The Press., 1883-09-20
A STEAMER IN THE NIAGARA WHIRLPOOL.

In the year 1S46 a small steamer was built in the eddy just above the railway suspension bridge to run up to the falls. She was very appropriately named The Maid of the Mist. Her engine was rather weak, but she safely accomplished the trip. As, however, she took passengers aboard only from the Canada side, she did little more than pay expenses. In 1854 larger, better boat, with more powerful engine, the new Maid of the Mist, was put on the route, and many thousands of persons made this most exciting and impressive tour under the Falls. The admiration which the visitor felt as he passed quietly along under the American Fall was changed into awe when he began to feel the mighty pulse of the great deep just below the tow. CT; then swung around into the white foam directly in front of the Horseshoe and saw the sky of waters falling toward him. And he seemed to be lifted on wings stream through baptism of spray To many persons there was fascination about it that induced them to make the trip every time they had an opportunity to do so.
 Owing to some change in her appoint ments, which confined her to the Canadian shore for the reception of passengers, she became unproftable. Her owner, having decided to leave the place, wished to sell her as she lay at her dock. This he could not do, but had an offer of something more than half of her cost if he would de- liver her at Niagara, opposite the Fort. This he decided to do, after consultation with Robinson, who had acted as her cap- tain and pilot on her trips under the Falls. The boat required for her navigation an engineer who also acted as a fireman, and pilot On her pleasure trips she had a clerk in addition to these. MT. Robinson agreed to act as pilot for the fearful voy- age, and the engineer, MT. Jones, consent ed to go with him. A courageous ma- chinist, MT. Mcintyre, volunteered to share the risk with them. They put her in complete trim, removing from deck and hold all superfuous articles. Notice was given of the time for starting, and large number of people assembled to see the fearful plunge, no one expecting to see either boat or crew again, after they should leave the dock. This dock, as has been before stated, was just above the railway suspension bridge, at the place where she was built, and where she was laid up in the winter that, too, being the only place where she could lie without danger of be- ing crushed by the ice. Twenty rods be- low this eddy the water plunges sharply down into the head of the crooked, tumul- tuous rapid which we have before noticed as reaching from the bridge to the Whirl pool. At the Whirlpool the danger of be- ing drawn under was most to be appre 'hended-; in the Rapids of being turned over or knocked to pieces. From the l Whirlpool to Lewiston is one wild turbu lent rush and whirl of water without 6 square foot of smooth surface in the whole distance.
 | About three o'clock in the afternoon o1 June 15, 1861, the engineer took his place in the hold, and knowing that their fitting would be short at the longest, and nigh be only the preface to swift destruction set his steam valve at the proper gauge and awaited-no without anxiety-tht tinkling signal that should start them or