. The falls of Niagara . e afternoon of June 15,1861, the engineer took his place in the hold, and,knowing that their flitting would be short at the best,and might be only the preface to swift destruction, sethis steam-valve at the proper gauge, and awaited — notwithout anxiety — the tinkling signal that should startthem on their flying voyage. Mclntyre joined Robinsonat the wheel on the upper deck. Self-possessed, andwith the calmness which results from undoubting courageand confidence, yet with the humility which recognizesall possibilities, with downcast eyes and firm hands,Robinson took hi
. The falls of Niagara . e afternoon of June 15,1861, the engineer took his place in the hold, and,knowing that their flitting would be short at the best,and might be only the preface to swift destruction, sethis steam-valve at the proper gauge, and awaited — notwithout anxiety — the tinkling signal that should startthem on their flying voyage. Mclntyre joined Robinsonat the wheel on the upper deck. Self-possessed, andwith the calmness which results from undoubting courageand confidence, yet with the humility which recognizesall possibilities, with downcast eyes and firm hands,Robinson took his place at the wheel and pulled thestarting bell. With a shriek from her whistle and a whitepuft from her escape-pipe, to take leave, as it were, ofthe multitude gathered on the shores and on the bridge,the boat ran up the eddy a short distance, then swunground to the right, cleared the smooth water, and shotlike an arrow into the rapid under the bridge. Robin-son intended to take the inside curve of the rapid, but a. LOCAL HISTORY AND INCIDENTS. 9I fierce cross-current carried him to the outer curve, andwhen a third of the way down it a jet of water struckagainst her uudder, a column dashed up under her star-board side, heeled her over, carried away her smoke-stack, started her overhang on that side, threw Robinsonflat on his back, and thrust Mclntyre against her star-board wheel-house with such force as to break it eye was fixed, every tongue was silent, and everyloooker-on breathed freer as she emerged from the fearfulbaptism, shook her wounded sides, slid into the Whirlpool,and for a moment rode again on an even keel. Robinsonrose at once, seized the helm, set her to the right of thelarge pot in the pool, then turned her directly throughthe neck of it. Thence, after receiving another drenchingfrom its combing waves, she dashed on without furtheraccident to the quiet bosom of the river below Lewiston. Thus was accomplished one of the most remarkableand peri
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookidfallsofniaga, bookyear1883
