Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-09-24
WATCHING FOR DEAD MEN.
THE GRIM SUMNER OCCUPATION OF
NIAGARA FALLS FISHERMEN.

There exists at Niagara Falls and
along the river from that point to Lake
Ontario an industry, the like OF which
cannot probably be found In the civiliz-
ed world. In his character Of Rogue
Riderhood, Dickens has portrayed a
man who eked out an existence by rob
bling the dead bodies of unfortunates
who had met death In the muddy waters
of the Thames or had been thrown into
the stream to conceal greater crime,
but to him and his kind the corpses had
no interest, aside from any valuables
they might have upon their persons.
At the falls, however, dead bodies have
marketable value, aud II Is the busi-
ness of hunters for "n0at'rs," AS they
are called, that constitutes so unique an
Industry.
Yet the occupation is perfectly
legitimate one, says the Buffalo Ex-
press. The bodies are not despoiled 10
any way by the men who pursue this
occupation, and there Ia little doubt
that they are AS honest n set rs can be
found anywhere.
They do not sell the bodies to medical
colleges or for any purpose not recog-
nized nv law; In fact, 1t might be said
they 90 not sell them at NIL, yet they
realize often, comfortable incomes from
this source.
What makes this possible Is the fact
that there are two n,tions on the two
banks of the Niagara River. In the
towns along the river on both sides
there are coroners, and il Is the rivalry
among these coroners that creates the
demand for noaters aud makes them a
marketable commodity. The coroners
receive their pay by fees, so much for
every inquest, and are naturally anxious
to learn Of any new cases.
The annual number OF cases Is large,
so large that a number OF men exist IN
what they make In picking up floaters.
The falls have always been favorite
spot for suicides, and many a mysteri-
Gus disappearance has been solved long
after by the finding OF 6oater in the
Niagara River which Is identified rs the
missing one. Nearly every body that Is
drowned of the shores at Buffalo
eventually finds Its way to the falls,
and once over the brink OF the precipice
it is soon picked up by some OF these
floatcr hunters.
Youngstown is an especially good
spot for the finding Of floaters. Here
there Is an eddy that brings the bodies
In close to shore, and often they be-
come becalmed, AS il were, for days,
long enough to rise TO the surface and
be picked up instead OF drifting out
into the lake. Two or three men make
this their regular hunting ground, and
passersby on the rivers bank often hear
cry OF JOY arising from the depths OF
the gorge, which on inquiry proves to be
the shout of one of these hunters who
has just made find.
The men are mostly fishermen and
long shoremen, who I'll in the dull season
In the winter by fishing through the Ice.
They are hardy set, rough in appear.
ance and manners, and dulled by theiI
long association with corpses so tina,
they do not feel any quslms at handling
the most decomposed body. As soon as
one OF their number finds floater, he
anchors II In some safe spot by the river
side, where il will be concealed by the
overgrowing bushes. and sets out 10
notify the coroner. One man, II is said
always waits until he has three bodies
before sending for the authorities, saving
himself two trips TO the coroner's office
and receiving his emoiument In larger
sums BY this means. Most OF them, how
ever, are satisfied 10 get 81 at time,
which Is said To be the commission al
lowed by the officials for new business.