The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-13

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~ ~ Siaeafa HlyHf hes ~ T~rlal I~fih
hH u = . popahaF stust IN fsrt, y Aas
isaf sssi IN = IUrntas Ssy ihai M msiieF
tyw nua,nRHta enc ilseAa me- te Tho NsIo
hetNeea hMted aad hunters n sidoW huWst
thas ~ . thfeH hHsfeYs lsf svefy eild
foNi IN NJ Niansfs hlerV fhH nHfutsf N
stpetafmaH'a csbina @Hte ~ wtich a. eveH
flshi@t W slnrtrlelty Nse algna ~ AnssFis
csn ahssa NJ ~ river IN two W ihfvs mfiss
ahove 60 falls lands aipeost " th'a fsess
nsae
IN early san me- swift aad shallov wateys
N NIaeafa present ahunaanee n fssdina
sFguads En- en- oAavaabaeh. mallafd, seaput
and blaeh duct, witch, havlna ~i1umefed
N The isrtllp Isles NJ nos,hefn Csnada,
ace IN thrlr way soaahward Tbs bisda
ars esgoaed m a danger seen nicFe deadly
than that presented ~ IN Nwn ofthe huaser
ibfrlne ~ drnasly foaay nights whlch occas
sioaaliy prevali m the Hiaaafs River The
Wrestling hcch. unas,e ~ go q foot ahead,
may drf ~lnnoceAtiy down steam, until
std,lenly the water gives way beneath ~
Thea, paniysed ~ fear. the eutire flock
h aWep, over the brink, 10 10 enaulfsd
N stray and mia, and plunged lrreaiatibly
Into Tho deep. foamlna water Of the bass of
the cataract. This sens % bs the only
explanation for the preesncs Of hundreds
Of iiseieez birds found IN The waters ~ the
lower aorge On different occasions.
That q duck should survive. even IN o
malmesi and stunned condition, after being
pr~ecipItated from O height Of ieO feet. seems
we'll pish impossible. Yet II has been
affirmed by hunters who dwell 10 the lower
NIAGARA gorge that on mornings following
unusually ioggy nights they have taken
from the Nnall eddles and wbirlpools, which
exiet on both sties 81 the lower river, ae
many as two or three hundred ducks, come
Of which were alive. but were 90 stunfed and
crippled that no trouble was experienced
In capturing them. Theee cTipplos, they
said, undoubtedly were strangers which.
having taken the gofge a. q passageway
from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie. became
| blinded By che mist on approaching the
falls during nocturnal flight and were sud
denly wrenched from the air by the ava
| lanche Of water 10 be swept helplessly down
into the abyss below.
It seems possible that some Of these
| occasionally escape with their hves. Ere
| ouently ] have seen wildfowl swimming
| aimlessly around In the current, just q
| trihe out from the base OF the American
| Falls. Some Of these were actually too
weak and stunned to swim outside the range
Of a stones throw.
The fact that these poor creatures were
the remnant OF som Iii fated flock is prac-
tically certain, as there lie no cunning done
in the immediate vicinity Of the gorge;
and these birds, although crippled in flight
and not in swimming, certainly could not
have swum up stream through the turbulent
waters Of the gorge.
Last winter a great deal Of interest was
aroused among tourists by a small dock
of whietlers which fed day after day in
the American channel between Goat Island
and Prospect Point. Less than four yards
above the brink OF the American Falls, in
a spot where the torrent seemed 10 be gath
ering itself up for the inevitable leap, this
little flock Of birds daily obtained Its food.
True, the lock wac Sheltered from the
| ~syiftest impetus OF the current by a lodged
cake of Zoe; but, even so, 1t was plainly
evident that to keep from sliding over
required the ~exertion of all the strength
IN their padding gears and the utmost,
unceasing vigilance. Once, while observ-
ne this flock from a point on the American
shore, I saw a venturesome young drake
dive below the surface. to reappear sud-
denly on the very verge Of the cataract;
and only by taking fight did he extricate
his body from the pulling, sliding water,
as it leaped far out into the chasm,
know OF but one maj who Is said to have
seen a luck swept over the falls. In de-
scribing the incident he said:
while viewing the Canadian cataract
from a point on Coat Island, my attention
was suddenly arrested by a large wildfowl
which, through the spyglass. gave every
evidence OF belonging to the goose or brant
family,
my curiosity being fully aroused, ]
anxiously followed the manuuvres Of this
reckless fellow who would frollo 30 with
dangerous and indomitable nature, and to
nv establishment l plainly beheld him
swimming %strenuously with the madly
tossing current, as II with suicidal intent,
toward the vortex Of the Horse Shoe Falls.
Then, with head proudly erect, he sailed
neatly, and without q single effort lat sell
preservation, over the VERGE
Niagara cares little whether her victims
be hunted or hunter. As she deals with
waterfowl, 80 also she deals with man;
and many a duck hunter has paid for his
@AhN s4Ao-s
sport with his life.
Many tales Of hairbreadth escapes and
daring rescues are told by hunters some
times. One is rescued from his boat, as he
floats helplessly down stream In the clasp
Of an loo jam. The field Of ice is caught by
the current and swung in coward shore,
where the escuer throws the hunter a
rope.
Another's luck Is far less, for, being
unobserved, he is compelled to chance his
! life in swimming as he passes some nearest
point on shore. Few such hunters reach
their destination.
Some years ago two duck hunters were
seen out in the centre OF the river drifting
slowly down stream In their boat, which
was held in a huge field Of lake Ice. Grad
ually they neared the first tumbllng cata-
raot.
They rowed frantically. but it was useless;
the large pieces Of lake ice bore continually
down on them and dragged their light duck
boat down stream. Finally one was seen
to mount the bow seat Of the craft and
poise as il intending to leap into the ice and
water.
The other seemed to divine his purpose
and caught him around the waist. Thus
struggling desperately In each others arms
the two were swept over the cataract.
A hunter once told me that he had been