The Republican journal., 1876-08-03
a Plunge Over Niagara.

The Detroit Post says: Captain Gilbert
Pratt a veteran mariner, now living in
Belleville, Ontario, whose period Of SER
vice dates back nearly half a century,
recalls an incident which, though it has
been almost forgotten. attracted consider
able attention in its day. Nessel-owners
were then more conscientious than now.
They were not inclined to risk the lives Of
passengers and crew in unseaworthy crafts
The owner of the old schooner Michigan,
the largest vessel on the lakes, hit upon a
novel eXpedient for disposing Of her. The
vessel had become old and rotten, and
was no longer serviceable. Instead of
loading her and sending her out late in
the season heavily insured, to be wrecked
not less profitable to himself He induced
the propretors Of the hotels at Niagara
Falls to buy the vessel and send her over
the falls. This was about the year 1880,
The proposition was eagerly accepted by
the hotel proprietors, who saw in it a
capital advertising scheme, and one which
would he certain to pay them well The
affair was widely published in the news
| papers, and was the talk of the surround
| ing country for weeks and weeks. For
several days previous to the great event
the stages and canal-boats were crowded
People locked thither from all parts of
the country to witness the novel spectacle
of the largest vessel on the lakes going
over the falls
On the appointed day the Michigan was
towed out in the rapids in the presence of
a vast number of people who lined the
banks Or visited the scene upon numerous
excursion boats which were called into
! requisiton. The task OF towing the YES
sci into the current was instructed to Cap
tain Rough, with q crew of half a dozen
oarsmen, selected by himself This was a
rather hazardous enterprise, and Captain
| Pratt, who was himself one of the crew,
says his heart almost failed him when they
set out, though he had gladly volunteered
| for the service. There had been placed on
the schooner several animals, in accord
ance with the programme, which had
been extensively advertised. These CON
| sisted OF a buffalo, three bears. two foxes,
a raccoon, a cat and some geese. At her
| bowsprit was the American ensign. and
at her stern the English Jack, the Cane
dian hotel keepers having joined in the
enterprise. There were also some etligies
displayed on board. to give the appear
ancc of a crew. and to make more real
| the scene of a vessel with ali on board
making the terrific plunge.
just before the tow-line was cut, the
animals on board were turned loose. Just
as the vessel entered the rapids, two Of
| the bears plunged overheard and actually
succeeded in swimming ashore. The third
| one climbed the mast, as If to get a bet
ter view Of the scene. All the animals
| seemed greatly frightened, and ran from
one end OF the deck to the other, much
the same AS q human crew might have
done under similar circumstances, in an
agony of despair. The vessel swept grand
| ly down the rapids, plunged over the first
fall. shipping a little water, righting her
| self, and moving on in fine style In 90
ing over the second rapid the mast went
| by the board and the bear with it, and
neither were seen again. She swung
around and presented her broadside to
the toaming waters She had evidently
struck a rock and was stationary. Here
it was thought her career was ended, and
the affair was over, But she stopped only
a moment The force Of the waters swung
! her around and she moved Oh stern fore
most. On the third rapid she bilged, but
earned her null, apparently whole, straight
to Horseshoeiall, over which she plunged
stern foremost to the toaming abyss be-
| low. She was smashed into a thousand
| fragments. None of the beasts on board
We're ever heard OF more. but the geese
turned up all right, and We're seen on the
bank below, quietly oiling their feathers,
as If there had not been much of a shower
after all. One of the ef1igies was also
found unnjured. throwing his arms about
and knocking his knees together in the
eddies. but all the others had disappear
ed The scene was a most thrilling one
The crowd of spectators watched the pro-
gress of the vessel with breathless inter
est, and gave great cheer as she made
tho final plunge