The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-02-17
From the Detroit Postl
TIE OLD,qIME SPECULATION.
HOW A LAKE VESSEL WAS SENT OVER M,
AGARA FALLS QUEER PASSENGERS.

Captain Gilbert Pratt, veteran mari
ner now living in Belleville, Ont, whose
period Of service on the lakes dates back
nearly half century, recalls an incident
which, though it has been almost forgot
ten, 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 in unseaworthy crafts. The
owner of the old schooner Michigan,
then the largest vessel on the lakes, hit
upon 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, he chose a more harmless
plan, but not one less profitable to him
self. He induced the proprietors of the
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 capital
advertising scheme, and one which would
be certain to pay them well. The affair
was widely published in the newspapers,
and was the talk of the surrounding
country for weeks and weeks. They did
not count amiss when they Judged what
an excited public curiosity would do. For
several days previous to the great event
the stages and canal boats were crowded.
People flocked thither from all parts of
the country to witness the novel specta-
Gle of the largest vessel on the lakes 60
ing over the falls. The hotel keepers
reaped rich harvest. So great crowd
had never before been seen at that fa-
nous resort. On the appointed day the
Michigan was towed out into the rapids
in the presence of vast number of peo-
pie, who lined the banks or visited the
scene upon the numerous excursion boats
which were called into requisition. The
task Of towing the vessel into the cur
rent was intrusted to a Captain Rough,
with a crew Of half dozen oarsmen Sc
lected by himself This was 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 volunteer
ed for the service.
There had been placed on the schooner
several animals, in accordance with the
programme, which had been widely ad-
vertised. These consisted of buffalo,
three bears, two foxes, raCCoon, dog,
a cat and some geese. At her bowsprit
was the American ensign and at her
stern the English Jack, the Canadian
hotel keepers having Joined in the en-
terprise. There were also some effigies
displayed on board to give the appear
ance of crew, and to make make more
real the scene of vessel, with all on
board, making the terrific plunge. Just
as the vessel entered the rapids two of
the bears plunged overheard and actual
ly succeeded in swimming ashore. All
the animals seemed greatly frightened,
and ran from one end of the OK to the
other, much the same as human crew
might have done under similar circum-
stances, in an agony of despair. The YES
sci swept grandly down the rapids, plung-
ing over the first fall, shipping 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 evil
IDENTITY struck rock, and was stationary.
Here, it was thought, her career was end
ed, 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, but carried her hull ap-
parently whole straight to the horse
shoe fall, over which she plunged stern
foremost to the foaming abiss below. She
was smashed into thousand fragments.
None of the beasts on board were ever
heard of more, but the geese turned up
all right, and were seen on the bank be-
low, quietly oiling their feathers, as if
there had not been much of shower af-
ter all. One of the effigies was also found
uninjured, throwing his arms about and
knocking his knees together in the ed
dies, but all the others had disappeared.
The scene was a most thrilling one. The
great crowd Of spectators watched the
progress of the vessel with breathless in
terests, and gave a great cheer as she
made the fetal plunge