New-York tribune., 1912-02-11
Hazards of Niagara
River Duck Hunting

A field Of solid fee like this is not so
dangerous, as the the duck-punt. always
fitted with runners, can be easily pulled
across It TO the upper side and launched
again in open water. But jam Of broken
ice offers no such means of escape. 1t Is
this latter that has carried more than one
poor hunter down 10 a terrible rate MOI
many years ago, two men were observed
I'm a duck boat trying desperately to row
out OF a running ice jam which had carried
them down the Canadian channel from far
up the river. Their terrified efforts were
closely followed by a man with spy
glass. who had discovered them from the
windows OF one of the large shore factor
les on the American side. The unfortunate
men had already drifted too near the first
roaring cataract 10 admit of any possible
rescue. so the watcher could only help
iessly wait for their pitiful death.
In describing the incident afterward, he
said: God, what could do TO help them
what could any man do? The Almighty
alone seemed to hold them In his power.
One man seemed TO be wrenchlng MS
shoulders from their sockets with the oars'
the other stood in the stern, desperately
plying a pike pole. An oar broke, ana was
replaced by a third. The man didn't lose
a second in its replacement. Then, in
mighty stroke, the other oar went ana he
fell sprawling back in the boat. He stood
up, pulled the good oar from its pin, and
began padding insanely from the side.
'"rhey made little progress. Slowly the
great field Of ice swept them down. down
toward those snaring, angry cataracts be-
low. I writhed in agony before the hope
less vision. Into the rapids swept the fore
mart Of the ice lam. Then tho first great
wave seemed to rise up and hoverAungrily
over the little boat Both men saw II ana
rushed toward each other. Locked In each
others arms they disappeared into the
curling swell. That was the last ! saw OF
them"
Another case is recorded Of hunter who
once started out to shoot from an island
three miles above the falls. Not long after
ward he was seen walking across the
bridge from Goat Island TO the American
shore. his clothing wringing wet Accord
ing to his story he had difted down In the
clutches Of an ice jam, but had fortunately
passed near the upper end of Goat Island.
TO which he had swum and walked in the
fairly shallow currents. A similar case oc-
/
to the lodged trunk of tree that had
dehed the ice and swift water OF the
American channel After spending severa!
hours in this refuge, he was finally brought
ashore by means Of rope which was
| flung out to him.
| Niagara also plays the death trap to
| hunted as we'll as hunters. Hundreds OF
wildfowl are swept each year over the
falls. During densely foggy nights strange
ducks often stop to roost In the upper
waters OF the river Drifting unconsciously
| toward the brink, they are suddenly hurled
down into the abyss OF plunging water.
Too terrified to take wing and quickly en-
/ gulfed by the spray, they plunge into the
gorge. and are either killed outright or
| stunned, to receive wounds that keep them
heiplessy in thu gaters below for days
and weeks. Afer the formation of the
ice bridge SeSny of these unfortunate birds
are waASed up on the ice where they are
quickly gathered up by the little group OF
souvenir sellers and saloon men who erect
| shacks on the path across to Canada
| These men string lines of such ducks in
front Of their ramshackle stores and over
the bars OF their saloons. 1t proves both
an attractive advertisement and adds
slightly to their source of income. as they
dispose of the ducks whenever possible.
Here, for the liquor seller. there is no
apparent license Sundays as well as any