Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-05-27
OVER THE FALLS.
A TERRIBLE SCENE AT NIAGARA.
A Famous Guide Caught in the Rapids
and Swept Over the Cataract
Drunkenness the Primary
Cause of II.

BUFFALO, \. Y, May 26.-Nlagars
Falls was the scene of another tragic
death Sunday afternoon. Pie Walker
was the man who furnished the details
of the tragedy. After successfully
wrestling with the eddies and currents
and the rocks and rapids of the river fol
years, and saving a score or more of per-
sons from watery graves, he on Sunday
was swept over the American cataract,
in the presence of large crowd of ex-
cursionists, who were scattered about,
little suspecting the awful spectacle
which they were so suddenly called
upon to witness.
The primary cause of Walkers death
was drunkenness. He had a lip Tor IL
quor, which frequently got the better oi
him. Where he imbibed to day is not
known: but about . o'clock he was OBJ
served to leave Port Day, about two
mile above the head of Goat Island,
badly intoxicated. 1t is believed that
he pulled over TO one of the islands,
where he discussed the contents OF a
KEY of beer with some companions. 1t
is then supposed that he attempted to
reach Goat Island, or to return to Port
Day. To row a boat to Goat Island, is
very dangerous and foOl-hardy trick,
but one many times accomplished by
Walker. He would row for small
purse on a wager, or even to gratliy the
curiosity OF tourists.
Whatever his calculations, he miscal-
culated his powers and was caught IN
the Trap Rapids, just above Goat Island,
and it was at this point that the horriiied
spectators first caught sight of him as
he came down the river. y man on
the bank shouted TO row into the slulce
way, near the Cataract House, and he
tried TO do so, but caught a crab, lost
his balance and fell backward into the
boat, where he lay stupitied with IN
toXicatiOn. The liberated oar drllted
away from the boat, and the light skin
was caught in the swift current and
carried down until it reached a point
about half way between the head
of the island and the Cataract
House, when it caught upon a
rock and swung around for several
seconds. The situation at this time was
one of extreme horror, and the specta-
tors looked on with bated breath and
beating hearts. The boat then jumped
upon its terrible journey, riding upon
the crest of the water, then struck a hall
sunken rock and parted in twain,
spiling the occupant into the boiling
rapids. The spectators on the shore at
Goat Island and the bridge, not less than
four hundred of whom were spectators
of this awful catastrophe, saw the man
rise above the surface OF the water,
throw up his hands once, and then his
body was caught in the restless under
flow and was swept from sight forever.
The ferrymen below the falls were no
tilted, and rowing near the cataract made
search for the body, but nothing was
found but his hat, badly cut by the
rocks, an injured oar and the pieces OF
mis- boat. The latter were eagerly sought
by curiosity hunters as souvenirs ol the
terrible accident.
The victim was well known at the
Falls. He was boat-hOuse keeper,
and was a wild, harum-scarum, dlsslpa-
ted fellow. He cared nothing tor the
danger of the river, and laughed to
scorn the very idea of fear. He was
credited with being regular outlaw and
smuggler, and when in danger from the
law he would seek one OF the smaller
islands and remain until the storm
against him blew over.
He made much trouble for his neigh
bors by his vindictiveness and revenge
ful spirit. His redeeming feature was
his proficiency in saving human life, the
result of his desperate daring. He was
thirty years of age, and leaves wife and
two children.