Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1898-09-03
SHOOTING THE RAPIDS.
spectacle ~A-a 81. ssAosas. ,,ishi-


Il was one Of those who made up the
first public excursion 10 Niagara Falls
Just seventy years ago next septem-
Der" said Martin cramer Of Niagara
county.
The schooner Michigan was the
largest vessel on Lake Erie az that
time. She was too large, In fact. 10
enter the various 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 a vessel that by aecl-
dent might approach too near the cat
aract, and also the fate OF living thiugs
that might be caught In the rapids.
The proprletors Of the large public
houses Al the Falls. on both sides OF the
river. and OF stages and steamboats,.
made up a purse 10 purchase the
schooner. aware that they would be
amply repaid by the spectators that
the exhibition would attract. For
several days previous 70 Sept. IS. 1928.
the day for which the affair was fixed.
which was Saturday. the stages and
canal boats came 10 Buffalo crowded
with people. The crowds we're 30
great that Il was with great difficulty
that conyeyances from that place TO the
Falls could be obtained. On the night
OF Sept. z wagons filled With country
people ratified through the village In
unbroken procession all night long.
and on the morning OF Sept. 3 Buffalo
itself seemed to DO moving In one mass
toward the point Of attraction.
The Chippewa towed the big
schooner 10 Yales Landing. on the
Canada side Of the Niagara River.
where our passengers went ashore, as
did those Of the William Penn The
hour fixed for towing the Michigan
from Yale's Landing to the Rapids was
3 In the afternoon. This task. an ex-
tremely hazardous one. was intrustod
to the Oldest sailor on the lake. Capt.
Rough. with a yawl boat and iiye
sturdy oarsmen the old captain got the
schooner under way. They towed her
10 within a quarter Of a mile Of the
nrst rapids. and within half a mile Of
the tremendous preciplee Itself as
near az they dared approach They
cut the big vessel adriit and she pass
ed majestleally on. while the oarsmen
OF the yawl had 70 bend their every
nerve and muscle 10 remove them
selves from 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 mutlnled against
Capt. Rough. and cut the tow line be.
fore the time be had set. II they
had obeyed the reckless old captain,
he. the yawl. and liz crew would have
preceded the Michigan over the falls.
The high grounds on both shores Of
the river were lined with people a. the
Michigan. unguldsd by human agency.
approached. head on. the FIRST rapid OF
the SETTLING descent. apparently keep
Ing the very course that a skilful navi.
gator would have guided her In. The
American ensign STRAINED from hor
bowsprit and the British jack noated
at her stern. The vessel shot the frst
rapid unhurt. still head on. making a
plunge. shipping q sea. and rising from
II In beautiful style. In her descent
OF the second rapid. the water momen-
tarily Increasing In velocity and to.
multi. her towering masts went by the
board. giving the spectators a start
ling representation Of the crashing OF
a vessels apars In a shipwreck az sea.
She swung around and presented her
broadslds TO the dashing and foaming
water. and. after remaining. az II
seemed. stationary for moment,
swung around until she was headed up
stream. Passing the third rapid she
bilged. but carried her hull TO all APP
peafances whole a. she tossed and
groaned between Grass Island and the
British shore 10 the Horseshoe Fall,
over which she was drawn stern fore.
most and hurled into the laundering
abyss She was dashed to fragments
before she struck IN the seethlng va
tiers below
There were aboard the Michigan
when she started on her trip toward
the falls a wild bull buffalo from a
Western prairie, two bears from the
Lake Superior regions. two foxes. a
raccoon. a dog. a cat. aud four geese
When the vessel lett Yaie'A landing In
tow, all these were let loose on The
deck except the buffalo. lie was IN.
closed In a pen. The two bears sol
enough OF the trip when the vessel be-
gan the descent Of the Grst rapid. and
they climbed down the side next n,
Canada shore. plunged into the swift
water. breasted ~ powerful sweeI
successfully. and reached the shore
They we're 80 exhausted when they go
on land that they made no rosistanc,
10 being captured. and they fell Int,
the possession Of a tavern keeper. tn,
bears, before they abandoned the ship
climbed the masts OF the vessel and
ar II was presumed. from that outool
saw what their flash would be any
how. and then determined to take IN,
chances Of getting 10 land. slim as thel
were. The raccoon ran UP a mast an,