Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-03
THROUGH THE RAPIDS
The Man Who Wanted to See What
II Looked Like In a Film-The
Tragedy OF Niagara and
the Whirlpool
by GEORGE NOX MCCAIN

York had sent him up into the Pcrkiomcn
Valley, innocently, on n wild goose chase
to see me about It.
The man. who described himself as
sailor, had been informed that l possessed
n motion picture film Of barrel mariner
going through the whirlpool rapids below
Niagara Falls.
The stranger wanted to buy it. or borrow
it, to get an idea of what the trip was like.
He intended he said, making the journey
through the whirlpool himself.
| didn't have the flm. Never did have
It. The man left disappointed and sullen.
he thought that l was telling him an un-
truth.
1t was an oversight, but | neglected to
ask his name.
Ever since then have been waiting to
hear OF another Niagara whirlpool hero,
linked up with some movie 'drammer
risking his life for a little evanescent fame.
THE above incident was recalled by the
l. Associated Press dispatch of Sunday
last, telling Of the death OF Anna L. Taylor.
She died in an infrmary at Lockport,
\. Y, Saturday.
being the only woman who ever went over
Niagara Falls and through the whirlpool
and survived.
One other woman made the attempt, but
was killed.
Mrs. Taylor was severely injured, but
|
eight years Of age.
OF those who have attempted the fool.
hardy feat only one was, or claimed to be,
actuated by any motive except personal
notoriety or prospect of gain on the museum
stage.
LIS name was Peter Nissen, n Dane. who
II assumed the nom m-de- plume of Bow
He was a Chicago bookkeeper.
He claimed that ~ n cioi ont
| prise line of steel boats running through
the whirlpool rapids might be q financial
success. He made the trip to demonstrate
his theory on July 8, 1900, in a specially
designed craft.
The popularity about his wild eyed
scheme was that he apparently never con
sidered the matter Of the return trip of the
boat
CAPTAIN MATTHEW WEBB. the great
~ English swimmer. who had successfully
swum the English Channel, was, so far as
known. the first victim of the whirlpool
rapids.
His remark, as be looked down from the
shore on the frightful current one afternoon
in July, 1883, 'Jt's n rum bit of water"
proved only too true so far as he was con
cerned.
Webb perished on the Oath Of July. 1883.
lie tried to swim through the roaring tor
rent.
He fought this mighty power of nature
naked, unprotected by any armor or safety
device
Those who came after him went through.
dead or alive, in specially constructed bar
rels or boats
The romance and tragedy of Niagara and
the Whirlpool Rapids are not confined to the
death defying' leapers and barrel in
cased fools.
Numbers of people caught in the current
| OF Niagara River above the falls have gone
hn hri nj in thn lap,
Thrilling rescues have been made that
| were witnessed by thousands from the
wooded shores of the Canadian or American
side of the falls.
twenty five years ago the number of
| fatalities that occurred at Niagara so
aroused public interest that Governor Black
of New York, was appealed to to do some.
thing.
J. S. Macklen, an inventor, suggested
| that light wire cable be stretched across
the river just above the danger line Of navi-
| CATION.
The cable was to carry a rubber or metal
| tube for an electric light wire 10 which
bulbs for night illumination were to be at.
| tachcd at intervals.
Another scheme suggested was TO have n
| powerful electric tug ever on duty, with life
| lines, stationed above the falls ready to
rush to the relief of victims of the current
| THE cataract of Niagara has strange
| - fascination Tor some people.
| 1t is 20 powerful that persons of n Ger.
| tain temperament or mental makeup are
! irresistibly drawn to death in the waters
Only few. years back the head of n
widely known and wealthy Philadelphia
brewery company committed suicide by
! punging into the river above the falls
Of all the unfortunotes who have sought n
suicides death by plunging over the falls
the most remarkable occurred Just ninety
years ago the coming July.
For several days before the tragedy n
young man registered at n hotel as WI
liam Clnridge. lie was, he said awaiting
the arrival of his wife.
He was from Cincinnati. His wife, a
Spanish lady. was coming from Cuba to
join him at the Falls
She arrived on the third day by stage a
beautiful dark skinned girl rather poorly
dressed She was rapturousy greeted by
the man.
They dined together thar evening and
LETT as they said, for a stroll to view the
falls by moonlight
dian side distinctly saw, as he afterward
testified, a man and Il woman leap over III,
American falls from Prospect Point.
Their bodies were found three days later
near the whirlpool
II was never discovered who tbev woro
rs no papers or letters were found by wbicl
they could be identified. The name ClarIdp,
was fictitious,
A MOTHER romantic Niagara suicide wa,
n that OF Mrs. james Willman formcrh
Glidden. of Williamsport in June 1850
She was woman Of striking appearanc,
about forty years Of age.
Twenty years before she had marr;o,
James Willman, the natural son of ,
wealthy bachelor of that name, who left III,
son large fortune.
He shortly afterward developed tubcrcu.
losis and leaving his bride started for IN,
Riviera in n vain attempt to regain nj
health.
For twenty years he was a wondorc.
his wife meantime remaining with he
mother, who had removed to Chicago
She had gone to Niagara Falls 10 moo
her husband, who was coming home from
one OF his long trips completely broken !,
health. -
He died on the train before it rcocbo,
Buffalo. ~
Leaving her dead alone that night Mr..
Whitman ordered carriage and was drivr
to the falls, '''
She dismounted and before the rooci,r,o,