Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-11-01
OVER NIAGARA FALLS.
Woman of Fifty Performs Fea'
Never Before Accomplished.


Minnie Edison Taylor, so years old,
went over Niagara Falls on the
Canadian side and survived, feat
never before accomplished, and in
deed never attempted, except In the
deliberate commission Of suicide.
She made the trip in barrel. Not
only did she survive, but she escaped
without broken bone, her only APP
parent injury being scalp wound
u inches long, slight conclusion
Of the brain, some shock TO her ner-
vous system and bruises about the
body. She was conscious when taken
out of the barrel.
Mrs. Taylor's trip covered mile
ride through the Canadian rapids
before she reached the brink of the
precipice. Her barrel was twirled
aud toppled and buffeted through
those delirious waters, but serious
contact with rocks was avoided. As
it passed through the smoother,
swifter waters that rushed over into
the abyss, it rode in an almost per-
pendicular position. Over the brink
it rode at an angle of about As
degrees on the onter surface of the
deluge and descended to the white
fosming waters 15S feet below.
True to her calculations, the anvil
fastened to the bottom of the barrel
kept it foot downward, and SO it
landed. The ride through the rapids
occupied eighteen minutes. The
barrel conld not be seen as 1t struck
the water below because of the spray,
but in less than half minute after
it passed over the brink 1t was seen
on the surface of the scum-covered
water below the falls. 1t was carried
swiftly down to the Maid of the
Mist landing, caught in an eddy and
held there until it foated so close TO
the shore that it was reached by
means of a pole and hook aud drawn
in upon the rocks.
Ten minutes later the woman was
lifted from the barrel, aud half an
hour later she lay on a cot at her
boarding place in First Street, Nj
agara Falls, on the American side.
The barrel in which Mrs. Taylor
made the journey is ~ feet high and
about 3 feet in diameter. A leather
harness and cushions inside protected
her body. Air was secured through
a rubber tube connected with small
opening near the top of the barrel.
Mrs. Taylor is a school teacher
from Bag City, Mich.
She said she had prayed all dur
ing the trip, except during ga few
moments" of unconsciousness Just
after her descent.
81 feel like Offering a prayer that
my life is spared" she said after
landing. Il feel sore about nv
shoulders. | am not sporting
woman and have lived good life.
| was left widow at 20 and Ia, @
devoted the most of my life 10 others.
If it was with my dying breath
would caution any one against at
tempting the feat. ] will never 90
over tbe falls again. l would rather
walk up TO the mouth of cannon,
knowing it was going to blow me to
pieces, than make another trip over
the falls.
81 was whirled about like top
and the water seemed to come in on
me in bucketfulls. l held tightly
to the handles and thought only of
preventing my head from striking
the top of the barrel. Once for a
moment | seemed to lose my senses.
| struck rocks three times. / made
the trip voluntarily, but would not
do it again for $l,000,000."
She announces frankly that her
feat was attempted for the sole pur-
pose of paying off mortgage on the
Western ranch and to make money
to provide for herself, which she will
do by exhibitions.