Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1898-07-19

- 30 e@.@ H@-~~ ~~'@~.
'The ,Oonsr Michigan was the
largest ssel on Lake Erie al that
time. was too large. in fact. to
enter th yArious harbors on the lake.
and. being somewhat decayed in her
uppers. the owner. Major Frazer. for
merly Of New York. got the idea that
she would answer the purpose OF test
ing the fate OF vessel that by aecl-
dent might approach too near the cat
aract, and also the fate OF living things
that might be caught In the rapids.
The proprietors Of the large public
houses At the Falls. on both sides OF the
river. and OF stages and steamboats,.
made up a purse TO purchase the
schooner. aware that they would be
amply repaid by the spectators that
the exhibition would attract. For
several days previous TO Sept. IS. 1928.
the day for which the affair was fixed.
which was Saturday. the stages and
canal boats came 20 Buffalo crowded
with people The crowds were 50
great that II was with great difficulty
that conyeyances from that place 20 the
Falls could be obtained. On the night
OF Sept. wagons filled with country
people nttled through the village in
unbroken procession all night long
and on the morning OF Sept Buffalo
itself seemed to be moving in one mass
toward the point OF attraction.
The Chippewa towed the big
schooner TO Yaie's Landing. on the
Canada side o. the Niagara River.
where orr passengers went ashore. as
did those Of the William Penn The
hour nxci for towing the Michigan
from Yale's Landing TO the Rapids was
, In the Afternoon. This task. an ex-
tremely hazardous one. was Entrusted
20 the Oldest sailor on the lake. Capt.
Rough. With a yawl boat and Ave
sturdy oarsmen ;hs old captain got the
schooner under way. They towed her
J 20 within a quarter Of a mile OF the
hrst rapids. and within half a mile Of
the Tremendous preclpiee ITSELF az
near as they dared approach. They
cut the big vessel adrift and she pass
ed maiestically on. while the oarsmen
OF the yawl had TO bend their every
nerve and muscle TO remove them
selves nom the peril Of their position
and the danger Of being drawn down
= by the rushing waters. Indeed. such
, had been the fear and apprehension OF
: the men that they mutinied against
. Capt. Rough. and cut the tow line be-
F; fore the time be had set. II they
. had obeyed the reckless old captain
he. the yaWl. and IL crew would have
preceded the Michigan over the falls.
The high grounds on both shores ol
the river were lined with people as the
Michigan. unguided by human agency
: approached. head on. the irst rapid oil
the settling descent. apparently keep,
8 Ing the very course that a skilful navi
= gator would have guided her In. Tn,
, American ensign streamed from hel
bovsprit and the British jack ioatsC
!. at her stern The vessel shot the frsi
i. RAPID unhurt. still head on. making Z
!. plunge. shipping a sea. and rising from
Il Ia beautiful style. In her descent
Of the second rapid. the water momen
: tarily increasing in velocity and to
: multi. her towering masts went by II,
: board. giving the spectators a start
], ling representation OF the crashing o
!, vessels spars In a shipwreck at sea
"a She swung around and presented he
o broadside to the dashing and foaminl
!, water, and, after remaining. a.
"a seemed. stationary for moment
= swung around until she was headed N
stream. Passing the third rapid sh
bllsed. but carried her hull to all ap
= peannces whole a. she tossed ant
" groaned between Grass Island and IN
< British shore to the Horseshoe Fall
= over which she was drawn stern fore
% most and hurled into the thunderlnI
IS abyss She was dashed to fragment
: before she struck In the seething wa
= tiers below.
- There were aboard the Michigan
I" when she started on her trip towar
:" the falls a wild bull buffalo from
Western prairie. two bears from n
= Lake Superior regions. two foxes.
racooon, dog. a cat. and four gees,
- When the vessel LEFT Yales landing 4
a tow. all these were let loose on N
: deck except the buffalo lie was In
> closed in a pen. The two bears 90
enough OF The trip when the vessel bC
!, Kan the descent OF the first rapid. an
a they climbed down the side next III
a Canada shore. plunged into the swil
: water, breasted i,s powerful swee
!. successfully. and reached the shorl
., They were so exhausted when they I'd
on land that they made no resistauc
m 20 being captured. and they fell int
"A the possession OF a tavern keeper tn
n. bears. before they abandoned the shil
4. climbed the masts Of the vessel an'
t. as % was presumed, from that outloo
a. saw what their finish would be aus
Q, how. and then determined to take N
"a chances OF getting to land. slim as the
"a were The raccoon ran mp a mast an
remained there until the mast fell. II
was never seen again. The foxes "a
frauucally up and down the deck. an
:" went over with the schooner. AS al