The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-25
r1rNerNe OYER THE FALLs
what visitors from brooklyn and Rochester
Saw Mt Niagara.

what visitor. from brooklyn and Rochester
Saw Mt Niagara.
NIAGARA FALLS Nov. 23--If the propo-
sal OF the lntc Governor General OF Canada to
tho Government Of tho United States. 10 convert
the grounds surrounding Niagara Falls into a
free national park. is accepted. it will gladden.
the hearts of tourists and travellers. As it is at
present every point Of interest on the Amcri-
can side at least Is cut or from the visitor until
he pays n round entrance fee to sights that
should be thrown open to all the world. II costs
from twenty i've to fifty cents TO cross the river
to Wow the falls from tho Canada side. Even
hack hire. which has always been considered
cxorbitnnt. is now moderate compared with
prices charged for admission to accessible
places for viewing the rapids and cntnracts. In
one Of the enclosures, called park. living
creatures are exhibited which are said to have
passed over the falls md recovered from tho
tremendous plunge into the water below.
An Illustration Of the fact that the rcsistlcss
rapids and mighty waterfalls do not destroy all
life drawn into their terrible power was wit
messed by THE SUN correspondent on Saturday
last. in company with Mr.. Joseph $. Wick and
wife of Rochester and two ladies from Brook
lyn. Luckily the rapgciOus guardians of M
lures grent water works wcrc not aware Ot me
extra exhibition or doubtless Il heavy Zee would
have been demanded.
After viewing the Canada Fnll from the point
near which Trrrnpin Tower once stood. We
were about to ascend The bqnk on Goat Island.
when ono Of tho ladies discovered what she
called three large birds close 10 the waters
edge. under the shadow Of the bank, about 500
feet above tho brink Of the fall. An cxaminn-
tion through Held glass shOwed the birds 10
b. three large goose. Two wcre white. and the
othor was gray They stood quietly gazing into
the turbulent rapids. occasionally stretching
their nccka and dropping their heads.
On tho attention OF our hnck driver being
called to the goose. he said that they had ialcn
asleep on the river above tho rapids. and. float.
ing down. had been awakened by the tOssi ing OF
t9e wntcr and roaring OF me ialls. IN TINE to
continued. that any one could catch them
why not try md capture ono for your Sun
day dinner ?" suggested the correspondent.
Guess will" replied the hackman. us he
started of up the bank.
He had crept upto within about sly feet OF the
geese when first y white one walked slowly
into the stream. The hackman stood still u
second or so before tnkingHnother step through
the bushes As he raised his right foot. which
WIS ncnrcst tho river. 10 proceed the gray
goose GRAINED his neck and followed the white
one. Before the hickman could take three
moro steps. the last was a gone goose Slowly
Il padded It's way ailor tho others out into the
fatal rapids.
over her eyes. exclaimed, " Oh the poor things I;
they will be drawn over the falls and killed.
cant look ut thom."
lady like the rest OF us. watched the geese with
intense interest on their perlous voyage. o.,
At irst the geese stcmmet the current with
apparently little difficulty: but as the man step
ped 90 the edge Of the river they worked further
out into tho rapids. They were soon caught on
hillucks of water and spray. and turned help
lessly around Then, getting into smoother
water. they endeayored in vain 10 stay their
downward course. The geese made no effort TO
fy. the water frequently sucking them down
until only their long necks were visible above
the surface.
At the point where we stood a narrow bridge
had been thrown out into the stream "a few feet
from the edge OF the fall. The end over the
river rested on q LARGE firm rock We stood on
this rock watching tho apparently doomed
geese. From the rock u long log stretched out
into the river. the outer end being caught under
another rock which projected out Of the water.
The water swept the under part Of the log It's
entire distance. The torrent had stripped the
bark on and worn its surface Us smooth as the
As the first white goose reached this log 1t
struggled hraVcly 10 keep from being drawn
under and over into the laundering abyss. II
was fruitioss effort. The broad web feet Of
the goose. - IL turned It's head up stream, were
Strengthened out. Offering no resistance 10 the
remOrselrss current. The goose WIS sucked
under sideways. swinging partly around. the
goose took the awful plunge with head erect in
u straight line over the fall.
Next came tho gray goose Like the first. Il
made a brave fIht NJ the lOg. Going under
backward. It stretched IT, long neck m agony To-
limo Of naming rcd. It looked as though the
crimson blood were bursting ~ through the
bill. The goose toppled over The TALL back
ward. wi h neck and head erect. without emit
ting sound. In fact. all three went down the
rapids and over the falls in silent terror.
The last soo-e Hlso struggled brtvely 20 keep
on the uruer side OF the log, but WAS soon
drawn under and IL followed it, companions
over the cataract. II went over head first. the
same as the other white one. As our eyes fol-
lowed the goose IN itS descent We Wcr" soon sur
priscd To SEQ IL dart ont from the water and
spray aud ty safely down into the dark green
Wrt"r hundreds ot feet below the white foam
that covers the river for some distance undo
ia" hls. The other white goose wds then OBJ
served lying further ont over the river. II soon
settled down and swan toward is companion.
Watching tnem through th" glass. We. saw them
rubbing their heads together Nothing what
over WIS seen 81 the stray goose after lie went
backward over the iul
Mr.. Joseph T. Cox. IN his planning mill. on
the edge Of Grnesee Falls. snid thHt he once
saw from his mill windows a smut drove of
cattle 90 over Grucsee Falls. All thar went
over backward and sideways wcro killed and
those that plunged over head first got out alive,
He also saw an old ludy fall from the railroad
bridge while a tram wnS crossing. The old
lady went over tho falls near whore sam Patch
took his fatal leap She WAS found alive ON the
island, short distance below the falls, but she
soon died. \.