The New York herald., 1921-03-09
Braved Niagara in Vain.
Mrs. Taylor Got Little Profit From
Going Over the Falls.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD: | read
with deep interest your editorial article
about the pitiful ending Of the life ef-
forts OF Mrs. Annie Edison Taylor. the
woman who went over Niagara Falls
in a barrel on October "a. 1901. Well
acquainted with this heroic woman,
find the article absolutely correct. One
sentence, however. fails to do full JUS
tice to her act
A trained nurse, she took up physical
training, and for a time ran school
in Asheville, n. c. Lack of caDitai
resulted in the failure OF the venture.
The needs Of an invalid mother. to
whom she was deeply attached. and
whose only support she was. forced her
to accept any suggestion likely TO re-
suit in profit
Her home was in Lockport and
man there led her to believe that trip
over Niagara Falls in a barrel would
result in large profits, even though she
lost her life He promised to act as her
publicity agent and secure subscriptions
from the hotels, newspapers, saloons
and similar business concerns which
would gain by the crowds that her at
tempt would draw she accepted his
proposal.
She succeeded in getting q cooper to
make her q barrel on credit. For
weight to place in one end of the oarrei
to keep 1t upright she got worn-out
anvil as a gift from a neighboring
blacksmith. For want Of money to pay
for Its proper installation in her oarrei
she had to rely on q bed OF cement
enclosing It. which she trusted would
retain its position but II failed, and the
anvil crushed her in its tumbling 70
and fro.
The local authorities forbade the at
tempt and threatened with arrest any
one who should assist her. She finally
prevailed upon a couple OF CANADIAN
fishermen to tow her in her barrel out
into the stream, release It and disap-
pear. They did 50, but through fear OF
detection did not tow the barrel out az
FAR into the current as caution would
s',tate The result was that the barrel
FOR n time stuck on a rock near the
brink OF the falls. This was the most
narrowing moment Of her experience.
she could feel the barrel roll from
side to side, at each roll hoping u would
work free. only 10 have il roll back TO
It's former position There was no pro-
vision for admission Of air and II was
through the gradual exhaustion OF the
oxygen that she lost consciousness She
was conscious OF the final release of the
barrel and the rush of ,ts final plunge
! Very few we're aware Of her protested
attempt. Fortunately for her follow
townsman with a camera happened 70
be on the point Of rock below the falls
to which her barrel was dragged and
snapped an exposure at the moment q
her extricatlon from her prison. The
negative he was kind enough TO present
TO her, and this negative was her only
return from her venture.
4 Half dead she was taken TO the home
OF n Canadian carpenter, and there she
\ lay for fortnight. lowering between
Y life and death. When she recovered
her host presented bill for her care
the amount Of which staggered her and
4 the doctor who attended her presented
an equally staggering bill.
She had absolutely no money and heI
agent had disappeared. taking her barre
with him. a month or SO later friend