INCIDENTS OF NIAGARA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1648, 29 August 1887, Page 3

INCIDENTS OF NIAGARA.

The onmber of suicides at the Falls has been very large. On one occasion a man leaped from tie bridge, 192 ft, into the iranent, und is believed to have died before reaching the water. For 50ft he fell like a plummet. He then began to tarn over, and dropped apparently lifeless on the water. A woman who committed imcide tested the current by throwing m her parasol before gathering her skirts together for the plunge. In another case a man calmly andreseed, and went into the flood, strongly and deliberately swimming to the giddy verge. A brave swimmer tried to rescue him, but the man who Bought death sped onwards to it with rapidity on seeing be -was followed. He was soon where it was not necessary for him to put forth another Btroke. The torrent caught him, snd he was at once beyond help. On one occasion there was a double suicide, the couple being a middle-aged man and woman, about whom there had been some scandal. Strange accidents are also reported . A lady stopped to pluck a flower on the brink of the Table Bock, and was taken up dead from the rocks belew. Another lady stooped for a cup of water, and loßt her balance, and wag cut of reach and over the Falls almost before her amazed bußband knew what had happened, In 1875 a very strange and foolish accident occurred. An engaged couple went behind the Falls, into the Cave of the Winds, without a guide. The lady actually sought to bathe m a pool which even the guides never visited. Her lover lost his life io endeavoring to Bare hers. One very pathetic and dramatic incident iB recorded. A young man caught a charming child, who was watch* ing the tumbling waves. " Now, Lizzie," he playfully eaid, " I am going to throw you In the water," and he swung her backwards and forwards. The child screamed, struggled and slipped from his hands. He gaged after her. and, realising what he had done, leaped into the torrent. Beicue, of coureo, was hopeless, and he perished. Many more remarkable escapes have now and again been recorded. One was that of a murderer. The sheriff was close behind him, the river m front, and only the wires of the old bridge at Lewißton to help him across. Hand over hand he began the pasaage. Hiß hands qucikly blistered, and they bled. Again and •gain he rested his arms by hanging by his legs. At length he reached the opposite bank, and lay panting full an hour Before resuming his flight. On one occasion a painter was at work on Second Sister's Island, when he fell m the water. He was carried towards the Falls, and when only 43ft from them caught a rock. After a time of terrible anxiety he was fayed by ropes manipulated from the •hore. A boatman was being hurried along towards the rapids, when he threw ont a little anchor he had with him. It seemed like playing for bis life with grim death as he heard the anchor bump continually against the rocks without grounding. At length his fearful anxiety was relieved by its catching a grip, but all night through the boatman was tosoed about while he held the anchor rope. When morning dawned he was saved by thosa on shore.