Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1898-09-14
SHOOTING THE RAPIDS.
Spectacle when the Schooner MiehI-
gan Went over NIAGARA Talis

Spectacle when the Schooner MiehI-
gan Went over Niagara Fails.
Il was one OF thOse who made up me
hrst public excursion 10 Niagara Falls
Just seventy years ago next septem.
ber," said Martin crsmer Of Niagara
county.
The schooner Michigan was the
largest vessel on Lake Erie al that
time. She was too large. IN fact. to
enter the various hartors on the lake.
and, being somewhat dScayed 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 accl-
dent might approach too near the cat-
aract, and also the fate OF living things
that might be caught In the rapids.
The propriei0rs Of tho 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 10 Sept. is. 1925.
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 20
great that Il was with great difficulty
that conyeyunces from that place 20 the
Falls could be obtained. on the night
OF Sept wagons filled with country
people ratified 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 10 Yale'B Landing. on the
Canada side OF the Niagara River.
where our passengers went ashore az
did those Of the William Penn. The
hour fixed for towing the Michigan
from Yale's Landing to the Rapids was
> 10 the afternoon. This task. an ex
tremely hazardous one. was lntrusted
20 the Oldest sailor on the lake Cant
Rough. With a yawl boat and aya
sturdy oarsmen the old captain got the
schooner under way. They towed her
70 within a quarter OF a mile OF the
hrst rapids. and within half a mile az
the tremendous preciplce Itself AZ
near as they dared approach. They
cut the big vessel adrlft and she pass
ed maies'Ically on, while the oarsmen
OF the yawl had to bend their every
nerve and muscle to 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 mutinled agalns,
Capt Rough, and cut the tow line be.
fore the time he had set II they
had oboyed the reckless old captain
he, the yawl. and 10 crew would have
preceded the Michigan over the falls.
The high grounds on both shores OF
the river were lined with people as the
Michigan, unguided by human agency
approached, head on. the FIRST rapid oil
the SETTLING descent. apparently keep
Ing the very course that a skllful navl.
gator would have guided her in. Tn,
American ensign streamed from her
boWsprit and the British Jack foatet
at her stern. The vessel shot the fra
rapid unhurt, still head on. making
plunge. shipping a sea, and rising from
II In beautiful style In her descent
Of the second rapid. the water momeu