NIAGARA CROSSED ON HORSE BACK.

Kumara Times, Issue 814, 10 May 1879, Page 2

NIAGARA CROSSED ON HORSE BACK.

A daring feat was, according to the Toronto Globe, performed by a Mr Andrew Wallace, who crossed Niagra '■n horseback. He first rode his horse across the ice bridge—a perilous per-

formance of itseh' ; but, not satis6ed with this, he ascended to the summit of the ice mountain at the base of the American fall. The sight from the ctffs on the Canadain side, which was covered with spectators, wax, it is stated, abso* lutely" thrilling." Slowly the horse toiled op the slippery side of the great, ice-cone, winding found the footpath till the summit was reached. Here* enveloped In a clottd of mist which concealed the white cone itself, ibe horse and rider looked like " a weird ap|>arition suspended in mid-air." For «ome time the horse went careering over the crest of the cone, were one fal.se step might have hurled both hiiu and his rider into the fathomless foaming gulf full 70 feet below. Presently the daring horseman rode slowly down the j»ath, and crossing the ice bridge, regained the Canadian side. Both he and his horse were drenched with spray, but were otherwise none the worse for the venture. The intelligent arid surefooted animal that played such a prominent part in this feat is " a moderate sized brown horse, with four white feet and a snip on the nose." That the horse was sure-footed is beyond question ; but its " intelligence" is a more doubtful point. Had it possessed the brains of an ordinary horse it would probably have declined to lend itself to the exhibition. In the meantime Mr Wallace's good nature and sense in risking his own neck for the amusement of the beholders would have fairly entitled him to praise but for the fact that he risked his horse'* neck also, and this was hardly fair.

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