, 1876-03-17
An Old-Time Speculation.

Capt. Gilbert Pratt, veteran mariner
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 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, he chose more harmless
plan, but one not less profitable to him
self. He induced the proprietors 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 propri-
etors, who saw in it capital advertising
scheme, and one which would be certain
to paw them we'll. 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 tlocked
thither from all parts of the country to
witness the novel spectacle Of the largest
vessel on the lakes going over the falls.
The hotel keepersreaped rich harvest.
So great a crowd had never before been
seen at that famous resort.
On the appointed day the AfehigGH
was towed out into the rapids in the
presence of vast number of people who
lined the banks or visited the scene upon
the numerous excursion boats which were
called into requisition. The task of tow
ing the vessel into the current was in
trusted to a Capt. Rough, with crew of
half dozen oarsmen selected by himself.
This was rather hazardous enterprise,
and Capt. 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 accordance with the
programme, which had been widely ad-
vertised. These consisted of buffalo,
three bears, two foxes, raccoon, 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 enterprise. There
were also some efigies displayed on board
to give the appearance of crew, and to
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all on board making the terrific plunge.
Just before the tow-line was cut the ami
mails 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
better view of the scene.
All the animals seemed greatly fright
ened and ran from one end of the deck
to the other, much the same as 3 human
crew might have done under similar cir
cumstances,in an agony of despair. The
vessel swept grandly down the rapids,
plunging over the first fall, shipping
little water, righting herself and moving
on in fine style. In gSing over the sec
ond rapid the mast went by the board
and the bear with it, and neither was
again seen. She swung round and pre-
sented her broadside to the foaming waters.
She had evidently struck q 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 on, stern foremost. On the
third rapid she bilged, but carried her
hull apparently whole straight to the
Horseshoe fall, over which she plunged
stern foremost, to the foaming abyss be-
low. 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 soon seen
on the bank below, quietly oiling their
feathers, as if there had not been much
of a shower after all. One of the efigies
was also found uniRjursd, throwing his
arms about and knocking his knees to-
gether in the eddies, but all the others
had disappeared. The scene was most
thrilling one. The great crowd of spec
tators watched the progress of the vessel
with breathless interest, and gave great
cheer as she made the final plunge.-N.
7. Rural.