Chapter 6
Daniel Mack’s courage in saving the lives of three men in Miller’s River
by Montague, Massachusetts.
1790s
Daniel comes next in order.1 He
was a man of the world, but with one peculiarity — he was,
as many can testify, in many scenes of danger where lives
were exposed, and he was always the first to the rescue,
and thus was the means of saving many a helpless victim
from the jaws of death.
One circumstance of this kind took place in the town of Montague
on Miller’s River, when one of the number proposed taking
a swim.2 Daniel objected, saying
it was a dangerous place to swim in, yet they were determined
and three went in; but, going out into the stream rather
too far, they were overpowered by the current and a kind
of eddy which they fell into, and they sank immediately.
At this Daniel said, “Now, gentlemen, these men are drowning;
who will assist them at the risk of his life?” No one answered.
At this he sprang into the water and, diving to the bottom,
found one of them fastened to some small roots. Daniel took
hold of him and tore up the roots to which he was clinging
and brought him out, and then told the bystanders to get
a barrel for the purpose of rolling him on it in order to
make him disgorge the water which he had taken. He then
went in again and found the other two in the same situation
as the first and saved them in like manner.
click
to enlarge
Daniel Gates Mack saved three men from drowning in Miller's
River near this spot.
After rolling them a short time on the barrel, he took them
to a house and gave them every possible attention until
they had so far recovered as to be able to speak. As soon
as they could talk, one of them, fixing his eyes upon Daniel,
said, “Mr. Mack, we have reason to look upon you as our
savior, for you have delivered us from a watery tomb; and
I would that I could always live near you. We are now assured
that you have not only wisdom to counsel, but when men have
spurned your advice, you still
have that greatness of soul which leads you to risk your
own life to save your fellowman. No, I will never leave
you as long as I live, for I wish to convince you that I
ever remember you, and that I will never slight your counsel
again.”
In this they were all agreed, and they carried out the same
in their future lives.3
Continue
to Chapter 7.
————
Notes to Chapter 6:
1. Daniel was named after his
mother’s father and was the third son and sixth child of
Solomon and Lydia Mack. His birth is estimated to be in
1770.
2. Miller’s River, which flows
by and through the town of Montague, Franklin County, Massachusetts, can be very dangerous, especially
in the high waters of spring and early summer, because of
the boulder-strewn course.
3. Daniel later lived in Royalton,
Vermont. His mother, Lydia Mack, passed away in his home
there.
