A Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Mary JemisonSeaver, James E. (James Everett)
History
A Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Mary Jemison
Seaver, James E. (James Everett)
Jemison, Mary, 1743-1833; Seneca Indians
In November, 1822, Capt. Stephen Rolph and Mr. Alva Palmer drove a deer
into Genesee river, a short distance above the middle falls, where the
banks were so steep and the current so impetuous, that it could not
regain the shore, and consequently was precipitated over the falls, one
hundred and ten feet, into the gulph below. The hunters ran along the
bank below the falls, to watch the fate of the animal, expecting it
would be dashed in pieces. But to their great astonishment it came up
alive, and by swimming across a small eddy, reached the bank almost
under the falls; and as it stood in that situation, Capt. Ralph, who was
on the top of the bank, shot it. This being done, the next thing to be
considered was, how to get their prize. The rock being perpendicular,
upwards of one hundred feet, would not admit of their climbing down to
it, and there was no way, apparently, for them to get at it, short of
going down the river two miles, to the lower falls, and then by creeping
between the water and the precipice, they might possibly reach their
game. This process would be too tedious. At length Mr. Palmer proposed
to Capt. Rolph and Mr. Heman Merwin, who had joined them, that if they
would make a windlas and fasten it to a couple of saplings that stood
near, and then procure some ropes, he would be let down and get the
deer. The apparatus was prepared; the rope was tied round Palmer's body,
and he was let down. On arriving at the bottom he unloosed himself,
fastened the rope round the deer, which they drew up, and then threw
down the rope, in which he fastened himself, and was drawn up, without
having sustained any injury. From the top to the bottom of the rock,
where he was let down, was exactly one hundred and twenty feet.
FINIS
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account