The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-13
A SHIP OVER NIAGARA FALLS.


A SHIP OVER NIAGARA FALLS.
A Thr illing Scene Witnessed at Nj
agara Sixty Years Ago by 10000
People.
The New York Sun digs up an old letter
written in 1928 in which is described the
tumbling of ship over Niagara Falls. In
the ship were several live animals, and the
fate of both the vessel and its cargo is
graphically told in this cid letter:
1.-THE schooner Michigan vas the largest
on Lake Erie, and too large, in fact, to
enter the various harbors on the lake, and,
being somewhat decayed in her uppers, the
thought struck the owner, Maj. Frazer,
formerly of New York, that she would
answer the purpose of testing the fate Of q
vessel that by accident might approach
too near the stupendous cataract of Nj
agara, and also of the fate of animals that
might be caught in the rapids Of those
swift-rolling waters and carried over the
falls
1.-THE propretors of the large public
houses at the falls, on both sides Of the
river, and of stages ard steamboats,, made
up purse to purchase the schooner, aware
that they would be repaid by the COM
pany which the exhibition would attract,
duu III JbO OolSutstbiOA NOiO AkOO Nc-
ceived
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 the
ntere that the descent was the only topic
Of conversation among all classes. The
Chippewa was appointed to tow down the
pirate schooner las she was termed, the
Michigan, which service she performed. l
10, hoard thiS hnaf ap1 xrra
got underway before the others, passed
through the basin at Black Rock, and about
mile below the rock took in tow the vessel
destined to make the dreadful plunge AS
soon as we got under way the scene became
teresting. The sun shone in full
splendor. the waters Of the Z lie were
placid, there being scarcely q ruffie uDon
its surface, and few miles astern of us
four steamers crowded with passengers,
and with bands of music on board, were
ploughing their way down the rapids of
Niagara.
"Three o'clock was the hour appointed to
weigh anchor on board the Michigan. The
task of towing her from Yales landing to
the rapids, and most hazardous one it was.
was intrusted to Capt. Rough, the Oldest
captain on the lake. With yawl boat and
five oarsmen, of stout hearts and strong
arms, the old captain got the schooner under
way, and lowed her till within quarter
of a mile of the tremendous precipice, as near
as they dared approach. Cutting her adrift,
she passed majestically on while the oars
men of the yawl had to pull for their lives
to make themselves safe.
The high grounds on both sides of the
American and British shores were lined
with people, having a full view of the
rapids and Of the approach of the vessel,
and now it was that thousand fears and
expectations were INDUCED, as the Michi-
gan, unguided by human agency, APP
preached, head on, the first rapid or des-
cent, and apparently keeping the very
course that the most skillful navigator
would have pursued, having an American
ensign flying from her bowsprit and the
British jack displayed at her stern. She
passed the first rapid unhurt, still head on,
making plunge, shipping a sea. and rising
from it in beautiful style. Ia her descent
over the second her mast went by the board,
at the same moment affording those who
never witnessed shipwreck specimen of
the spars of a ship at sea in a wreck. Ex-
recitation of her fate was now at the highest
she swung around and presented her broad
side to the dashing and foaming water, and
after remaining stationary a moment or
two, was, by its force, swung round, stern
foremost, and, having passed the third
rapid, she bilged, but carried her hull APP
parently 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. I went below the falls
| Immediately after the descent, and the
river presented singular appearance from
the thousands of floating fragments, there
| being scarcely to be seen any two boards
nailed together, and many OF her tlmberS
we're broken into twenty pieces. Such
was the eagerness of the multitude pres
| emit to procure piece of her that before
sunset a great part Of her was carried
away.
81 believe have already informed you of
the animals on board. They consisted of a
buffalo from the Rocky mountains, two
bears from Greene bay and Grand river,
| two foxes, a raccoon, a dog, cat, and four
geese. The fate of these you will probably
wish TO learn. When the vessel was left to
her fate they we're let loose on deck, except
the buffalo, who was enclosed in tempo
rary pen. The two bears left the vessel
shortly after she began to descend the
| rapids, aud swan ashore, Notwithstanding
the rapdity 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 yes
sci reached the first rapids those who had
| glasses could see one of the bears climbing
the mast, and the foxes, etc., were also run
ming 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 gentleman purchased
the other for SO. Respecting the etfiges,
the only one / saw below the falls was Gen.
Jackson, apparently uninjured, throwing
his arms about and knocking his legs to-
9ether in the eddies, as though he was
the only one OF the crew that escaped I'M
hurt.