Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-08
A pERIL0US FEAT.
OVER NIAGARA FALLS IN A RUBBER
SUIT,
Steve Brodie the Daring Waterman-Pick-
cd Up Unconscious-Ho Bevives-Not
Seriously Injured.
rpr telegraph 20 ne nispa.ch.l

NIAGARA FAILS. September 7.-Stc7e
Brodie accomplished the pei1lous feat to-
day Of going over Niagara Falls in rub er
suit. Brodie and his party arrived at the
Clifton last night. They were Ernest
Jerold. John Ledger. John Mccarthy. and
William Z. Harding, and several news
paper correspondents.
They put up at the Waverly Hotel ard
registered under fictitious names IN order
To- avoid suspicion. Brodes suit was
placed two hundred feet above the Cana
dian falls last night ready for use. Inflated
rubber tubes. etc. were also placed near
the Maid Of the Mist landing.
br0die left toe hotel with the party AZ I
o'clock 4. VI. John Mccarthy and Ernest
Jcrold and Brodie went 70 @ point 200 feet
above the falls he then stopped and bad
his bodg padded with cotton-baiting,, thel
put on n rubbcr suit, which was inflated
Afty-two inches around tine waist ana seV-
enty-fve inches around the chest. Inc
head gear was also inflated, while two steel
bands protected his body.
At $50 Brodie with ms paddle entered
The wOter. He caught the current, waved
his paddle 30 JerOld and Mccarthy, and a
few seconds later was shot over the centre
Of Horseshoe Falls, and luckily he was
shot with lightning rapiditv over the out
side # ono of the falling volumes OF winter
All ANt QUICKLY tb1t ia WV lii7b o4lNi APtfitts
lie was buried from view for nearly two
minutes when = black spcck covered with
thick white coating was seen bobbing mp
and Jumping e. and fro Ia The boiling cal
drOu Of rushing, gurglng waters.
In short time Brodie was caught IN the
rushing waters and carried at brisk pace
towards the American shore, and then aH
Of a sudden he was hurried toward the Ga.
madam shore, whore John Ledger had
ropes ready % drag him ont Of tho water.
Ledger was stripped and swan out 2UD
feet with rope fastened TO his waist,
while ". +. Harding held the other end on
shore. Ledger, after several Attcmpt-,
reached Brodie. fastened the ropes 10 the
iron bands around his waist, and then
swan ashore and assisted IN pulling tho
daring swimmer ashore.
On Brodie being lifted on the rocky
shore hc WAS quickly stripped. Bmndy WAS
poured il small quantities on ms temples
while he was rubbed and chafed, but be
WAS insensible, and blood oczcd from ms
mouth. nose, and ears, probably from the
shock or conclusion.
For twenty minutes Brcdlc thus lay until
ammonia was applied 10 ms nostrlls, ana
me began 10 SILVER and Ce-ticulate with hS
hands. he gradually recovered conscious
ness. and il was then found that his lulu-
RIGS were not serious. He expects to be
able 10 90 10 New York Tomorrow
DEscEIBEs MS EXPERIENCE.
In describing his experience, Brodie says
that after he entered the river ne weaken
ed. and would have given ANYTHING IN the
world if he could have reached terra trina
once more. He attempted 70 get ashore 10y
using his paddles when the swift current
swept him back and turned his feet to-
wards the brink Of the cataract. When no
saw that il was impossible 10 got out he
felt the same rs man that was TO meet
death. and PRAYED for dear life. just as he
came 20 the brink of the falls he became
unconscious through fright and remain
ed so until he struck the water,
churncd into foam, at the base OF
the falls, when no was temporarily
brought too 10y the force with which
he struck the water. Then he again lost
consciousness and knew no more until he
found himself living ON his rubber suit Mt
the waters edge. John Ledger, from the
life-saving station at Coney Island, was
waiting at the base Of the falls. He sprang
into the river and swan ont 20 Br0dle and
lowed him to the shore. The party then
drove down TO the Waverly House. There
IS no doubt that Brodie successfully went
over the falls.
Chief McDoueall. of the Ontario police,
ton this afternoon as he was about TO
take the o'clock train for New York. lie
is charged with attempting suicide by go
inc over the falls this morning.
Brodie was brought before Pollce-Nlags-
trate Hill this evening, who read the
charge made against him. In defence
Brodic said he did not attempt to commit
suicide by going over the falls, but 10 show
the world that the trip could bemede. The
Police Magistrate SAID he did not believe
Brode went over the falls at all; that tho
whole thing was gotten up 10 humpug mo
people, and il he did not go over the falls
10 say so and he would discharge him, but
if he persisted in saying he went over the
case against him would go on.
Brodic said " If / tell YOU l did not go
over Will You let me go?"
YES" said the Magistrate.
"WeH, then" said BrOdie, - did not
60 over. and am OF"
The Magistrate said that was not enough,
nad he wrote out an affidavit declaring
that Brodic did not 60 over the falls. aud
asked him 20 sign it. Brodie refused, saw
inc he was Catholic and could not per-
lure himself. The Magistrate then went
on with the prosecution.
Several witnesses were called, who cor
roborated the story told by Brodie and
party.
Magistrate Hill summed up the evidence
and bound over the prisoner IN the sum OF
$500 in his own rccOgulZaucc TO keep the
laws of the Dominion for one year. espe-
ciallv that relating 10 attempts 10 90 over
the falls. Brodie signed the document, and
Immediately made for the American side.
He seemed very nervous and frightened
throughout the proceedings.