Wichita eagle., 1888-11-07
A SHIP OVER NIAGARA.

Niagara Falls sixty years ago, which the
writer Of the letter witnessed, and Of which
it is doubtful if many people Of today ever
heard. No history Of Niagara Falls that
ever saw gives any account Of it, although
nothing that ever occurred at the great
cataract has more peculiar interest. The
| letter is especially interesting as giving an
1 illustration Of the manner in which people
went on excursions in the days before rail-
roads. It is doubtful IL so many people have
ever gathered at the falls at one time since
the day described in this letter. Here Is the
extract:
BUFFALO, Sept Q, 1928
81 was In hopes that / should have got
back to this town from the Niagara falls last
evening in time to have dropped you line
respecting the fate of the schooner Michigan,
but owing to the delay in getting away wait
ing for our passengers and some derange-
ment of the machinery Of the steamboat and
head wind, we did not arrive until o'clock
this morning. As the exhibition yesterday
was of q novel character and hos excited
much more interest than any person could
have anticipated when it was first men
toned, you viii doubtless be anxious to learn
the particulars, and to crafty your curiosity
will endeavor to give you tho story as much
in detail as possible.
1.-THE schooner Michigan was the largest on
Lake Erie, and too large, in fact, to enter the
various harbors of the lake, and, being some
what decayed in her uppers, the thought
struck the owner, Maj Frazer, formerly Of
New York. that she would answer the pur-
pose of testing the fate OF vessel that by &C
cident might approach too near the stu
pendous cataract of Niagara, and also Of the
fate of animals that might be caught in the
rapids of those swift rolling waters and car
ried over the falls.
''The proprietors of the large public houses
at the falls, on both sides of the river, and Of
stages and steamboats,, made up purse to
purchase the schooner, aware that they would
be repaid by the company which the e1hi-
bition would attract, and in the calculation
they were not deceived.
For several days previous to the Sth the
stages came crowded, as well as the canal
boats, so much so that it was difficult to find
conveyance to the falls; and such was the
interest that the descent was the only topic
Of conversation among all classes. On the
night of the 7th wagons filed with country
people ratified through this town all night,
and On Saturday morning Buffalo itself
seemed to be moving in mass toward tho
l
who could not find passage in carriages,
five steamboats, had advertised to leave
hero On Saturday morning They were
the Henry Clay, William Penn, Pr
oneer, Niagara and Chippewa, being
all the steamboats, on Lake Erie except
the Superior. Tho Chippewa was appointed
to tow down the pirate schooner las she was
termed, the Michigan, which service she per-
,,ol $>nl ov.1
boat, and we got under way before the
Others passed through the basin at Block
Rock, and about mile below the rock tool.
in TOW tae vessel destined to make the dread
full plunge AS soon as we got under way
the scene became interesting. The sun shone
in full splendor, the waters Of the Erie were
placid, there being scarcely a rufle upon its
surface, and few miles astern Of US four
steamers crowded with passengers, and with
bands Of music on board, were blowing their
way down the rapids Of Niagara. Our little
boat lowed the Michigan as far as Yale's
Landing, British shore within three miles
of the fails, where she anchored, and at this
place the Chippewa landed her passengers as
well as tho William Penn, and they were
conveyed from there to the falls in vehicles
of all descriptions. The three other steamers
landed their passengers on the American
side.
''Three o'clock was tho hour appointed to
weigh anchor on board the Michigan The
task of towing her from Yales Landing to
the rapids, and a most hazardous one it was,
/ was intrusted to Capt. Rough, the Oldest
captain on the lake With a yawl boat and
five oarsrnen, of stout hearts and strong
arms, the old captain got the schooner under
way, and lowed her till within one-quartcr
of mile of the first rapids, and within half
q mile of the tremendous precipice, as near
as they dared approach. Cutting her aGrift,
she passed ma estically On, while the oarsn1en
of the yawl had to pull for their lives to
make themselves safe. Indeed, such were
the fears of the men, as have understood,
that on approaching near the rapids they cut
the tow line before they had orders from
their commander.
And now we approach the interesting
moments Of the exhibition. The high grounds
on both sides of the American and British
shores were lined with people, having full
view of the rapids ard Of the approach OF the
vessel, and now it was that a thousand fears
end expectations were INDUCED, as the Mich
igan, unguided by human agency, ap-
preached, head on, the first rapid or descent,
and apparently keeping tho very course
that the most skiliful navigator would
have pursued, having an American ensign
flying from her bowsprit ard the British
jack displayed at her stern. She passed
the first rapid unhurt, sti1 bead on,
making plunge shipping sea, and rising
/ from 1t in beautiful style. In her descent
over the second her u,as.s went by the board,
| at the same moment affording these who
/ have never witnessed shipwreci speci-
men of the spars of ship at sea IN a wreck.
Expectation of her fato vas now at the high
est: she swung around and presented her
/ broad side to the dashing and fcauling No
ter, and after remaining stationary moment
( or tive, was, by its force, swung round,
! stern foremost, and, having passed the third
rapid, she bIsed, but carried her huh ap-
/ parertly whole between Grass Island
/ and the British shore to the Horseshoe,
/ over which she was carried stern foremost
! and launched into the abyss below. In her
/ fall she was dashed to pieces went below
I tie fails Immediately after the descent. and
1 the river presented . singular appearance
( from the thousands Of floating fragments,
| there being scarcely to be sen any two
boards nailed together, and many Of her
timbers were broken into twenty pieces.
| Such was the eagerneB Of the mulsitude
present to procure piece Of her that before
sunset great part Ct her WIS carried away.
81 believe have already inforfned you Of
the anirals On beard. They consisted Of .
buffalo from, The Rocky mountains, two bears
from Green hay and Grand river, tsvo foxes.
rzecocn. . Cog, cat and four geese Tho
fate of thess you viii probably wish to learn
Then the vessel was Eft to her fate they