swung round the lower end of TIN
log, entanglcd the cable beneath il. and
there rcinaincd i,amovably fixed Oa,c
more the poor fellow work began He
drew oil one of hi, boots and bailed the
boat lac pushed at the log, climbed upon
it, md used every possible eser,ion to
move the boat, but in vain, An hour
was spent in these fruitless cfioris-an
hour of terrible suspense tn all whl be-
held him. He worked well. for he work
cd for his life Three months after. this
boat retained it, position nor will it move
until the rocks grind its cable in two. or
the waters tear it piecemeal into shreds.


Another plan must be devised, and this
with American promTtitute. was soon
Gone \ raft of from twenty to thirty
feet long and five feet broad was knocked
together with amazing rapidi,y. Ii con
sisted of two stout poles, made fast. five
feet a,under, by mailing four or five pieces
of two-inch board at each extremity; thus
the machine consisted of IA sort of skele-
ton raft with small stage at either end.
ON one of these stagcs-that to which
the cables tof which there were twol
were lashed-was tightly fixed large
empty cask, for the sake of its buoyancy.
on the other "A complete network of
cords. To which the man was to lash him.
self; also tin can of refreshments, he
having taken nothing since the evening
before; three or four similar cans, by the
way, had been let down to him already,
alta he'd TO strong pieces of new line, but
the cords had in every instance been
snapped, and the food lost.


| The raft was finished, launched and
* fely let down to the log. The poor fell
low committed himself TO its care, he
lashed his legs firmly, and then signalled
to draw him up; thus for the second time
the ropes had begun to be drawn up, the
raft advanced under the first pull, but its
head owing to the great light cask, dip
ped beneath it, and as the rafl still ad
vanccd, the water broke over it to such
himself upon all fours, keeping his chin
well elevated, to avoid being drowned.
Weexpected at every pull to see his head
go under, but alas. they pulled in vain,
for the front of the raft, pressed down by
the weight of Calling water, had come in
contact with rock, and would not ad-
vance. The ropes were slackened. she
fell back, but again hitched in her return
III was then determined to let her swing
to another part of the rapid; where the
stream did not appear quite so inimpassa-
BILE This was done, and second at
tempt TO draw IT uD was made. halfway
between the log and the opposite shore "a
small island). This also failed from the
same cause, therefore il was proposed to
endeavor to let the raft float down and
swing round upon the island. This was
commenced, but with the old result, the
cable was caught in the rocks, and the
raft remained stationary. However she
was floating easily, and the poor fellow
could rest


Early in the day for the afternoon was
now far advanced, one of the large ferry
boats Quilt expressly for crossing beneath
the falls) had been brought up, but had