The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-07-07
Niagara Falls Frauds.

WHEN you have once made up your
mind that you are going to be swindled
there is some satisfaction in having it
done scientifically. And when you leave
the sleeping-Car at Niagara Falls and set
foot on the broad platform that leads to
the depot, you may rest satisfied not only
that you are going to be relieved of what
money you have in your pockets, but
that the relieving will be done in the
highest style of the art.
The first swindle land it is worthy of
note that no charge is connected with
this is the roar of the falls. How the
writer's of school histories do swell on
the distance that the roar may be heard!
And how they describe the Indians judg-
ing the points of the compass by the ire
mendous racket! The school histories
are frauds. And the roar is fraud.
| You can't hear any roaring three squares
| from the falls, to save your soul. When
the train reached Suspension Bridge
went out on the platform to hear the
noise. The only sound was brakeman
testing the wheels. When we reached
the Falls village the only roar was the
roar of the hackmen. Their roaring, on
a still day, might be heard for many
miles. Raising a window in my hotel
room that looked out upon the river, |
tried again to take in alittle of the noise.
Not breath. The falls don't roar.
After my two dollar breakfast had
been hastily swallowed l proceeded to
follow out your instructions and see how
badly an innocent-looklng young man
could be taken in by the sharps. The
large roll of greenbacks with which you
had provided me being stOutly buttoned
in a convenient pocket, l set out, but |
did not even reach the hotel piazza be-
fore the first temptation came. In the
corridor, inside the big glass door, stood
the lord high steward of the stables,
with a steel plate pinned to his breast
like policeman's badge. His friendly
salutation was Carriage, sir? Wish tC
ride out this morning, sir? Wish to see
the falls, sir?" And the chorus was
taken up by four liveried drivers, ranged
against the walls, "Wish d carriage,
SIR"
This was rather mild, and got out OF
the door in safety. l even reached the
sidewalk got so far as seven or eight
steps toward the corner when band Of
Infatuated men sprang at me. They
shook their whips at me, pointed at me
shouted at me, seized me by the arms
winked at me, and then with one accOrC
all ran to their carriages and opened thu
doors. They began to beckon at me.
had evidently done something to offend
these men, They did not seem to bt
asking me whether l wanted a carriage
but to be denouncing me for not comm!
sooner and for not bringing somebod,
with me. The attack was so sudden tina
l had to sit down on the hotel porch tt
think.
"Take you to see the falls for tel
cents, they all began to shout. "Onl.
ten cents Cheaper than walking" Her
was a. flat contradiction to the bias,
stories about unprincipled hackmen
Ten cents was certainly cheap to see tn
great cataract. So picked out the leas
dusty and most comfortable-lOoking o
the barouches and stepped in. w
whirled around the corner.
"This," said the driver, after we hat
been riding about two minutes, is thu
rapid above the fails"
By standing up in the carriage ant
looking over the top of a high wall
could see several square feet of rushing
water.
Now" continued the driver, &" l sup
pose you want to go and see the fall
from below, where you can get the bes
view"
" Certainly"
He drove on, up one street, down an
other, over little bridges, through thu
heart of the town, out into the opel
country, up hill and down, the horse
dropping into a contented little dog-trot
We had gone on in this way for some
thing like three-quarters Of an hour
measured it by the bad cigars from tn
hotel-fifteen minutes to the cigar wheI
l ventured to suggest to the driver;
This is long drive you're taking M
for ten cents, isn't it,"
"Oh," he replied, complacently, I"
don't bring you down here for ten cents
That was only for the first place W
stopped. l charge you more for thi
, rider"
There was pause of ten minutes o
so, and all the time we were going o.
and on, slowly. Then | nudged him il
the back again. How much more?"
1.-The regular rates." he answered
: 1.-TWO dollars an hour"
counted the roll of greenbacks again
and concluded to let him go. He wen
on. The village was far behind US.
had to trouble him again:
Excuse me for troubling you wit
impertinent questions" I said, Blu
about how much further do we have to g
in this direction to see the lower side o
the falls?"
Down to the bridge and up the othe
side" he answered. g You can't get
good view from this side
l was fortunate. l had fallen into tn
hands of man who was determined t
show me this miracle of nature at it
: best. "The bridge" meant the suspen
sion bridge three miles below the falls
, We were to cross it and go up on tn
Canadian side.
At length we reached the village o
Suspension Bridge. We drove through
several streets, down steep little hill
and stopped before great arch of brown
stone, and heavy and solid, with littl
wooden house at one side. 1t was tn
entrance to the bridge.