The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-20
PtoIemy, Aged 100 Years, Dropped
over Niagara.
From the Buffalo Express.

PtoIemy, Aged 100 Years, Dropped
over Niagara.
From the Buffalo Express.
No living creature had ever until a
few weeks ago passed over Niagara
Falls and been known to come out
alive The feat has at last been per-
formed by a crocodile.
This animal is a fine Egyptian croco-
ollie, bearing the name of Ptolemy. He
is now over 100 years old. He is a
splendid swimmer, has a cool head and
a hide so tough that a rock would not
hurt him.
At o'clock on a cool morning Ptol-
emy's cage was placed on a wagon. to
which two mules were attached. Fiji
teen of the showmen. who didn't at all
like the idea of getting up at that hour
of the morning, manned the wagon,
which set out at a good pace from
Echota, twentythree miles from Buff
falo. Echota is the first station this
side of the Falls. The morning sun
was shining when Ptolemy and his es-
cort reached the river banks. 1t is a
two-and a-half- mile pull to Navy ISL
and, in the middle of the river, but in
Canadian waters.
Two skiffs and a naphtha launch
were in readiness for the party. Ptol-
envy was transferred to box and the
box loaded in one of the rowboats.
Ptolemy behaved with his customary
sangfroid, and seeing that it was early
settled down for another doze.
The lessee of the island. C. w.
Woodcock and his son awaited the ar
rival of Ptolemy, to bid him bon voy-
age, and. incidentally, to have a look
at the first crocodile they had ever
seen.
The Niagara looked most beautiful
that morning. Ptolemy was the calm
est member of the party. The gentle
men in waiting helped him out, careful
ly avoiding his very wide and eager
mouth and his powerful tail.
Then he was released. invited to get
on board a large log, which he did
that being his favorite situation. The
log was towed out by the naphtha
launch until it was well in the current
1t was now certain that the log would
go over the falls and 1t was released,
and the launch fought its way back.
Drifting with the stream.
Ptolemy did not show the least alarm
at the rapid drifting of the log. 1t is
his habit to drift with the stream. the
greatest pleasure of his life. After
awhile the current becoming more tur-
bulent, rolled the log over, and Ptol-
envy found himself in the water. He
continued to drift.
Far down the river the watchers OBJ
served him as he came to the surface
from time to time. A stick drifted by
his side. Ptolemy caught 1T in his
mouth This helped the observers to
follow him.
Soon the waters grew choppy. Ptol-
envy was among the whtecaps. This
kept him under water most of the time.
So powerful a swimmer might have
made progress toward the banks, but
Ptolemy did not try to. Thoughts come
slowly to crocodiles. He preferred to
go straight on. He had never seen the
falls. Perhaps they interested him.
The tremendous fan was to be a great
surprise to him.
The current carried him on the
American side of the falls. In twelve
minutes after he was started on his
journey Ptolemy swept over the
mighty catar~ It.
At this me lent even Ptolemy was
aroused out of his usual calmness.
With a mighty effort he raised him
self partly out of the water and waved
his arms wildly in the air. He opened
his mighty jaws and closed them with
a snap of despair.
Then he passed over the great falls,
which have power 10 light the whole
United States. He had to fall not only
1874 feet, the hight of the falls, but to
go down into the tremendous hole
which the water has followed out be-
meath by its ages long falling.
Would he come out alive? 1t SEEM
ed impossible. Mr.. Bostock thought he
would. The attendants were betting
their pay that he wouldn't.
Meantime, as soon as the shore had
been reached, a dozen men had been
hurried to the river below the falls ana
picketed where they would see him
when he swan into smooth water, IL
he ever reached that haven.
The patrol was on both sides of the
river 1t was thought from the place
where he passed over that he would
reappear where the eddies would carry
him toward the American side.
To reach the river side at this point
II was necessary to follow a footpath
little used because of its dangerous in
cline. Three hundred feet of wire rope
was secured and fastened to a tree
at the top of the cliff.
BY holding on TO this one could make
his way to the edge Of the water.
Ptolemy went into the river at $3.50
O'Clock When an hour had passed, and
there was no evidence OF his appear
ance below the falls, even Mr.. Bostock
lost hope.
Ptolemy. every one thought, had been
crushed against the rocks, and pound
ed a jelly.
Still the pickets watched. Every float
ing piece of tree was followed until 1t
was positively identified. Mr.. Bostock
thought he'd like TO get the body at
any rate.
It was close to o'clock when joey