The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-06-06
OVER NIAGARA FALLS.

An Account of Pie Walkers Tragic Death
Niagara falls was lately the scene OF
another tragic death, and Pie Walker
was the man who furnished the details
OF the tragedy. After successfully
wrestling with the eddys and currents
and the rocks and rapids for years, and
saving score or more of persons from
watery graves, he was at last swept over
the American cataract in the presence
OF large crowd of excursionists, who
were scattered about, little suspecting
the awful spectacle which they were
80 suddenly called upon to witness.
The primary car SO of Walkers death
was drunkenness. He had lip for
liquor, which frequently got the better
OF HIM. He was observed to leave Port
Day, about two miles above the head
OF Goat island, badly intoxicated. It
is believed he pulled. over to one of the
islands, where he discovered the con-
tents of key of beer with some COM
panions. 1t is then supposed he at
tempted to reach Goat island, or to
return to Port Day. To row a boat to
Goat island is very dangerous and
foolhardy trick, but one many times ac-
complished by Walker. He would do
it for small purse, or on wager, or
even to crafty the curiosity of tourists.
Whatever his intention, he miscalculat-
ed his powers and was caught in the
trap rapids just above Goat island, and
itswas at this point that the Mortified
spectators first caught sight of him as
he came down the river. A man on the
bank shouted to him to row to the
sluiceway near the Cataract House, and
he tried to do SO, bnt caught crab, lost
his balance, and fell backward into the
boat, where he lay stupe6ed with intcxi
cation. The liberated oar drifted away
from the boat, and the light skiff was
down until it reached point about
halfway between the head of the island
and the Cataract House, when it caught
upon rock, swinging around for
several seconds. The situation at this
time was one of extreme horror, and the
spectators looked on with bated breath
and beating hearts. The boat then
leaped forward upon its terrible journey,
riding upon the crest of the water, then
struck half sunken rock and parted in
twain-spilling the occupant into the
boiling rapids. The spectators on the
shore of Goat island and the bridge
saw the man rise above the surface of
the water, throw up his hands once and
then his body was caught in the resist
less underfow and was swept from
sight forever.
The ferrymen below the falls were
notified, and rowing near the cataract
made search for the body, but nothing
was found but his hat, badly cut by the
rocks, an oar uninjured, and the pieces
of his boat. The latter were eagerly
sought by curiosity hunters as souve-
Mrs of the terrible accident.
The victim was we'll known at the
falls. He was boat-house keeper,
and was wild, hsrum-scarum, dissipated
fellow. He cared nothing for the danger
of the river, and he laughed to scorn
the very idea of fear. He was credited
with being an outlaw and smuggler,
and when in danger of the law he would
seek one of the smaller islands and
remain until the storm against him
blew over. His redeeming feature was
his proficiency in saving human life,
the result of his desperate daring.