New-York tribune., 1886-08-09
CRANES AT NIAGARA.
A FEAT WHICH MAY YET BE PERFORMED


ME- GEoRGE W. noLLEY RECALLS SOME OF TIE
STRANGE PERFORMANCES AND CRACK-BRAINED
SCHEMES OF THE PAST.
tn The Editor ofThe Tribune.
SIR: Mr.. Graham's successful passage
through the Whirlpool Rapids at NIAGARA sees to have
elven a impetus to the adventurous spirit OF the
time, AID future WILL doubtless develop enter
rrises In the same direction Indeed Mr.. Graham
seems 10 have authorized the statement that he IL con-
srnciing now barrel craft in which to make tho de.
scent Of the cataract itself There Is more reason Tor
suppcsns that this latter feat be safely performed
than there FOR supposng the WHIRLPOOL Rapids could
10 safely passed previous to Robnsons shooting them IL
the Maid of the Mist twenty five years Before that
time no animal had passed through those rapids ana
survived But tho descent OF the Falls had been safely
made repeatedly. In November. 1886. a female pull
terrier put coffee sack by two men who had
determined 10 get rid OF her. and thrown into the rapids
from the OF Goat Island bridge In the following
spring she found alive and well abont sixty rods
below the ferry having lived during the winter On the
carcass OF a that had been thrown over the bank
the previous fall. In 35s another dog OF the same
breed thrown into the rapids from near the sahe
point In less than hour he up the ferry stairs
dripping wet but uninJured by his plunge anu current
bath.
The reason why the animals were not killed may DC
thus explaned Where the that passes over the
precpcs falls into the below the spectator nnder
favorable circumstances, may see beautiful exhibition
OF water cones apparently ten or twelve feet bigh.
formed the rapid accumulation and conden
sation OF the falling water. pours down so rapidly
and In such quantities tho water below, 30 to speak,
cannot run fast enough and it piles up as though
were iu state OF violent ebuliti0n. These cones are
constantly forming and preakng A hardy animal fall
ing on to these on TO SOFT cushion nlgTt
slide safely Into the current below. The dogs were
doubtless fortunate to full In this way and were
AL .lso by the sionO Of
In the sw It channel through which they passed After
stating these facts some twenty years ago, the writer
added tho following: 1t ia not impossible that some
strong man in light, strong boat may thus. at some
future time 90 over the Horseshoe fail ana not 10
killed
The caught fish from the moss Islands out OK
tho rapls and many 1sh, probably 60 over the preci
pce, aud yet dead Dish IL seldom found below III s
then possible that Mr. Graham may successfully perform
his feat especially his unique craft should take
the slope OF water conc or the current
Under currents will trouble him since tho surface
ebulltion strongly upward at the foot OF the ia vi
II his barrel docs not keep in the main chann
but gets outside 1t fall rock his desruc-
ton will be swift. Tho writer hopes that no one Will
suspect him desire 10 encourage these ABSURD under
taknps. Nor would he obstiuct them. Many persons
believe that the ambition uail the stars aud stripes to
the North Pole Il equally absurd II an entorprn. ad-
ventrcr chooses to swim Niagara above or n or below
the falls or to measure. expernentay the height of the
Brooklyn bridge above the water, let hin DO so Without
note he fails and loses his lite IL Is no
loss to public. even 10 himself II lie succeeds
and secure, reward. largo small. By voluntary con-
ribntions from tho public 1t better than tina. the
public should be obliged to support him in the poor
house or the penienuary. Besides such heroes would
s,on become nobodtes.
But mono o, the schemes perfected or projected. Tor
navigating turbulent waters can compare IN audaclty
ana hrAncy with seriously PROPOSED to the writer
.,.l..t raf Ia fl. ft n
par, o, man. for he tailor. to his oice for
the puruo.c OF Inducing him tade stock IN a novel
craft FOR conveying passengers back and forth between
the falls and Lewiston Iueudlhg, OF course. the run
fhrnu. rapii- D. the Whirlpool and DeNlIs Hole
l,eing familiar with the remarkable chardcteT-tlcS OF
the route and being specially occupied AZ tae tlne
the writer encouraged the protector % explain his As
toun ins scheme which this to run steamboat OF
novel c1nstrncon both ways through gorge to
unc IL to that and 10 make number OF trp- daiy
down is enough, but how do yon expect TO
IiJ tie use Of a kind Of machinery which Lave
planned ont. be pu in and under the bottom 9f the
with the help o engine the boat ia 10 80 ahead
the kiud OF machinery connected with the en-
So it Is run by the current and the swi'ter tie cur
rent i the better II will work"
You that IT. ouerAton Is such that tac current
countcr.ct- aud neutlaiLes Itself
:" Yes that VIII be the effect Of IT,"
-r1at i, indeei q marvellous conccpti"n i!avc you
consulted engineer - 10 the hydroyhau'c' Is wei
80; don't sant one. am my own ensinceT; rne
machinery and under the boo OF inc Doa' w,' nshe
II u,t A. oGgh stood IN st water ana All the engine
win nave to 10 will DE to drive 1t forward.
About how much capital. 10 you suppose Will De re-
| oul,cI Z, AIRY out yOuI project 4
Mont $4,000 aud should be willing to let any one
who would furnish the whole amount hold the property
and kccI all the receipts until he WAS Icpsu AL" 'e'
let have one hall ,.,,,
Itis truly q marvellous conception anu "Itcr sou
have made Two successful trips each way your
decks viii br crowded with passengers and VIII De le
most astonishing and profitable enterprise oi the age
thought yOu would appreciate u ai'u s"ou'" "o
glad 10 have yOL take ho!d Ol H. ,. A.. 4. 50, -,
Thank YOU. Nuu very kind hut there u one oo-
lection that occurs that VIII prompt lie 10 uronnc.
II y the OF the engineer r rom any ot"ci
cuse That ondcrful machine in ani under thc Dttoi
of ts boat should pen "a get the advantage ol nm
ON nm up trip the might te ruh directly UP tne
and NOud be useless since II coui
NOT be returned to the chasm below ms statement
that n, thought he could remove That objection 'eri
mated the Interview. III. ,....,i,., Ia
n IA hut A few wears since New-iork Journalist III
view Of the fact that nearly every yeai persons arc
hrayn into the rapids and carried over the IaIi SUE
rosroi most extraordinary method u raNihs tho'n.
Ite ed that "A cable should he stretched across 'o
rands ms, above falls tor arrc,tnS c"ttS anu ~
which downward passengers might cng uhtli reS'"ei
Rut This kind and ingenious person FORGOT tha' w
canal hnnt. ra,ts of and trunks or trees WIN
roofs attached would be troublesome thngS 10 hou ~
anchor I'm mo rapids. Tho latest ah@urty IA pt"ip
sition nv an individual allow himself Ter
non to be drawn or towcd from Lewiston up 10 tuc
Susncn,on fridge through oil mo rapids icw ro"s
of sch towing up would turn MS toes up rcrhah"h!
Vi -, . t,v % l.s6 G ". HoLLRf.