Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-12-29
The Fall. Of Niagara Ran Dry.

dOus cataract Will consider tnat III IL
an absurd fable to think of the Falls
running dry, and only worthy to be
recorded in Baron Munchausen's
wonderful adventures. But still,
strange and incredible as it may
appear, the truth in this case is
stranger than fiction.
Such an event actually occurred
about Il years since, and there Is
not the faintest trace of tradition
that il ever occurred before, and
most certainly it never happened
since. have frequently heard the
particulars from the late Bishop OF
Niagara. also from his brOther-in-
law, Mr.. Thomas c. Street. Indeed,
some years since Bishop Fuller
gave an account of the wonderful
phenomenon over his own name in
Hamilton paper, from which the
greater part of the following state
ment is taken.
II occurred on the morning OF the
3ist of March, 1s4s, Mr.. Thomas c.
lived at that time in the beautiful
homestead over the islands, to
which he and his friends had access
by a suspension bridge he had
erected. There was mill mt the
end of the rapids that belonged to
the Street family.
On the morning in question his
miller knocked mt his bedroom door
about five O'Clock and told him
to get up quickly, as there was
no water in the nillrace nor in the
great river outside. He said he was
startled by the intelligence. and
hurried out rs soon as he could
dress himself. There before him he
saw the river channel, on wi o e
banks he had been born thirty-four
years previous, almost entirely dry.
After hurried breakfast Mr..
Street ard his youngest sister went
down about three-quarters OF n mile
to the precipice itself, over which
there was so little water running
that. having provided himself with
a strong pole, they started from Tia
BILE Rock and walked near the edge
of the precipice about one-third OF
the way toward Goat Island on the
American side.
On the mass of rock where hu.
man feet never trod before, Miss
Street having tied her handkerchief
on the end of the pole. they set II
up firmly among the rocks. Mr.
Street said that he turned his view
towards the river below the Falls
and saw the water so shallow that
immense Jagged rocks stood up III
such a manner that he shuddered
when he thought of having fire.
auently passed over them in the
little steamer Maid of the Mist
He then returned home and drove
along the Canada shore about halt
a mile above Goat Island.
Various relics of the war of 1872
flung into the river after the battle
of Lundy's L.ane-rusty muskcts
DHYOtlCtS, CtC..- AOuhb hhAO'it :
the rocks that were laid bare.
DIR. Fuller did not get there until
after the breaking down of the ice
dam, but he found every one in the
neighborhood greatly excited at the
wonderful event.
Mr.. Streets theory to account fol
the recession of the waters was
this: That the winds had beer
blowing down Lake Erie, which ID
only about 80 feety deep, and had
been rushing a great body of water
from II over the Falls; then sudden
~ changing. the wind blew violent
ly up the river to the western part o.
the lake. At this juncture the ice
ON Lake Erie. which had beer
broken by these high winds. go
jammed in the river between But
falo and the Canada side, and
formed dam which kept back the
waters of Lake Eric whole day.