OVER THE FALLS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 99, 15 August 1876, Page 3

OVER THE FALLS.

Captain flilbert Pratt, a veteran marinur, now living in ilellvilte, * Hit., whosv period of service oti the Lake dates back nearly half a century, recalls an incident which, though it has been almost forgotten, attracted considerable attention in its day. Vessel owners were then more conscientious than now ; they were not inclined to risk the lives of passengers and crew 1 in miseaworthy crafts. The owner of the old schooner iVlichigan, then the largest vessel mi the Lakes, hit upon a novel expedient for disposing ot' her. The vessel bad become old and rott.n, and was no longer serviueaMu. Instead of loading her and somting her out late in the season, heavily insured, to be wrecked, he chose a uiort harmless plan, but one less profitable to himself. He induced the proprietors oi thu hotels at Niagara Falls to buy t.htvtisaol and send her over the Falls. This was ahnufc f| tt) yyac IKS'). The proposition wnseasjerty accepted by the fotel proprietors, who saw in it a capital advertising inhume, and one which would certainty (my them them well.

Tito all'air was widely published in the newspapers, and was the talk of the surrounding country for weeks and weeks.. Tlley did not count amiss when they judged what an excited public curiosity would do. for several days previous to tho great event the stage and canal boats were crowded. I'eople (locked thithei all parts of the coimirv to witnesstile novel spectacle of the largest vessel on tlu. liiilu s !roiny over the falls. The hotelkoupers reaped a rich harvest. So great a wowd had never before been seen at that Vinous resort. ()u the appointed day the Michigan, was towed out into the raptds in the presence of avast number of peoptu who lined the banks or visited the scent upon tlie numerous excursion boats which woro cnlleil into requisition. The task ot towintf the vessel into the current was entniatud. to a t aptain Rough, with a crew jiulf-a-duuen oarsmen selected by t.imThis was a nitlier hazardous euttrpn«u, mid Captain Pratt, who was himone of the crew, says his heart almost tailed Uhn when they set out, though he J|J|d gladly votnnteered for the service, "umv h.ul been placil m the "clo>oner •Woral animals in acconlance with the which had ,'" een widely advertised. Tueso consisted of a bnifalo. three •wh'n, two fuxes,. a racoon, a dujj;, a eat, »Wl some geuse. At her bowsprit was the jVnwioiui ensign, and at her fterxk the I, '"jdisii Jack, the Canadian heitelkeepers '-laving joined in the enterprise. There also mimto (sfligieS displayed on board SP V « the appea-anco of a crew, and to "Jivke mure re**! the scene of a vessel with board making the terrific flange.

,fu*t before the tow-line was cut the animals oil board were turned and just as the vessel entered thy tv.j k!-» iw«» of the bears phingetl overboaru ami ;-.e> uaily succeeded in swimming ashore.