The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-08-30
OVER NIAGARA FALLS.


OVER NIAGARA FALLS.
The Story Of tho Maid of the Mist and her
Periious Trip.
In the year 1S46, says Scribner's
NOsthiu, a small steamer was built III
the eddy just above the railway sus-
pension bridge to run up to the falls.
She was very appropriately named the
"Maid of the Mist" Her engine was
rather weak, but she safely accomplish
ed the trip. AS, however, she took pas
sengers aboard only from the Canada
side, she did little more than pay ex-
penses. In 1854 larger, better boat,
With more powerful ,ngine-the new
"Nlaid Ct tho Mist was put on the
route, and, az she took passengers from
both shores, mauy thousands of persons
made made this most exciting and i'm
pressive tour under the falls. Owing to
some change in her appointments, which
again confined her to the Canadian
shore for the reception Of passengers,
she became Improbable. Her owner
having decided to leave the place, wish
ed to sell her as she lay at her dock.
This he could not do, but had I'm offer
of something more than half of her cost,
if he would deliver her at Niagara, op-
posite the fort. This he decided to do,
after consultation with Robinson, who
had acted as her captain and pilot on
her trips under the falls. The boat re-
qulred for her navigation IN engineer,
who also acted as fireman, and pilot.
On her pleasure trips she had clerk in
addition to these. Mr.. Robinson agreed
to at as pilot for the fearful voyage, AMI
the engineer, Mr.. Jones, consented to
20 with him. A courageous machinist,
Mr.. Mcintyre, volunteered to share the
risk with them. They put her in com
plete trim, removing from her deck and
hold all superduous articles.
Notice was given of the time for start
ipg, and a large number of people as
sembled to see the fearful pluDge, NO
one expecting to see either boat or crew
again, after they should leave the dock.
This dock was inst above the railway
suspension bridge, ct the place where
she WAS built, and where she was laid
up in the winter, that, too, being the
only place where she could lie without
danger of being crushed by the ice.
Twenty rods below the eddy tho water
plunges sharply down into the head OF
the crooked, tumultuous rapil reaching
from the bridge TO the whirlpool. At
tho whirlpool the danger Of heiug drawn
under was most to be apprehended in
the rapids, of being turned over or
knocked to pieces. From the whirlpool
to Lewiston ia a wild rush and whirl of
water the whole distance.
About three o'clock in the afternoon
OF July 10, 1861, the engineer took his
place in tho hold, and, knowing that
their fitting would be short at the
longest, set his steam valve at the
proper gauge, and waited-not without
anxiety-the tinkling signal that should
start them on their flying voyage: McIn-
tyre joined Robinson at the wheel Oh
tho upper deck. Robinson took his
place at the wheel and pulled the start.
ing bell. With shrek from her whistle
and a white puff from her escape pipe,
the boat ran up the eddy short dis
tance, then swung around to the right,
Gle red tho smooth water, and shot like
an arrow into the rapid under the
bridge. She took the outside curve of
the rapid, and when third of the way
down it, jet of water strIck against
her rudder, column dashed up under
her starboard side, heeled her over, car
ried away her smokestack, started her
overhang on that side, throw Robinson
on his back and thrust Mcintyre against
the starboard wheelhouse with such
force as to break it through. Every
looker-on breathed freer as she emerged,
shook her wounded sides, slid into the
whirlpool and for moment rode again
on an even keel. Robinson rose at once,
seiz4d the helm, set her to the right of
the large pot in the pool, then turned
her directly through the neck of it.
Theme, after receiving another drench-
lug from its waves, she dashed on with
out further accident to the quiet bosom
OF h" river below Lewiston.
TINS was accomplished the most re-
rarkable and rerilous voyage ever
made by men. The boat was seventy
twv feet long, with seventeen feet
breadth of beam, eight feet depth of
hold, and carried al engine OF hnn-
dre1 horsepower. Robinson said that
the greater part of it was like what he
had always imagined must be the swift
sailing Of large bird III a downward
flight; that when the accident occurred,
the boat seemed to be struck from ali
directions at once; that she trenbled
like fiddle string and felt as if she
woul' crumbie away and drop into
atoms; that both be and Mcintyre were
holding to tho wheel with all their
strength, bnt produced no moro effect
than if they had been two flies; that he
had no fear of striking the rocks, for he
knew that the strongest suction must be
in the deepest channel, and that the
boat must remain in that. Finding that
Mcintyre was somewhat hewildered by
excitement, or by his fall, az ! q rolled
up by his 81 e but did not rise, he quiet
IL pat his foot on his breast to keep him
from rolling around the deck, and thus
finished the voyage.
Poor Jones, imprisoned beneath the
hachrs before the glowing furnace,
wer down on his knees, as he related
aitervar,l, and although more earnest
pray. Was nev.r uttered, and few that
were slorter, sill it seemed to him pro-
digioasy long. The effect OF this trip
npon Rt,inson was decidedly marked.
To 1t, as . lived but few years after
ward, his leath was commonly attrib-
nted. Bnthis was incorrect, since the
disease whh terminated his life was
c'ntracted q New Orleans at later
day. rs
"He was" i'd Mrs. Robinson to the
writer, twep years older whom hs