Samuel Dixon
crossing the Niagara River Gorge on a rope in 1890
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
Annie Taylor,
the first to conquer the Horseshoe Falls
proudly displaying her barrel
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
It wasn't until some years after the
bitter fighting along the shores of the Niagara River during the War of 1812,
that Niagara started to come into its own as a tourist attraction.
By the 1820's there were three hotels
catering to the visitors of Niagara Falls. The hotel owners were responsible for
the first stunt over the Falls in order to attract attention of members of the
public and to boost the tourist trade.
The hotel owners acquired a condemned
Lake Erie schooner named the "Michigan". The hotel owners then advertised in
advance that they would send the schooner over the Horseshoe Falls on September
8th 1827.
Most of the animals placed aboard were
able to safely escape before the ship broke apart on the shoals and was
swept over the Horseshoe Falls.
This daredevil event took place as
advertised before an estimated crowd of 10,000 people.
This heralded the beginning of 170
years of recorded history of men and women challenging the Niagara River and the
Falls in face of death for fame and fortune. Like a giant roulette wheel, they
came willingly and gambled with their very lives.
SOME
SURVIVED......and......SOME DIED
The river is
ferocious and unforgiving
Blondin
balancing between life and death
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
for a quick reference visit
and then learn all about those
Daredevils listed in the index below
CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX
Schooner Michigan
Sam Patch
E. Jackson
Blondin the Great
Seth Ford
The Great Farini
William Leonard
Hunt
Captain Joel Robinson
Harry Leslie
J.F. Jenkins
Henry Bellini
Captain J.D. Rhodes
Stephen Peer
Maria Spelterini
David McDowell
Frank Brown
Clifford Calverly
D.H. MacDonald
Charles Cromwell
Walter Campbell
Samuel Dixon
James E. Hardy
Oliver Hilton
Captain Matthew Webb
Carlisle Graham
George Potts
William Hazlett
James Scott
William Kendall
Lawrence Donovan
Alphonse King
Charles Percy
Robert Flack
I.H. Ashley
Peter "Bowser" Nissen
Captain Billy Johnson
Joe Chambers
Martha Wagenfurher
Maud Willard
Annie Edson Taylor
Claus Larsen
Lincoln Beachy
Bobby Leach
Oscar Williams
Peter Langaard
Vincent Taylor
Jean Lussier
Charles Stephens
George L.
Strathakis
William "Red"
Hill Sr.
William "Red" Hill Jr.
Major Lloyd Hill
Ted Mercier
Joseph Hawryluk
Graham Scott
Claus Kirkoff
Roger Woodward
Nathan T. Boya
William A. Fitzgerald
Raymond Weaver
Karl Koch
Bruce Curtis
Ronald Hess
John Kazian
Niagara White Water
Henri Julien Rechatin
Edward Friedland
Jim Sarten
Niagara Gorge River Trips
Mr. X (James Randi)
Kenneth Lagergren
Chris Spelius
Don Wheedon
Carrie Ashton
Karel Soucek
Steven Trotter
Phillipe Petit
John David Munday
Peter DeBernardi
Jeffrey Petkovich
Jessie W. Sharp
Robert Overacker
Kirk Jones
SCHOONER "MICHIGAN"
1827
(animals aboard)
In 1827, William Forsyth of
the Pavilion Hotel with the help of John Brown of the Ontario House and General
Parkhurst Whitney of the Eagle Hotel in Niagara Falls, New York staged the
very first tourist stunt at Niagara Falls.
Forsyth bought an old
condemned lake schooner named "Michigan"
The "Michigan" was 16 feet from keel to
the deck. The water depth at the crest of the Horseshoe Falls was nearly twenty
feet deep back then (presently 3 - 5 feet).
The hotel owners then advertised in
advance that they would send the schooner over the Horseshoe Falls on September
8th 1827. Printed broadsheets were delivered throughout Western New York and
Upper Canada announcing:
"The pirate Michigan with a cargo of
ferocious wild animals will pass the great rapids and falls of Niagara - 8th
September 1827 at 6 o'clock
The Michigan has long braved the
bellows of Erie, with success, as a merchant vessel: but having been condemned
by her owners unfit to sail long proudly "above"; her present proprietors,
together with several public spirited friends, have appointed her to carry a
cargo of Living Animals of the Forest, which surround the upper lakes, through
the white tossing and deep rolling rapids of Niagara and down its great
precipice, into the basin "below". The greatest exertions are being made to
procure animals of the most ferocious kind, such as Panthers, Wild Cats and
Wolves; but in lieu of these , which it may be impossible to obtain , a few
vicious or worthless dogs, such as may possess strength and activity, and
perhaps a few of the toughest of the lesser animals will be added to, and
compose the cargo...
Should the vessel take her course
through the deepest of the rapids, it is confidently believed that she will
reach the Horse Shoe unbroken; if so she will perform her voyage to the water of
the Gulf beneath which is of great depth and buoyancy, entire, but what her fate
will be the trial will decide. Should the animals be young and hardy and
possessed of great muscular power and joining their fate with that of the
vessel, remain on board until she reaches the water below, there is a great
possibility that many of them will have performed the terrible jaunt, unhurt!"
To further add to the stunt the schooner
was decorated to look like a pirate ship with human shaped dummies tied to her
deck.
The only animals placed on board the
doomed ship included a buffalo, two small bears, two raccoons, a dog and one
goose. Some reports also included two fox, fifteen geese and an eagle. This was
a far cry from the ferocious animals that Forsyth had advertised would be aboard
the doomed vessel.
On September 8th 1827, with a crowd
estimated at 10,000, the ship was towed by Captain James Rough from Black Rock
to Navy Island using the paddle steamer "Chippawa". Here the "Michigan" was
pointed towards the Falls in mid-river. Prior to the release of the "Michigan",
visitors were allowed to board the schooner and view the condemned animals.
At approximately 6 p.m., the schooner
"Michigan" was released into the currents of the upper Niagara River and drifted
towards the Falls. As it reached the rapids, its hull was torn open and the
schooner began filling with water. The two bears running loose on deck jumped
free of the schooner into the rapids. They were able to swim to Goat Island. The
other animals were caged or tied to the ship died when the schooner went over
the Horseshoe Falls. At the base of the Falls, only the goose had survived the
plunge and was caught by Mr. Duggan.
SAM PATCH
1829
(Survived)
On Wednesday October 7th 1829, Sam Patch
became the first daredevil to challenge the Niagara River. The 22 year old from
Rhode island dove into the churning waters of the Niagara River from a height of
85 feet. Mr. Patch chose Goat Island between the Luna Falls and the Bridal Falls
to erect his diving platform. He survived this headfirst high dive unscathed. On
October 17th 1829, Sam Patch made the second successful high dive at the falls
from a height of 130 feet.
Following his feats at Niagara Falls, Sam
Patch went to Rochester where he attempted a 100 foot dive into the Genesee
River. During this dive, Patch died by drowning.
E. JACKSON
1856
(Survived)
On August 27th 1856, E. Jackson swam in
the Niagara River from the Briddle Stairway (Goat Island) to the Horseshoe
Falls.
THE GREAT BLONDIN
AKA:
Jean Francois Gravelot
1859
(Survived)
Blondin
crossing the Niagara River Gorge on a rope in 1859
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
The most famous of Niagara's daredevils
was Jean Francois Gravelot, better know as "The Great Blondin". He was born
February 28th 1824 in St. Omer, Pas de Calais in Northern France.
Blondin first came to Niagara in early
1858. He became obsessed with crossing the Niagara River on a tightrope. On June
30th 1859, Blondin successfully walked across the river on a tight rope. For
this crossing , Blondin utilized a 1,100 foot long - 3 inch diameter manila rope
stretched from what is now Prospect Park in Niagara Falls, New York to what is
now Oakes Garden in Niagara Falls, Ontario. He began his first walk from the
American side and completed his crossing in 20 minutes. Blondin used a thirty
(30) foot (9m) long balancing pole that weighed 40 pounds.
During the summer of 1859, Blondin
completed eight more crossing times. His most difficult crossing occurred on
August 14th when he carried his manager Harry Colcord on his back. During the
summer of 1860, Blondin returned to Niagara for a second successful year of
tight rope walking across the Niagara River for hundreds of thousands of
sightseers. One of his acts included pushing a wheelbarrow along as he crossed.
On September 8th 1860, Blondin completed
his final tight rope crossing of the Niagara River. In 1860, Signor Guillermo
Antonio Farini (aka: William Hunt) of Lockport, New York was Blondin's
formidable rival. Others followed in the absence of Blondin but none was more
daring or famous.
Blondin died in 1897 at the age of 73
years.
Blondin
tightrope walking across the Niagara River Gorge carrying his manager Harry
Colcord on his back on August 19th 1859
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
SETH FORD
1859
(Survived)
On July 22nd 1859, Seth Ford swam across
the Niagara River from a location north of the American Falls to the Canadian
shoreline.
SIGNOR GUILLERMO ANTONIO FARINI
"THE GREAT FARINI"
aka: WILLIAM LEONARD
HUNT
1860
(Survived)
The Great
Farini crossing the Niagara River Gorge on a rope carrying a washing machine on
his back on September 5th 1860
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
William Leonard Hunt was born Lockport,
New York in 1838. Hunt was raised and educated in Port Hope, Ontario. He had
dual citizenship.
During the early summer of 1860, a young
22 year old Hunt watched intently from the shore of the Niagara Gorge as Blondin
made his way across the Niagara Gorge by walking across a rope strung from side
to side. Hunt turned to his girlfriend and proclaimed that he could do what
Blondin could. That night, Hunt and his girlfriend returned to Lockport, New
York. Hunt was working for the father of his girlfriend as a store keeper, gave
notice to his employer that he was quitting to pursue his career dream as a rope
walker in order to challenge Blondin. His girlfriend immediately broke off their
engagement.
During the summer of 1859, Hunt was
offered $100 to perform at a local fair in Port Hope. Hunt demanded $500 on the
condition that he would stand on his head above the Ganaraska River. Hunt
carried out this performance with a borrowed rope. He walked back and forth
across the river without a balancing pole. In addition, he stood on his head,
did somersaults and walked blind folded as he had promised. Hunt was an
extremely strong young man and had won a tug of war over six other men single
handed.
William Hunt changed his name to Signor
Guillermo Antonio Farini. He would quickly become known as "The Great Farini".
Farini left his home in Port Hope after his father accused him of being a
disgrace to his family by becoming a circus performer.
Farini moved to Minnesota and for a short
time worked at his uncle's general store. Farini then joined the Dan Rice's
floating circus on the Mississippi River. Farini was reunited with his family
after buying his father a farm.
Farini issued a series of challenges to
Blondin but they remained unanswered. Blondin was a more polished acrobat
however Farini was a much more powerful performer and a much better businessman.
Blondin usually took a collection at the end of each performance while Farini
marketed and packaged his performances to ensure a larger audience and financial
success.
Farini's first performance at Niagara
Falls occurred on August 15th 1860. Farini began the tightrope walk while
carrying a balancing pole and an additional coil of rope strapped to his back.
When Farini reached the mid-point he tied the pole to the tightrope and using
the coil of rope he carried with him, Farini lowered himself to the deck of the
Maid of the Mist boat 200 feet below. Getting down was relatively easy. On the
deck of the boat, Farini drank a glass of wine before ascending back to the
tightrope above. This task was much more demanding than Farini anticipated.
Farini was near total exhaustion and nearly fell on several occasions. Farini
did make it back to the tightrope, and continued to the shoreline. After a brief
ten minute rest, Farini made the return crossing blindfolding and wearing
baskets on his feet. This was the first and only time that Farini tried lowering
himself from the tightrope to the river below. Blondin did not try to equal this
feat.
In the weeks that followed, Farini matched
or surpassed each of Blondin's performances. Farini balanced himself on his
head, hung from the tightrope by his toes and carried a person across the
Niagara Gorge on his back. On September 5th 1860, Farini carried an Irish washer
woman across the gorge on his back to counter an earlier performance by Blondin.
When Blondin took out a stove on the tightrope and cooked an omelette, Farini
carried a washtub out on the tightrope. He then lowered a bucket to the river
below to retrieve water in order to wash a dozen handkerchiefs. Farini had a
driving desire to be the best.
Farini performed at Niagara Falls twice
each week. Although his acts were more daring and drew larger crowds, he never
achieved the fame that Blondin did. Blondin received most of the attention and
most of the press.
For Farini, tightrope walking was but one
of his many interests throughout his life. During his life he was an inventor,
an explorer, writer, secret service agent, painter and sculptor. In 1862, while
performing a tightrope walk above a bull ring in Havana, Cuba, a female he was
carrying on his back fell to the ground below. The female dies several days
later.
The Great
Farini hanging from the tightrope over the Niagara River Gorge
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
On August 8th 1864, Farini returned to
Niagara Falls and attempted to perform another death defying feat. Farini
wearing a pair of specially made stilts waded out into the cascading water just
above the American Falls. Farini planned to walk to the brink of the Falls but
one of the stilts he was wearing was caught in a crevice in the riverbed causing
it to break. Farini suffered a badly injured leg but was still able to reach
Robinson Island which is nearest the Luna Falls. Here he was rescued. Farini
left Niagara Falls defeated and deflated.
In 1866, Farini took his tightrope and
circus act to England, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. During the years that
followed, Farini did many other things with his life. He was an explorer and
during the American Civil War, Farini was a member of the Secret Service for the
Confederate Army, The Great Farini returned to Canada in 1899. He took up the
art of oil painting. He remained active in his later years as well.
William Leonard Hunt, aka: The Great
Farini died in January of 1929 at the age of 91 years. Farini is buried in Port
Hope, Ontario. The Great Farini was one of the worlds greatest tightrope walkers
to ever conquer Niagara.
CAPTAIN JOEL ROBINSON
1861
(Survived)
a stereograph of the Maid of the Mist II
being navigated through the Whirlpool Rapids
by Captain Joel Robinson on June 6th 1861
courtesy of James Brown
In 1846, the Niagara Falls Ferry
Association was incorporated. The Maid of the Mist Ferry Service had begun.
The first Maid of the Mist was launched on
May 27th 1846. It remained the only method to cross the border until 1848, when
the first suspension bridge was built. With a ferry service no longer required
the Maid of the Mist boat service realized the need for a tourist boat
attraction.
Due to its popularity, a larger boat, the
Maid of the Mist II was launched for service on July 14th 1854. It was a single
smoke stacked 72 foot long steam propelled paddle wheeler. In 1861, due to a
financial crisis and the impending American Civil War, the Maid of the Mist was
sold at public auction. It was sold to a Canadian Company providing the boat
could be delivered to Lake Ontario. In order to do so the Maid of the Mist would
have to be navigated through the Great Gorge Rapids, the Whirlpool and the Lower
Rapids prior to delivery. The thought was mind boggling and terrifying.
On June 6th 1861, 53 year old Captain Joel
Robinson undertook this mission along with two deck hands. At approximately 3
p.m., with his mechanic, James McIntyre at his side in the wheel house, Captain
Robinson began this perilous journey. His engineer, James Jones was tending to
the boiler to ensure maximum power was available when needed. A short blast of
the boats whistle announced the beginning. With both shores lined with people
who had come to see this spectacle, Captain Robinson and crew rode the Maid of
the Mist through one of the world's most wild and dangerous white water rapids.
The first giant wave, threw Robinson and
McIntyre to the floor of the wheel house and tore the smoke stack from the boat.
Engineer Jones was thrown to the floor of the engine room. On his knees, he held
on to a pipe stand for his life. The boat was now at the mercy of the
mountainous waves crashing against and over the tiny boat. The boat was carried
at approximately 39 miles per hour through the rock strewn rapids. Soon the Maid
of the Mist was propelled into the Whirlpool. The relative tranquility of the
Whirlpool allowed Captain Robinson to regain control of his boat.
Captain Robinson had great difficulty
breaking the Maid of the Mist from the grip of the Whirlpool before challenging
the final leg of this dangerous trip through the dreaded Devil's Hole Rapids. As
the boat escaped the grips of the Whirlpool, Captain Robinson did the best he
could to hold a course through the center of the channel with his badly damaged
vessel.
The three mile journey through the rapids
and the whirlpool was successful except for losing the smoke stack. Captain
Robinson had accomplished something no one had done before and thought
impossible. Captain Robinson and his crew were motivated by the five hundred
dollar reward if they successfully delivered the boat to the docks at Queenston,
Ontario.
The frightening experience of this journey
caused Captain Robinson to give up a career that he loved. He retired into near
seclusion. Captain Robinson died two years later at the age of 55 years.
HARRY LESLIE
1865
(Survived)
On June 15th 1865, Harry Leslie, "the
American Blondin", walked a tightrope across the Niagara Gorge over the
Whirlpool Rapids.
J.F. "PROFESSOR" JENKINS
1869
(Survived)
Professor
Jenkins crossing the Niagara River Gorge on his velocipede
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
On August 25th 1869, J.F. "Professor"
Jenkins crossed the Niagara Gorge on a tightrope located at the Whirlpool Rapids
just north of the Railway Suspension Bridge. Professor Jenkins rode across on a
combination bicycle - velocipede.
Professor
Jenkins' velocipede
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
HENRY BELLINI
1873
(Survived)
Henry Bellini
tight laying down while rope walking across the Niagara River in 1873
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
Henry Bellini was born in England.
In 1873, Bellini came to Niagara Falls at
the age of 32 years. On August 25th 1873, Bellini made his first tight rope walk
across the Niagara River using a 1,500 foot long - 2.5 inch diameter rope
weighing 2,500 pounds. He combined a tight rope walk with a leap into the
churning river below. He tried crossing using a 48 pound - 22 foot long balance
pole. Following his leap into the water, Bellini was picked up by an awaiting
boat. Bellini made three such leaps during 1873. In the winter of 1886, Bellini
jumped from the Upper Suspension Bridge. He was hauled from the water
unconscious with broken ribs but alive.
Bellini died in 1888 while jumping from a
bridge in London, England.
Henry Bellini
tight rope walking across the Niagara River in 1873
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
CAPTAIN J. D. RHODES
1878
(Survived)
On June 26th 1878, Captain J. D. Rhodes
jumped into the Niagara River from a ninety foot high platform erected below
Prospect Point on the American shore.
STEPHEN PEER
1887
(Died)
Stephen Peer
in 1887
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
Stephen Peer was born in 1840 in the
Stamford Township and was 19 years old when Blondin performed his first tight
rope walk in Niagara Falls. Peer wanted to become Niagara's first tight rope
walker.
In 1873, Stephen Peer signed on to become
an assistant to Henry Bellini by helping Bellini string the rope across the
gorge. Peer's first public appearance opened with Bellini's equipment but
without Bellini's consent. Bellini tried to stop Peer by trying to cut the tight
rope without success. Bellini was chased out of town.
By 1887, Peer had become famous enough to
begin performing under his own billing. On June 22nd 1887, Peer performed a
tight rope walk on a five-eighth inch diameter wire cable stretched between the
present Whirlpool Bridge and the Penn Central Bridge. Peer started his crossing
on the Canadian side, successfully completing a double crossing.
On June 25th 1887, Stephen Peer was found
dead laying on the bank of the Niagara river directly below his wire cable. It
is speculated that Peer tried an unscheduled night crossing after an evening of
drinking.
MARIA SPELTERINI
1876
(Survived)
Maria
Spelterini crossing the Niagara River Gorge on a rope in 1876.
The only woman tightrope walker to ever challenge the gorge
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
Signorina Maria Spelterini became the
first woman to ever cross the Niagara River gorge on a tight rope.
Spelterini was a 23 year old buxom 150
pound beautiful woman of Italian descent. She made her debut on July 8th 1876
performing a successful crossing using two and a quarter inch wire located just
North of the lower suspension bridge ( presently the Whirlpool Bridge). Maria
Spelterini soon proved herself equal to those tight rope walkers that preceded
her.
On July 12th 1876, Spelterini crossed
wearing peach baskets strapped to her feet. On July 19th 1876, she crossed blind
folded. On July 22nd 1876, Spelterini crossed with her ankles and wrists
manacled.
On July 26th 1876, Maria Spelterini made a
farewell crossing. She never performed any more in Niagara Falls. Her personal
life remains a mystery. The date and place of her death are unknown.
Maria
Spelterini wearing wooden buckets on her feet
crossing the Niagara River Gorge on a rope in 1876
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
DAVID MCDOWELL
1881
(Survived)
On August 10th 1881, David McDowell of
Batavia, New York walked across the Niagara Gorge on the narrow railing of the
Upper Suspension Bridge. He was intoxicated at the time.
FRANK M. BROWN
1882
(Survived)
On August 25th 1882, Frank M. Brown of New
York City, New York swam across the Niagara River from the foot of the American
Falls to the Canadian shoreline in 4 minutes and 46 seconds.
CLIFFORD CALVERLY
1887, 1890
(Survived)
Clifford
Calverly pushing a wheelbarrow across the Niagara River Gorge
on a rope in 1892
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
Records are very few pertaining to
Clifford Calverly.
Calverly was born in 1870 in
Thornbury, Ontario. He lived in Clarksburg, Ontario where he worked as a
steeplejack. In 1887, Clifford Calverly came to
Niagara Falls to perform his tight rope act.
During his successful crossing he
set a speed record by crossing the gorge in two minutes and thirty-two seconds
as compared to the usual fifteen to twenty minutes required by most of his
predecessors. During subsequent crossings, Calverly skipped rope, hung by one
arm, hung by one foot, sat on a chair and used a wheelbarrow.
Clifford
Calverly crossing the Niagara River in 1887
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
D.H. MACDONALD
1887, 1890
(Survived)
D. H. MacDonald made at least one
successful crossing using the equipment of Clifford Calverly.
CHARLES CROMWELL
1887, 1890
(Survived)
Charles Cromwell was born in
Blenheim, Ontario. He was the son of Frank and Maud Cromwell. Frank was an
aerial trapeze artist. Frank and Maud worked for the Ringling Brothers Circus.
Charles grew up and lived in Paris,
Ontario but traveled frequently with his parents and the circus. Once Charles
had grown up he began working with the Yankee Robinson Circus as a rope walker.
A successful tight rope walk across the
Niagara River gorge was completed by Charles Cromwell. Cromwell failed to
attract much media or public attention. Charles completed two crossings of the
Niagara River Gorge. He utilized a 16 foot (4.8m) long
balancing pole that weighed 42 pounds. He died in Galt, Ontario on December 19th 1938 at the
age of 83 years.
WALTER G. CAMPBELL
1889
(Survived)
1889
Walter Campbell and dog "Jumbo"
navigated a clinker boat through the Whirlpool Rapids
Walter Campbell was born on October 30th
1868 in Youngstown, New York. He was one of eleven children born to his parents
James and Rachel (Ribble) Campbell.
On September 15th 1888 at approximately
3:20 p.m., nineteen year old Walter Campbell set out along the Niagara River
with several friends and his pet dog "Jumbo" in a small clinker built boat.
Campbell rowed to the old Maid of the Mist
landing (just south of the Michigan Central Railway Cantilever Bridge) where he
dropped his friends off.
Campbell wearing bathing trunks and a cork
life preserver, set out form shore with his pet dog onboard. Campbell was
standing while using an oar as a rudder to guide his boat to the middle of the
river.
Campbell was swept downstream by the
current into the Whirlpool Rapids. As he entered the ferocious white water, his
dog "Jumbo" was thrown into the water ahead of the boat. Campbell lost the oar
he was holding. He crouched down into the boat and was seen holding the sides of
the boat as it pitched wildly in the water.
As the boat was propelled through the
rapids, it quickly filled with water. The boat broke into pieces, throwing
Campbell into the water.
Campbell had to swim against the current
to avoid being struck by the wreckage of the boat, before being swiftly carried
into the Whirlpool. At the Whirlpool, Campbell was able to swim to the Canadian
shoreline where he was rescued twenty minutes after his journey began.
Campbell's pet dog died from drowning
during the perilous journey.
Following his feat of survival, Campbell
earned a thousand dollars for a four week appearance at the old Wonderland in
Buffalo, New York.
On January 16th 1909, died at the age of
39 years, two weeks after he had been committed to the county almshouse as a
result of a chronic illness.
SAMUEL J. DIXON
1890
(Survived)
Samuel Dixon
crossing the Niagara River Gorge on a rope in 1891
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
Samuel J. Dixon was a photographer from
Toronto, Ontario. On September 6th 1890, Dixon crossed the Niagara River gorge
using a seven - eighths inch diameter rope stretched across the gorge over the
wildest part of the Whirlpool Rapids. His balancing pole was made up of three
pieces of gas pipe - sixteen feet in length. Dixon crossed from the Canadian
side to the American side before returning. On the return he added more suspense
by lying on the rope with the pole resting on his chest, standing on one foot
and by hanging from the rope with one hand. Dixon was truly the last of the
memorable tight rope walkers ever to come to Niagara Falls.
JAMES E. HARDY
1896
(Survived)
James E. Hardy came from Toronto, Ontario
to Niagara Falls in the summer of 1896. At the age of 21 years, Hardy was the
youngest person ever to tight rope walk across the Niagara River gorge. During
the summer of 1896, Hardy made sixteen crossings. James Hardy died in May 1939
at age 65 in the City of Toronto.
OLIVER HILTON
1897
(Survived)
Oliver Hilton came to Niagara Falls from
Hamburg, New York. He was a professional circus rope walker. Hilton claims to
have crossed the Niagara River gorge on September 16th 1897 ( at the age of 10
years) in stocking feet on the rope that James E. Hardy had left behind. No
proof existed to support this claim.
CAPTAIN MATTHEW WEBB
1883
(Died)
Captain Matthew Webb was born in
Shropshire, England in 1848. He was one of seven children born to his parents,
Matthew Webb and Sarah Cartwright. At the age of 12 years, Matthew Webb enrolled
as a sea cadet on the naval training ship, the HMS Conway in Liverpool, England.
He became an experienced sailor. During his years at sea, he became a very good
swimmer. He became famous for his swimming feats, many performed while saving
human lives.
In 1873 Webb became the recipient of a
gold medal from the Royal Humane Society of Great Britain for lifesaving for
jumping off a Cunard steamer "Russia" to save a sailor who had been washed over
board.
On August 24th 1875, Webb swam the English
Channel. Webb came to Niagara Falls during the Summer of 1883 to challenge the
Niagara River. He had been promised a $2,000 reward if he swam the Niagara River
Whirlpool Rapids.
At 4 p.m. on the afternoon of July 24th
1883, Captain Webb was rowed out from the Maid of the Mist landing to the middle
of the Niagara River by Jack McCloy. At 4:25 p.m., Captain Webb dove into the
river and began swimming towards the great whirlpool rapids. Eye witnesses claim
that Captain Webb made the trip through the rapids in two minutes only to be
drawn underwater at the vortex of Whirlpool. There are however conflicting eye
witness accounts as to whether Captain Webb drowned in the rapids or in the
whirlpool. At any rate, Webb's mangled body was recovered from the Niagara River
near Queenston four days later History would later prove that the swim Captain
Webb had undertaken could be done successfully.
Captain Webb was buried at Oakwood
Cemetery in Niagara Falls, New York.
On August 22nd 1886, a Boston Policeman
made the trip through the rapids wearing a cork life preserver. On July 18th
1933, William Kondrat age 18 of Chatham, New Jersey began swimming across the
Niagara River near the Maid of the Mist docks. Kondrat was swept down river by
the current towards the Great Whirlpool Rapids. Kondrat survived the rapids and
the Whirlpool by the narrowest margin. Before being rescued Kondrat had been in
the water nearly two and a half hours.
CARLISLE GRAHAM
1886
(Survived)
Carlisle
Graham posing with his barrel
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
On July 11th 1886, Niagara Falls witnessed
its first barrel stunt. Carlisle D. Graham, an English cooper (barrel maker) who
had recently immigrated to Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA came to Niagara Falls.
Graham had constructed a five and a half foot barrel of oaken staves and
handmade iron hoops for his widely advertised trip.
On Sunday July 11th 1886 during the early
afternoon, Graham began his trip from what is now the Whirlpool Bridge through
the great gorge rapids and the whirlpool. Graham stood six feet tall had to
stoop over once inside the barrel to allow the water tight lid to be screwed
into place. He was completely encased in a waterproof canvas sheath with the
exception of his two arms which allowed Graham to hold onto inside mounted metal
handles. The initial trip took 30 minutes. Graham survived but had become
extremely ill and dizzy from the ride.
This led Graham to announce that on August
19th 1886 he would make a second trip. In this trip he would keep his head
outside of the barrel. On August 8th 1886, before Graham could undertake this
stunt, two fellow shipmates George Hazlett and William Potts successfully
conquered this same stretch of river using Grahams barrel. Both survived
uninjured.
Carlisle Graham made his second trip as
scheduled on August 19th 1886. Graham survived but leaving his head outside the
barrel resulted in Graham sustaining hearing impaired. On August 18th 1886, the
day before Graham's second trip, James Scott, of Lewiston, New York attempted to
swim the rapids and lost his life.
In November 1886, George Hazlett and his
girlfriend Sadie Allen of Buffalo, New York rode the barrel together through the
rapids and the whirlpool without incident.
Graham made his third trip through the
rapids on June 15th 1887 and his fourth trip on August 25th 1889 in a newly
designed seven foot long barrel.
Now famous, Graham announced that he would
ride his barrel over the falls but did not carry out his plan. On July 14th
1901, Graham made his fifth trip through the whirlpool rapids. During this trip
he nearly suffocated to death after getting caught in a whirlpool eddy for
twenty minutes.
On September 6th 1901, Graham loaned his
barrel to Martha Wagenfuhrer of Buffalo, New York. Miss Wagenfuhrer became the
first woman to successfully navigate the rapids and whirlpool alone. On
September 7th 1901, Graham arranged a double performance with friend Maude
Willard of Canton, Ohio. Willard would ride the barrel through the rapids to the
Whirlpool and both she and Graham would swim the rest of the way to Lewiston.
Willard rode Graham's barrel through the rapids then was caught in the whirlpool
for several hours before she could be rescued. Willard was found dead of
suffocation. She had taken her pet fox terrier along with her and the dogs nose
had become stuck in the barrels only air hole.
On July 17th 1905, Graham swam a race in
the lower rapids below the Whirlpool to Lewiston with William J. Glover Jr. of
Baltimore Maryland. Glover won the race. Glover was 32 years old and Graham was
45 years old. Both wore life preservers and neck braces. Graham's date of death
is unknown. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Niagara Falls, New York.
GEORGE POTTS
and
WILLIAM HAZLETT
1886
(Survived)
On August 8th 1886, George Potts and
William Hazlett, together, navigated through the Whirlpool Rapids in a barrel
owned by Carlisle Graham.
JAMES SCOTT
1886
(Died)
On August 22nd 1886, Carlisle Graham had
offered $10 to anyone willing to retrieve his barrel from the Whirlpool
following his daredevil stunt ride through the Whirlpool Rapids. James Scott
agreed to Graham's offer. While awaiting Grahams return, Scott made a practice
jump into the water from a location west of Thompson's Point at the Whirlpool.
Scott failed to resurface and died of drowning.
WILLIAM KENDALL
1886
(Survived)
William
Kendall - 1886
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
On August 22nd 1886, William Kendall went
through the Whirlpool Rapids wearing only a life preserver as protection.
LAWRENCE DONOVAN
1886
(Survived)
On November 7th 1886, Lawrence Donovan
jumped into the Niagara River from the Upper Suspension Bridge while wearing
suit, canvas shoes and a bowler hat.
ALPHONSE "PROFESSOR" KING
1886, 1887
(Survived)
On December 15th 1886, Alphonse
"Professor" King walked 30.5 meters (100 feet) on the Niagara River near the
Canadian shoreline while wearing a pair of tin shoes. King called his shoes
"Golden Fish". This stunt took place at the Upper Suspension Bridge.
On August 14th 1887, Alphonse King crossed
the Niagara River below the Horseshoe Falls on a water bicycle. The modified
bicycle consisted of a wheel with paddles erected between two water tight
cylinders - 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter and 10 feet (3m) long.
CHARLES A. PERCY
1887, 1888
(Survived)
On August 28th 1887, Charles A. Percy
successfully navigated the Whirlpool Rapids in a boat. Percy was unable to
continue his journey along the river to Lewiston New York because his boat
became stranded in the Whirlpool.
On September 16th 1888, Percy again
successfully navigated the Whirlpool Rapids in his boat. On this trip, Percy was
able to cross the Whirlpool and continue his trip through the Great Gorge Rapids
(Devils Hole Rapids) on route to Lewiston. As Percy was passing the Niagara Glen
area, he was tossed out of his boat. Percy was wearing a life preserver and was
able to floated down river the remaining distance to Lewiston, New York.
ROBERT FLACK
1888
(Died)
On July 4th 1888, Robert Flack was drowned
while attempting to navigate the Whirlpool Rapids in a boat. Flack was using a
self described "secret" buoyant filling which turned out to be excelsior (wood
shavings). Flack had secured himself into his boat by a number of harnesses.
Unfortunately Flack's boat over turned and Flack was unable to free himself
before drowning.
I.H. ASHLEY
1890
(Survived)
On May 3rd 1890, I.H. Ashley of Chicago,
lowered himself from the Upper Suspension Bridge into a small boat waiting in
the Niagara River below. Ashley used aluminium tape controlled by a clutch to
lower himself to the awaiting boat.
PETER "BOWSER" NISSEN
1900, 1901
(Survived)
In July 1900, Peter Nissen came to Niagara
Falls to challenge the Niagara River. Nissen had brought with him a specially
built boat in an attempt to conquer the great gorge rapids and the whirlpool.
His boat was twenty feet long with a six foot wide beam and four foot depth. It
was entirely decked over except for a center cockpit. Nissen has air
compartments built into the front, back and sides of the cockpit. Nissen first
trip through the rapids was successful however his boat became trapped in the
Whirlpool for over an hour before being brought to shore. The next day, Nissen
completed the trip from the Whirlpool to Lewiston.
Over the winter, Nissen rebuilt his boat.
It was longer and two feet narrower with an eight horsepower steam engine. It
had a larger rudder and more ballast. After making several successful runs in
the river just below the falls, Nissen was ready to challenge the rapids. On
October 12th 1901, Nissen rode the boat through the rapids. As he did, he ducked
into a crawl space under the cockpit without incident. In a later incident,
Peter Nissen and friend James Rich began to do depth soundings in the Whirlpool.
While doing so the boat was caught in the vortex of the Whirlpool and damaged
severely. Both Nissen and Rich narrowly escaped death but the boat sank.
The first person to actually ride the
rapids in a boat was Charles Percy in August 1887. Percy was riding a seventeen
foot boat. He made three trips through the rapids in 1887. On Percy's last trip
he narrowly escaped death and his boat sank.
On July 4th 1888, Robert Flack of
Syracuse, New York was killed in an attempt to copy the feat of Charles Percy.
Flack had secured himself into his boat by a number of harnesses. Unfortunately
Flack's boat over turned and Flack was unable to free himself before drowning.
CAPTAIN BILLY JOHNSON
1901
(Survived)
On July 4th 1901, Captain Billy Johnson
jumped into the Niagara River from the deck of the Maid of the Mist boat just
below the Horseshoe Falls and swam down river.
JOE CHAMBERS
1901
(Survived)
On August 2nd 1901, Joe Chambers swam the
Lower Rapids (Devils Hole Rapids) between the Whirlpool and Queenston -
Lewiston. Chambers wearing a life buoy arrived safely at the dock in
Lewiston, New York.
MARTHA WAGENFURHER
1901
(Survived)
On September 6th 1901, Martha Wagenfurher
journeyed through the Whirlpool Rapids in a barrel. Upon reaching the Whirlpool,
Wagenfurher became stranded in the middle for such a lengthy period of time that
it became necessary to call for the Great Gorge Railway illumination car to be
brought to the Whirlpool so its search light could illuminate the water surface.
When Wagenfurher was pulled to shore she was exhausted and sea sick but
otherwise uninjured.
MAUD WILLARD
1901
(Died)
On September 7th 1901, Maude Willard and
Carlisle Graham planned a combined stunt. Willard would traverse the Whirlpool
Rapids in Graham's barrel and from the Whirlpool she would continue to Lewiston
with Graham swimming behind the barrel.
Willard entered the barrel with her pet
dog for the journey through the rapids. As the barrel reached the Whirlpool it
became stranding for the next six hours in the middle.
When the barrel was recovered and brought
to shore, Maude Willard was dead. Her pet dog jumped out of the barrel
uninjured. The dog survived the ordeal by putting its nose to the only air hole
the barrel had allowing the dog to breathe which resulted in Willard suffocating
to death.
ANNIE EDSON TAYLOR
1901
(Survived)
An historical
picture of Annie Edson Taylor being rescued following her plunge over the
Horseshoe Falls
courtesy of John Guthrie
Mrs. Annie Edson Taylor became the first
woman to challenge Niagara Falls in a barrel. Mrs. Taylor was born on October
24th 1855 in Auburn, New York. She was married at the age of 17 years and by the
time she was 20 years old, Annie Taylor gave birth to a son. Her son died
several days after birth.
On October 24th 1901, her birthday, Taylor
rode her barrel over Niagara Falls. She was a 46 year old widow and was a school
teacher in Bay City, Michigan. She weighed 160 pounds. Annie Taylor had no
previous experience when she came to Niagara Falls seeking fame and fortune.
Taylor's barrel was built with white
Kentucky oak held together by seven iron hoops. It was 22 inches in diameter at
the head, 34 inches in diameter in the middle and 15 inches in diameter at the
foot. The barrel was four and a half feet long and weighed 160 pounds. For
ballast a 100 - 200 pound anvil was placed in the barrels bottom.
She began her trip from the north side of
Little Grass Island situated just off of the American side of the Niagara River
upstream of Goat Island. She was dressed in a long black dress and a flowery
hat. About 600 feet from shore Mrs. Taylor climbed into her barrel so that she
was standing on the anvil. The barrel was packed with padding and a small
mattress and the lid was then screwed into place.
At 4:05 p.m., when released, the barrel
flowed toward the Canadian side and over the Horseshoe Falls. Mrs. Taylor
successfully endured the trip without any major injuries (slight cuts and
bruises only). It wasn't until 4:40 p.m. that rescuers could get close enough to
Taylor's barrel along the Canadian shore to let her out. The top of Taylor's
barrel had to be cut away. When released from the barrel Mrs. Taylor said "
nobody ought ever do that again".
Annie Edson Taylor was famous for a short
time but the fortune she sought eluded her. Following her record feat, Taylor
managed a meagre living by posing for photographs. Taylor died on April 29th
1921 at the Niagara County Infirmary in Lockport, New York. She is buried in the
stunters section of Oakwood Cemetery in Niagara Falls, New York.
An historical
picture of Annie Edson Taylor in her barrel following her plunge over the
Horseshoe Falls
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
CAPTAIN KLAUS LARSEN
1910
(Survived)
On September 18th 1910, Captain Klaus
Larsen was the only boater to show up in response to an advertisement by the
Niagara International Carnival Committee promoting a boat race through the
Whirlpool Rapids.
As the only participant, Larsen rode his
boat through the rapids to the Whirlpool. Larsen began the second leg of his
journey through the Lower Rapids (Devils Hole Rapids) on route to Queenston.
During this portion of his trip, Larsen's boat was swamped and Larsen was tossed
into the water within sight of Queenston.
Larsen was able to make his way to shore
and finished his trip to Queenston aboard the Great Gorge Railway.
On October 28th 1911, Captain Larsen made
a successful trip through the Whirlpool Rapids in his boat. Larsen successfully
repeated this same stunt on October 29th 1911.
LINCOLN BEACHY
1911
(Survived)
Lincoln
Beachy flying his biplane under the Upper Steel Arch Bridge
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
Lincoln Beachy was born in San
Francisco in 1887. At the age of 18 years, Beachy built his own dirigible.
He was a short man with a jutting jaw.
The first airplane to appear over Niagara
Falls came in June 1911 in response to a $1,000 prize offered to anyone piloting
an aircraft to attend the joint United States - Canadian International Carnival
at Buffalo and Fort Erie.
The airplane was a Curtiss biplane and was piloted by Lincoln Beachy an American
employed by Curtiss Aircraft Company of Nebraska. The Curtiss biplane had an
open cockpit and was a two winged plane.
On June 28th 1911 at 5:40 p.m., Beachy
took off from an airfield in Niagara Falls, New York climbing high into the sky,
Beachy circled his plane over the falls several times before diving down into
the mist of the falls to within twenty feet of the waters surface before flying
under the arch of the Falls View Honeymoon Bridge. Beachy continued to fly his
plane just above the river surface along the length of the gorge at a speed of
50 mph before climbing
back up high into the sky before he reached the two rail bridges. Lincoln Beachy
was the first person to fly under a Niagara Falls bridge.
Beachy was killed on March
14th 1915 during a flying
exhibition over San Francisco, California. Beachy's aircraft crashed into San
Francisco Bay.
Lincoln
Beachy sitting at the controls of an early aircraft
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
BOBBY LEACH
1910, 1911
(Survived)
Bobby Leach
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
Bobby Leach had a reputation in England as
a circus stuntman. He had attracted attention to himself by announcing the
intention of becoming the first person to complete the "triple challenge". This
included:
1.) making a barrel trip through the
rapids to the whirlpool,
2.) going over the Falls in a barrel, and
3.) parachuting from the Upper Suspension
Bridge into the river upstream of the rapids.
On July 1st 1908, Leach jumped off the
Upper Steel Arch Bridge using a parachute to become the fourth (4th) person to
do so.
During the summer of 1910, Leach returned
to Niagara Falls to test his barrel. He attempted to ride the barrel through the
Great Gorge Rapids to the Whirlpool. Leach had attached an anchor to his barrel
but it was cut loose by rocks. Leach's barrel bounced from rock to rock through
the rapids before becoming stuck in an eddy in the Whirlpool. Leach was rescued
by William "Red" Hill Sr.. Hill had to risk his life by swimming out to Leach's
barrel and dragging it into shore. Leach was removed from the barrel
unconscious. Hill Sr. climbed into the barrel and rode it through the lower
rapids to Queenston. During that summer, Leach made three (3) other successful
trips through the famous Whirlpool Rapids.
In addition, Bobby Leach made two aborted
attempts to swim across the Niagara River down river from the American Falls.
On the afternoon of July 25th 1911, Bobby
Leach climbed into an eight foot long steel drum at Navy Island where the
current of the Niagara River veers towards the Canadian shore. The drum was
released at 2:55 p.m.. It took eighteen minutes to reach the brink of the
Horseshoe Falls before going over. It took 22 minutes to recover the drum. It
had become stuck in the river at the base of the falls before Fred Bender (an
Ontario Power Company employee) tied a rope around his waist and swam to where
the barrel was. Bender tied a rope to the barrel and it was hauled to the
Canadian shore. Leach was removed from the drum and rushed to the hospital
suffering from two broken knee caps and a broken jaw.
Twenty three weeks later, Bobby Leach left
the hospital and went on tour with his barrel throughout North America and
Europe. Leach did return to Niagara Falls to parachute from an airplane.
On July 1st 1920, Bobby Leach jumped using
a parachute from an airplane. He repeated this feat again on October 10th 1925.
In both cases Leach landed in corn fields on Canadian soil near the Niagara
Gorge. Records are vague as to his parachute jump.
While in Niagara Falls, Bobby Leach
purchased and operated a restaurant.
In April of 1926, Bobby Leach died at the age of 70 years in
Christchurch, New Zealand as a result of an accidental slip on an orange peel
while on his daily walk. His fractured leg had become infected and was
amputated. Two months later he died in hospital.
OSCAR WILLIAMS
1911
(Survived)
Oscar Williams (a.k.a. Oscar Wilson) came
to Niagara Falls in June of 1911. Williams called himself "The Great Houdini".
On June 25th 1911 at approximately 5:30
p.m., Oscar Williams performed a stunt described as the "Slide for Life". This
stunt took place near the Upper Suspension Bridge.
Williams took a leather thong in his teeth
and shoved off from the American shore and skidded along an ascending wire cable
which was stretched across the Niagara Gorge to the Canadian shore. When
Williams reached the center of the span, the cable had not been tightened enough
and began to sag in the middle.
With insufficient momentum, Williams
became stuck and for thirty minutes hung stationary until a rope was run out to
him and he was lowered from the cable to the deck of the Maid of the Mist boat
in the river below.
PETER LANGAARD
1911
(Survived)
On October 24th 1911, Peter Langaard
successfully navigated the Whirlpool in a boat. Langaard's boat struck a
piece of driftwood while circling the Whirlpool losing the propeller from his
boat motor.
Without power, Langaard was stranded in
the Whirlpool for four hours and twenty minutes before being rescued.
CHARLES STEPHENS
1920
(Died)
Charles Stephens came to Niagara Falls to
challenge the Niagara River during the summer of 1920. Stephens was a 58 year
old barber from Bristol, England. He was the father of eleven children. His wife
was named Annie. He had acquired a reputation of daredevil in Europe where he
made a number of high dives and several parachute jumps. In Bristol, England he
was known as the "Demon Barber of Bristol".
On July 11th 1920, Charles Stephens went
over the Horseshoe Falls in a barrel made from Russian oak. Bobby Leach advised
Stephens not to make his journey until Stephen's barrel was perfected. Stephens
refused because he thought Leach did not want him to be a success like Annie
Taylor and Bobby Leach. Leached asked William "Red" Hill Sr. to speak to
Stephens.
Hill Sr. suggested that Stephens send his
barrel over the Falls unoccupied for the first time as a test but Stephens
refused. The barrel was heavy and had straps for Stephens arms. As ballast,
Stephens strapped an anvil to his feet while Leach and Hill Sr. looked on in
amazement and horror. Charles Stephens was a stubborn man. He was reluctantly
persuaded to take a small tank of oxygen with him. He wore only padded clothing.
Because of the possibility of the police
trying to stop him, Stephens decided to begin his trip over the Horseshoe Falls
with little fanfare at 8:10 a.m.. Stephens left from Snyder's point located
about three miles upstream from the Falls. Leach was so certain that a tragedy
was going to take place that he left not wanting to watch. Stephens went over
the brink at 8:55 a.m.. When the huge barrel hit the water at the base of the
waterfall, the anvil which was tied to Stephens feet was propelled through the
bottom of the barrel taking Stephens to his death.
The remnants of the barrel remained
trapped at the base of the Falls until its iron rings broke away. When
recovered, only the tattooed right arm of Stephens was still strapped in the
harness. The tattoo read "Forget Me Not Annie".
Stephens arm is buried in an unmarked
grave at Drummond Hill Cemetery in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Charles Stephens became famous for being
the first of the barrel stunters to die challenging the Falls.
It would be eight years before another
daredevil would challenge the river again.
In 1991, the only surviving child Viola
Cogan age 81 years visited the Horseshoe Falls. Ms Cogan was present in 1920
when her father made his fatal plunge.
VINCENT TAYLOR
1927
(Survived)
On September 5th 1927, Vincent Taylor, an
Australian daredevil, made a parachute jump from the Upper Steel Arch Bridge.
JEAN LUSSIER
1928
(Survived)
Jean Lussier
(right) posing with William "Red" Hill Sr. (center)
courtesy of the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library
On July 4th 1928, Jean Lussier a 36 year
old French speaking man from Springfield, Massachusetts came to Niagara Falls
and made history by going over the falls in a rubber ball and by being the first
person to utilize an inflated rubber craft instead of the more conventional
wooden barrel or steel drum.
Joseph Albert Jean Lussier was born in
Concord, New Hampshire. His French Canadian parents moved back to Quebec shortly
after Lussier was born. At age 16, Lussier returned to New Hampshire in order to
learn English. Lussier was working in a grocery store when he heard about the
Charles Stephens tragedy in Niagara Falls. Lussier went on vacation to Niagara
Falls and to learn more about Stephens fatal ride over the falls in a barrel.
Lussier became interested in challenging Niagara Falls himself.
With a design in mind, Lussier went to an
Akron, Ohio rubber company to develop his idea. Lussier put up his life savings
of $1,500 to finance his dream. It was called a rubber ball being six feet in
diameter with inner and outer steel bands. It was lined with thirty-two inner
tubes for shock protection with an empty space in the middle for himself
including an air cushion. Lussier weighed 154 pounds. The rubber ball had 150
pounds of hard rubber ballast for the bottom to keep the ball from spinning head
over bottom. Lussier had devised a system of valves to provide air from tanks
containing enough oxygen to keep him alive for forty hours just in case he was
trapped under the waterfalls.
On July 4th 1928, Lussier managed to elude
police and rowed his ball out to the middle of the Niagara River about two miles
upstream of the Horseshoe Falls. Here the ball carrying Lussier was cut free and
began its journey towards the falls. The 150 pound ballast bottom was ripped out
from the bottom before the ball reached the crest of the falls. At 3:35 p.m.,
the rubber ball went over the Horseshoe Falls. Three inner tubes burst and the
frame was badly damaged. At 4:23 p.m., the rubber ball was picked up by the Maid
of the Mist boat and towed back to shore. Lussier sustained only minor bruising.
In order to profit from his success,
Lussier began selling off pieces of his rubber ball to tourists. When he sold
out Lussier began selling pieces of rubber that he would purchase from a near by
tire store. At the beginning of World War Two, Lussier was rejected from service
because of his age. Lussier worked in a defense factory until the end of the
war.
In 1952, at the age of 61 years Jean
Lussier had a dream of being the only man to ever go over the American Falls as
well as the Horseshoe Falls. Lussier began making plans for another ball device
twice as big as the rubber one he had used over the Horseshoe Falls. This ball
would be 12 feet in diameter and weigh 550 with him included. The ball would
have three layers made of cork, aluminium and rubber with a series of braces. The
inner ball would be mounted on roller bearings in order to stay upright at all
times. In addition it would have a forty-eight hour air supply and a radio
system. The dream ended with Jean Lussier's advanced age. He retired in 1958 as
did his dream.
Lussier died in his mid 70's
while living in Niagara Falls, New York.
GEORGE L. STRATHAKIS
1930
(Died)
In 1930, George Strathakis came to Niagara
Falls to challenge the Niagara River. He was a 46 years old bachelor.
Strathakis was born in
Greece in 1916. Before emigrating from Greece, he had become a religious mystic.
With no previous experience, Strathakis saw a way of raising money for the
publication of his books on metaphysical experiences.
George
Strathakis lived in Buffalo, New
York where he was employed as a chef. Strathakis however wanted to become a
professional writer.
Strathakis wrote in one of his yet
unpublished books that he was born a thousand years ago on the banks of the
River Abraham in Central Africa. He spoke of Niagara Falls in a mystical sense.
Strathakis would often take a rowboat into
the Niagara River. Each trip would take him closer to the Falls and the roar of
the great thunder. The death of Charles Stephens in 1920 and the success of Jean
Lussier in 1928 provided Strathakis with the desire to follow in their
footsteps.
Strathakis and his friends began building
a barrel. His plan called for the creation of a two thousand pound vehicle.
Rather than build on the successful design of Lussier's rubber ball, Strathakis
decided to construct his barrel on the basic design utilized by Charles Stephens
by using lots of wood and steel. The size and strength of Strathakis' barrel
proved impressive.
Strathakis rode his barrel over the
Horseshoe Falls on July 5th 1930. The barrel survived undamaged. George
Strathakis made one very serious miscalculation. He had taken with him an air
supply for on
