Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-08-06

cular spot at which poor Able, after sustaining him
self so CALAMITY for "a hours was dashed down
the watery precipice One of the Buffalo papers says
twas over g The American Fall" If so, the skiff
in which the three were, was carried down the
Rapids the west side of Goat Island to the brink
of that part of the Cataract which lies west of Luna
Island, which lis connected with Goat Island by a
wooden bridge. From this bridge and from the bank
just above it. the whole scene all its agonizing de-
tails must have been plainly visible.
The Geographic account says that as Able went
over the fall " he raised himself to his full height"
Alas, poor fellowI When thrown into that whirl of
water, he could have had no such command over his
limbs as to enable him to do that. A few weeks ago
we, with number of others, threw heavy tree at
least sixty feet long, into the Rapids at this very
point and after having been madly torn along by the
angry waters to the very brink OF the cataract it
grand sight to behold the tree stand erect with
its branches in the air. and its roots in the water
if growing out of the invisible rock below. Thus
for instant it seemed to stand and then it graceo
fully descended for few feet; but before getting
half way to the bottom it literally crumbled into
atoms. A few minutes afterwards we saw portions
of it floating the surface of the quiet water below
like so much saw dust on a mill stream.
The casualties that have happened at Niagara
Falls have by no means been so numerous as con-
siderng the numbers of persons who visit them, and
particularly the intense excitement which fills the
mind of the beholder as he gazes this most won
derful of all Gods natural works, would be apt
to imagine. Yet there have been some terrible acct
dents, and some of the most startling of these have
CHANGED at the very point at which Able and
his companions met their fate.
In 1916, August 81 Charles Smart of Philadei-
phia fell from a rock in the "Cave of the Winds -
(which is under the American Fall) and, of course,
was killed instantly. Between the ''Biddle Stair
case" and the entrance to the " Gave DIR. Hunger
ford, of West Troy, was killed. in May, 1889, by the
fall of portion of the rough rock upon him. A
boy named Murphy, in June, 1887, attempted to
tho river in canoe, and was drawn into the current
and went over the American Fall. little boy, by
the name of White, only five years old and his sis
fer two We in a
near that part of Great Island where the bridge
the Rapids from the village of Niagara. The
canoe foated out into the stream. The mother of
the children beheld the scene rushed in the river
and rescued the girl but the boy carried
the fall the place where Able took the frightful
plunge. The little fellow was last sitting in the
bottom of the canoe, holding with his hands to
each side if to keep the frail craft steady it
was borne on its perilous way. This was in July,
1913, Neither Murphy's nor Whites bodies were
ever found.
1t was very near this fatal spot that the foolish
farce of Mrs. Miller of Detroit, was played off
few years ago. It occasioned much speculation at
the time, and its results said to be serious the
father of the person alluded to, very respectable
man, having died of broken heart in consequence
of it. Mrs. Miller, actuated it thought, by jea
ousy or some freak of the kind cut her shawl to
pieces tied them together, and hung them over the
bridge leading to Goat Island intending doubtless,
to produce the impression that she had committed
suicide by letting herself down in the rapids and 60
ing over the American Fall. After occasionng much
pain and trouble to her family and friends she
&c turned up" we believe at Syracuse.
Dr. Veaux, who wrote an interesting work on Nj
agara relates that the Indians have tradition that
two human beings yearly will ever be sacrificed to
the Great Spirit of these waters 1t is a striking
fact that almost every year has proved fatal to some
Mr. johnson, to whom lately had occasion to re-
cur with grateful recolecons of his polteness to
while there, tells u.s. in his useful little manual that
" all the wilderness of these be viewed
fhO11t tho - and hOrht 1
visitors could always sufficiently command them
selves and not allow their fancy, their Imagination
to get the mastery their minds while gazing on
the bewidering wonders of Niagara, his remark is
true. Our author tells us of instances he has
of disposition the part of strangers to try the
fearful leap over the brink of the Falls. young
lady, not long ago. he says was standing on Table
Rock the very verge of the precipce while the
wind was blwng very strong from thc (Canada) shore
behind her She appeared, Mr.. Johnston told us,
amazed bewildered, rapt, it were by the seeming
ly supernatural wilderness of the scene Our guide
approached her. and laying his hand upon her arm
with her her rashness in thus ex-
posing herself "Oh!" exclaimed she with a smile,
feel that could spring from this rock, and sail
was not without the greatest persuasion that she |
could be induced to leave the spot that had for her
so powerful fascination. On being reproved after
wards by her mother, she declared that she did not
feel the least fear but actually felt if she could fly
A case, that in its commencement, was not dis
similar to that of Tuesday, but which terminated
more fortunately, that of by the name
Of Allen, who some eight years ago, attempted to
cross the Niagara river in skif from Chippewa,
Some distance above Goat Island9 accidentally broke
IN oar, and found himself at the mercy of the cur
rent He managed, however, to reach the outer Is
and of the group called The Three Sisters"
which lies Just off Goat Isand) and Jumped ashore,
while the skff dashed down the Rapids and over
he Horseshoe Fall. Though saved from the more
imminent danger, the mans situation was still peril
ous for the hope of rescue extremely doubtful,
md he began to think he should die of starvation.
Two nights and day he remained in that precarious
situation. He struck fire. and the smoke from it,
Nreathng the treetops, indicated to the villa
gers the peril he in The alarm was given;
rope thrown from one island to the other,
md to the third, and an intrepid fellow by the
name of Robinson, put>off in skif, (holding on to
he rope) and succeeded in bringing Allen safe
through the rapids to the main shore. This same
Robinson also rescued Chaplin Zone of the workmen
IN the bridge from which Abe's fate was witnessed
he stream carried upon the very island to reach
which by swimming Able is said to have made
desperate eer being thrown off the raft sent to
lis rescue.
It was just here, too, that young lady of Buffalo,
Hiss De Forest, slipped from the hands of friend
Who was holding her, in foolish bravado over the
dge of the shore of Luna Island, and with young
Arlington, who plunged in to her, was borne
'ver the American Fall. The bodies of both were
recovered after some days This accident as we un-
lerstand the imperfect accounts we have as yet of
he latest catastrophe must have occurred at near
he eastern point of the American Fall whereas Able
probably persisted at point farther west of the same
ataract