The Portland daily press., 1889-09-09
OVER NIAGARA FALLS.
BrodIe Shows That 1t Can Be Done
Without Committing Suicide.

NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y, September T.
Steve Brodie accomplished the perilous feat
today of going over Niagara Falls in rub
Der suit Brodie left the Waverly Hotel
with the party at a. M, and went to point
200 feet above the falls, where he stripped
and had his body padded with cotton bat
ting, put on rubber suit, which was inflated
72 inches around the waist and 70 inches
around the chest; the head gear was also in
hated, while two steel bands protected his
body. At $50 o'clock Brodie. with his pad
die. entered the water. He caught the cur
few seconds later Was shot the eentre Of
the Horseshoe Falls, and luckily, he was
shot with lightning rapidity over the outside
of one of the falling volumes of water and
was quickly lost in the mist and foam. He
was buried from view for nearly two min
utes, when black speck, covered with
thick white coating was seen bobbling and
jumping to and fro in the boiling cauldron
OF rushing, gurgling waters. In short time
Brodie was caught in the rushing waters and
carried at brisk pace toward the American
shore. and then all of a sudden he was hur-
ried toward the Canadian shore, where John
Ledger and another man had ropes ready to
drag him from the water. Ledger was
stripped and swan out 200 feet with a rope
fastened to his waist, while w. E. Harding
held the other end on shore. Ledger, after
several attempts, reached Brodie. fastened
the rope to the iron bands around his waist,
and then swan ashore and assisted in pull
ing the daring swimmer ashore. On Brodie
being lifted on the rocky shore, he was quick
ly stripped. Brandy was poured in small
quantities on the temples, while he was
rubbed and chafed, but he was insensible,
and blood oozed from his mouth, nose and
ears, probably from the shock or concussion.
For 20 minutes Br0die lay, until ammonia
was applied to his n0strils, and he began to
shiyer and gesticulate with his hands. Bro
dies injuries are many bruises and sprained
back and ankle.
Chief McDougal of the Ontario police ar
rested Brodie at the Grand Trunk station
this afternoon as he was about to take the
p. m. train for New York on charge of at
empted suicide.
Brodie was brought before Police Magis-
trate Hill this evening, who read the charge
made against him. Brodie said he did not
attempt to commit suicide by going over the
trip could be made. The magistrate said he
did not believe Brodie went over the falls at
all, and that the whole thing was gotten up
to humbug people. If Brodie did not go
over the falls he could say so, and the judge
would discharge him. If he persisted in
saying he went over, the case against him
would go on, The magistrate wrote out an
affidavit declaring that Brodie did not go
over the falls and asked him to sign it. Bro
die refused, saying he was a Catholic and
could not perjure himself. The magistrate
went on with the prosecution. Several wit
nesses were called, who correbel ated the sto-
ry told by Brodie and his party. Magistrate
Hill bound over the prisoner in $500 on his
own recognizance to keep the laws of the
Dominion for one year, especially that relat-
ing to attempts to go over the falls. Brodie
signed the document and Immediately made
vous and frightened throughout the proceed
iDpS.