The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-10-24
A SHIP OVER NIAGARA.


cataract has more peculiar interest. The
letter is especially interesting as giving an
illustration of the manner in which people
went on excursions in the days before rail-
roads. It is doubtful If 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 0. 1929
II was in hopes that | should have got
back to this town from the Niagara falls last
evening in time to have dropped yon line
respecting the fateo the schooner Michigan,
but owing to the delay in getting away, wait
ing for our passengers and some derange-
rnent of the machinery of the steamboat and
head wind, we did not arrive until o'clock
this morning. AS the exhibition yesterday
was Of novel character and has excited
much moro interest than any person could
have anticipated when il was first men.
toned, you will doubtless be anxious to learn
the particulars, and to crafty your curiosity
will endeavor to give you the story as much
in detail as possible
"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, tho thought
struck the owner, Maj. Frazer, formerly of
New York, that she would answer the pur-
pose of testing the fate of a vessel that by ac-
cident might approach too near the stu
pendous cataract of Niagara, and also of the
fate of animals that might DO 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
be repaid by the company which the exhi-
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
a conveyance to the falls and such was tho
interest that the descent was the only topic
OF conversation among all classes On the
night of the 18th wagons filed with country
people ratified through this town all night,
and Oh Saturday morning Buffalo itself
seemed to DO moving i'll a mass toward the
point of attraction. TO accommodate those
who could not find a passage in carriages,
fivo STEAMBOATS, had advertised to leave
here on Saturday morning They were
the Henry Clay, William Penn, Pr
oneer, Niagara and Chippewa, being
all tho steamboats, on Lake Erie except
tho Superior. The Chippewa was appointed
to tow down the pirate schooner (as she was
terned, tho Michigan, which service she per-
formed. ! took my passage on board this
boat, and wo got under way before the
others, passed through the basin at Block
Rock, and about a mile below the rock tools
in tow tho vessel destined to make tho dread
full plunge. AS soon as wo got under way
the scene became interesting. The sun shone
in full splendor, the waters Of the Erie were
placid, there being scarcely ruf1e 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 towed the Michigan as far as Yale's
Landing, British shore within three miles
of the falls, where she anchored, and at this
place the Chippewa landed her passengers as
well as the 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
'eThree o'clock was the hour appointed to
weigh anchor ON board the Michigan. Tho
task of towing her from Yale's Landing to
tho rapids, and most hazardous ono it was,
was intrusted to Capt. Rough, the Oldest
five oarsmen, Of stout hearts and strong
arms, tho old captain got the schooner under
way, and towed her till within one-quarter
Of mile of the first rapids and within half
a mile of the tremendous precipice as near
as they dared approach. Cutting her adrift,
she passed inajestically ON, while tho oarsmen
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
tho 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 and of the approach Of the
vessel, and now " was that thousand fears
and expectations were INDUCED, as the Mich.
igan, unguided by human agency, ap.
proached, head on, the first rapid or descent,
and apparently keeping the very course
that tho most skillful navigator would
have pursued, having an American ensign
flying from her bowsprit and the British |
Jack displayed OF her stern. She passed |
the first rapid unhurt, still head on
making plunge, shipping q sea, and rising
from it in beautiful style. In her descent |
over the second her masts went by the board, |
at tho same moment affording those who |
have never witnessed a shipwreck spaci |
men of the spars of ship at sea In a wreck |
Expectation Of her fate was now at the high |
est; she swung around and presented her |
broad side to the dashing and foaming wa, |
ter, and after remaining stationary moment |
or two, was, by its force, swung round,
stern foremost, and, having passed the third |
ol.< I,r,&<
parently whole between Grass Island |
and the British shore to tho Horseshoe |
over which she was carried stern foremost |
and launched into the abyss below. In her
fall she was dashed to pieces. / went below
the falls Immediately after the descent, and
tho river presented q singular appearance |
from the thousands of floating fragments |
there being scarcely to be seen any two |
boards nailed together, and many Of her |
timbers were broken into twenty pieces. |
Such was the eagerness Of the multitude |
present to procure piece Of her that before /
sunset great part of her was carried away. |
II believe have already informed you Of /
the animals on board. They consisted OF
buffalo from the Rocky mountains, two bears
from Green bay and Grand river, two foxes.
a raccoon, dog,a cat and four geese. The |
fate of these you win probably wish to learn. |
When the vessel was left to her fate they
were lot looseson deck, except the buffalo, who |
was enclosed In a temporary pen. The two
bears left the vessel shortly after she began
to descend the rapids, and swan ashore, not
withstanding the rapidity Of the current. On |
reaching the British shore they were taken.
The buffalo was seen to pass over the falls,
but was never seen afterward. Before
the vessel reached the first rapids
those who had glasses could see one Of
the bears climbing the mast, and the foxes,
etc., were also running up and down; but
nothing was seen of them after the schooner
passed over. The only live animals Of the
crew that passed over the falls were two
geese; they were taken up unhurt. Maj
Frazer obtained one, and an English gentle
man purchased the other for ST. Respecting |
the effigies, the only one I saw below the |
falls was Gen. jackson, apparently unin-
jured, throwing his arms about and knock
Ing his legs together In the eddies. as though