The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-03-25
OVER NIAGARA FALLS
Fate of a Schooner That WAS
Used as an Experiment.

Used as an Experiment.
SHE WAS DASHED TO PIECES.
A Thrilling Sight From the Time She
Struck the seethins Rapids Until
the Mighty Falls Tore Her Into
splinters-A Pair Of Tough Geese.
The following story Of the first pub
lie excursion to Niagara Falls was
written at the time by an eyewitness:
THE schooner Michigan was the
largest vessel on Lake Erie at that
time. She vas too large. in fact, to
enter the various harbors on the lake.
and, being somewhat decayed in her
uppers, the owner, Major Frazer. got
the idea that she would answer the
purpose Of testing the fate Of a vessel
that by accident might approach too
near the cataract and also the fate Of
living things that might be caught in
the rapids. The proprietors Of the
large public houses at the falls on both
sides Of the river and Of stages and
steamboats, made up a purse to pur-
chase the schooner, aware that they
would be amply repaid by the specta-
tors that the exhibition would attract.
For several days previous to Sept.
6, 1928, the day for which the affair
was fixed. which was Saturday, the
stages and canalboats came to Buffalo
crowded with people. On the night
Of Sept. s wagons filed with country
people ratified through the village in
unbroken procession all night long, and
on the morning Of Sept. 6 Buffalo it.
self seemed to be moving in one mass
toward the point Of attraction. Five
steamboats, had been advertised to
leave Buffalo Saturday morning. They
were the Henry Clay. William Penn,
Pioneer, Niagara and Chippewa. The
Chippewa was appointed to tow the
schooner Michigan to the Niagara river.
I was a passenger on her.
"As soon as we got we'll under way
the seem became interesting. The 9th
er four steamers came blowing along
in our wake. crowded to the guards
with passengers and bands Of music
playing. The Chippewa towed the big
schooner to Yale's landing. on the Can
ada side Of the Niagara river. where
u passengers went ashore. as did
those of the William Penn. The pas
sengers of the Henry Clay and Pho
neer landed on the American side.
Yale's Landing was three miles above
the falls, and the crowds Of people
were taken from there on down the
river in wagons Of all kinds. The hour
fixed for towing the Michigan from
Yale's Landing to the rapids was 8
In the afternoon.
"Thls task, an extremely hazardous
one, was intrusted to the Oldest sailor
on the lake. Captain Rough. With 4
yawl boat and five sturdy oarsmen the
old captain got the schooner unde,
way. They lowed her to within a quar-
ter of a mile Of the first rapids and
within half a mile Of the tremendous
precipice itself--as near as they dared
approach. They cut the big vesse
adrift. and she passed majestically on
while the oarSnen of the yawl had Il
bend their every nerve and muscle tt
remove themselves from the peril Of
being drawn down by the rushing wa
tiers. Indeed. such had been the feal
and apprehension of the men that they
mutinied against Captain Rough ane
cut the towiine before the time h,
had set. If they had obeyed the reck
less old captain, he. the yawl and it.
crew would have preceded the Michl
gan ove the falls.
"The high grounds on both shores o.
the river were lined with people as thu
Michigan. unguided by human agency
approached, head on. the first rapid o
the seething descent, apparently keep
ing the very course that a skillful nav
igator would have guided her in. Tn
American ensign streamed from he
bowsprit and the British jack f1oatet
at her stern. The vessel shot the frs
rapid unhurt, still head on, making
plunge. shipping a sea and rising iron
it in beautiful style. In her descent o
the second rapid. the water momenta
rily increasing In velocity and tumult
her towering masts went by the board
giving the spectators a startling repre-
sentation Of the crashing Of a vessel
spars in a shipwreck at sea. Sh
swung around and presented he
broadside to the dashing and foamini
water. and. after remaining, as it seem
ed, stationary for a moment, swun
around until she was headed upstream
"Passing the third rapid she bilged
but carried her hull to all appearance
whole as she tossed and groaned be
tween Grass island and the Births
shore to the Horseshoe fall, over whic
she was drawn sternforemost an