The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-03-03
Vessel with Queer Passengers
Sent ever Siagra Ealis.

Captain Gilbert Pratt, veteran mariner
now living in Bslieville. Ontario. whose,
period of service on the lakes dates
back half a century. recalls an incident
which. though it has been almost forgot
tens attracted considerable attention in
its dav Vessel owners were then more
CONSCIENTIOUS than now They were not
inclined to risk the lives of passengers
and crew in unSeaworthy crafts. The
owners of the old schooner Michigan,
then the largest vessel or the lakes, hit
npon a novel expedient for disposing Of
her. The vessel had become old and
rotten n, and was no longer servicea BILE
Instead of loading her and sending her
out late in the season heavily insured TO
he wrecked, he cho=e. a more harmless
plan. but one less profitable to himself.
He induced the proprietors Of the hotels
at Niagara Fails to buy the vessel and
send her over the Falls THIS was about
the year 1880 The proposition was
eagerly accepted by the propriet0rs, who
saw in il a capital advertising scheme.
and one which would be certain 10 pay
them we'll. The affair was widely pnb-
lished in the newspapers, and was the
talk of the surrounding country for
weeks and weeks. They did not count
ami<s when they Judged what an excited
public curiosity would do. For several
days previous TO the great event the
stages and canal hoa's were crowded
People fiocked thither from all parts of
the country to witness the novel specia-
Gle Of the largest vessel on the lakes GO
ing over the falls. The hotel keepers
reaped rich harvest. So great a crowd
had never before been seen at that IA
mons resort. On the appointed day the
Michigan was towed out into the rapids
in the presence of a vast number of
people who lined the banks or visited
the scene upon the NUMEROUS excursion
boats which were called INTO requision
| The task of towing the vessel into the
current was intrusted TO a Captain
Rongh, with a crew of halfa dozen oars
men selected by himself This was a
rather hazardous enterprise, and Captain
| Pratt, who was himself one of the crews,
they set ont, though he had gladly Vol
unteerrd for the service.
There had been placed on the schoon-
| several animals in accordance with
/ the programme, which had been widely
advertised. These consisted of buffa l.
10, three bears, two foxes, a raccOon, a
spirit was the American ensign, and at
her stem the Eng lish Jack, the Canadian
hotel keepers having Joined in the enter
prise. There were also some effigies on
board to give appearance of a crew, and
to make more real the scene of a vessel
with on all on board making the terrific
plunge. Just before the tow-line was cut
the animals on board were turned loose
Just the vessel entered the rapids two
of the bears plunged overheard and actu-
Ally succeeded in swimming ashore. The
| IIllIu OHc CIlll OCa n illdob d. II " get d
better view of the scene All of the an
inals seemed greatly frightened and ran
| from one end Of the deck to the other,
much the same human crew might
have done under similar circumstances,
in an agony of despair. The vessel swept
grandly down the rapids, plnnsing over
the first fall, shipping a little water,
righting herself, and moving on in fine
style. In going over the second rapid
the mast went by the board and the bear
with it, and neither were again seen.
She swung around and presented her
broad-sIde to the fOaming waters. She
had evidently struck rock and was sta
tionary. Here it was thought her career
was ended, and the affair was over. But
she stopped only moment. The force
of the waters swung her around and she
moved on stern foremost. On the third
rapid she bilged, hut carried her hull
apparently whole straight to the horse =
shoe fall, over which she plunged stern
foremost to the foaming abyss beneath
She was smashed into a thousand frag-
ments. None of the beasts on board
were ever heard of more, but the geese
turned up all right, and were soon seen
on the bank below quietly oiling their
feathers, as if there had not been mnch
of shower after all One of the effigies
was also uninjured, throwing his arms
about and knocking his knees together
in the eddies, bat all the others had dis
appeared. The scene was IA most thrill
ling one. The great crowd of spectators
watched the progress of the vessel with
breathl-ss interest, and gave a great
cheer az she made the final plunge. =
ITDetroit Post