This is a short film which appears to have been recorded at the wrong frame rate. This is because silent film rates were NOT a constant like sound films (all of which are 24 frames per second). They varied from about 16-22 per second. However, they were also hand-cranked and so the speeds of the cameramen varied. When I saw this one (misidentifed as a film by the master filmmaker, Georges Méliès), I immediately noticed the folks were moving too slowly...as if drugged.
As for the action, a man supposedly falls in the river and folks from a barge and rowboat jump in to rescue him. However, he clearly JUMPED in...thus making it all seem silly and staged. Watchable but easy to skip as well.