FATE’S JEST.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1926, Page 3

FATE’S JEST.

MAX WHO KNEW NO FEAR. “BOBBY” LEACH’S DEATH. AUCKLAND, April 30. As already announced, "Bobby” Leach, known to the world as the only man to survive the feat of going over Niagara Falls in a barrel, lias died in

a private hospital in Auckland. He was aged 69 years. After a life of intrepid exploits and hairbreadth escapes, the aeutal incident that led to his death seems like one of those ironies of Fate that bestrew pages of ancient fiction, for, I having defied death a hundred times, he at last owed his end to a piece of orange peel. Mr Leach had just concluded a lecturing tour in New Zealand, and was strolling along the pavement close to h,is Hat in Princes Street when lie slipped on (he orange peel. | and broke his leg. That was on February 26th, since when lie had been an invalid. There can be little doubt that the injuries lie received during his memorable drift in the barrel were responsible for the weakening of the limb that was broken. Complications set in, ami on Monday (lie leg was amputated, but the patient rapidly weakened and died. Air Leach was horn in Lancaster. England, and went to America when IS years of age. He was then an expert swimmer, and began his career by giving exhibitions of trick swimming and diving. He served for three seasons with Bimium and Bailey’s celebrated- circus, performing high diving feats and giving exhibitions ol trick swimming. In 1608 In* dived Ironi the steel arch bridge at Niagara, a height of 208 feet, said to be the highest dive in the world. He crossed the dangerous whirlpool rapids at Niagara in a barrel no fewer than four times, and on July 25th, 1911, lie performed the exploits for which he has been world-famous, descending tho river in a steel barrel for two miles and a half, and eventually dropping over the horseshoe fall, a height of 168 feet. The shock broke the harness by which he was secured, and his jaw and both kneecaps were broken. Early in his life Air Loach was interested in aeronautics, and belore the day of the aeroplane he performed sensational parachute descents from balloons, in one case dropping a distance of over two miles. When tho aeroplane supplanted the balloon, lie performed the feat of dropping from one racing aeroplane to another by means ,f „ "ope ladder. In fact, he accomplished this risky exploit at Lake Erie only three years ago, when 67 years >f ago. In the course of his lecture tours, Mr Leach visited Great Britain and Australia. He was a keen billiard player, and winner of several championship matches in the I uited States. His wifo and daughter, who accompanied him. to New Zealand, remain at their fiat at Princes Street.