THE DEATH-ROLL OF NIAGARA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3833, 29 October 1883, Page 4

THE DEATH-ROLL OF NIAGARA.

Tlio melancholy death of Captain "Webb has led to the publication in one of the Now York journals of a record of one of the most memorable incidents and disasters connected ■with the Niagara Falls. Some of these fatal and romantic incidents we shall briefly reproduce. The number of suicides at the Falls has been very largo. On one occasion a, man leaped from a bridge, 102 feet, into the current, and in believed to have died before reaching the water. For fifty feet ho fell like a plummet. He then began to turn over, and dropped apparently lifeless on the writer. A woman who committed .suicide tested the current by throwing in her parasol before gathering her skirts together for the plvmg-c. In another case ;i mun calmly nndrossed and went into the flood, strongly and deliberately swimming to the giddy verge. A brave swimmer tried to rescue him, but the man who .sought death sped onwards to it witli rapidity, on seeing he was followed. He was soon where it was not necessary for him to put forth another stroke. The torrent caught him, and he was at once beyond help. On one occasion there was a double suicide, the couple being n middle-aged man and woman, about whom there had been .some scandal, and who resolved to give the world still more to talk about in their death than they had done in their life. An ingenious Yankee once showed how the dive might bo made in perfect safety. In taking the jump he wore a harness over hi.s .shoulders. To it was attached a wire, running loosely over a cylinder on the bridge. That kept his feet downwards, and ho successfully accomplished the leap, afterwards reaping considerable profit by the transaction. Terrible crimes have taken place at the Falls. One, comparatively recent, bass never been solved. A body, with a handkerchief over the face, was found one morning. Hound the neck was a rope, tightly drawn, and knotted at the back, and the end frayed. In the head was a bullet hole. A curious fnicsfiou of identity arose concerning the man who had thus met with a foul end. It seems that one 0. L. Rowell had recently registered at a hotel, and had complained of the loss of dClu'O. His room hud not been slept in, and his clothes wore found on the bank. The coroner's jury found that the body was Rowoll's, but not long afterwards Rowell himself turned up. It was then thought the body belonged to one Close. The description answered accurately, but it was not Close, as was conclusively proved by his appcaranco in the flesh and hi.s subsequent disappearance to evade a criminal charge. It was afterwards sought, but in vain, to identify the corpse with one Raymond, and it went, unrecognised. Strange accidents are also reported. A lady stooped to pluck a flower on the brink of Table Rock, and was taken up dead from the rocks below. Another lady .stooped for a cup of water, lost her balance, and was out of reach and over the Falls almost before her amazed, husband know what had happened. In 1 <S7> J a very sad 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 in a pool which even the guides never visited. Her lover lost his life in endeavouring to save hers. One very pathetic and dramatic incident is recorded. A young man caught up a charming child, who was watching , tho tumbling waves. " Now, Lizzie," lie playfully said, "I am going to throw you into tho water," and he swung her backwards and forwards. The child screamed, struggled, and slipped from his arms. He gazed after her, and, realising what he had done, leaped into the torrent. Rescue, of course, was hopeless, and he perished. Remarkable escapes have now and again boon recorded One was that of a muderer. The sheriff , was close behind him, the river in front, and only the wires of tho old bridge at Lowistou to help him across. Hand over hand ho began the passage. His bands quickly blistered, and tlion they bled. Again and again he rested hi.s arms by banging by his legs. At length tin reached the opposite bank, and lay paiifirig fully tin hour*before he continued hi.s flight. On one occasion apaiuter was at work on Second Sisters Island, when ho fell into the water. Ho was carried towards tho Falls, and when only forty feet from them caught on a rock. After a tune of terrible anxiety, ho was saved by ropes manipulated from the shore. A boatman was being hurried along towards the

Rapids, when he throw out a little anchor ho had with him. It seemed like playing for his life with grim death as ho hoard 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 tho boatman was tossed about while ho~hcld the anchor-rope. When morning dawned he was saved by those on shore.