Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1883-08-31 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

THE DEATH ROLL OF NIAGARA.  Dr. Richardsou, checribed as " a Canadian gentleman of means, ementiiic attaiumeuts, and inventive mind," has °obstructed an apparatus, by the aid of watcti he inteude going over Niagara Fans. He has arrauged everything nicely, even to the spot where he int mud to laud after having made the descent, hot his triends are not ov..rweteriugly c mlident. Tne melancholy death of Captaie Webb has led to the publication su one of the New York j mimeds of a record of tue most memorable inciden.e and disasters connected witn the Niagara Falls, bruise ut these fatal and romantic incidents we shall briefly reproduce. Tne number of suicides at the Falls has been very large. On one occasion a wan leaped from the bridge, 192 feet, into the current, and is believed to have died before reaching the water. Fur 50 feet he fell like a plummet. Ile then begau to turn over, and dropped apparently lifeless on the water. A woman who committed suicide tested the current by throwing in her parasol before gathering her Ante together for the , plunge. In another GNI* a man calmly undressed and went into the flood, strongly and deliberately swimming to the gir.Fy verge. A brave swimmer tried to rescue Wm, but the man who sought death sped onwards to it with rapidity on seeing he was followed, hie was soon where it was not necessary for him to put forth another stroke. The torrent caught him, and he was at once beyond help. On one occasion there was a double suicide, the couple being a noiddle-aged men and woman, about whom there had been some scaudal, arid who resolved to give the world still more to talk about in their death than they had bone in their life, Au ingeniotte Yankee once showed how the dive might be made in perfect safety. In taking the jump he wore a harness over his shoulders. To it was attached a wire, running loosely over a cylinder on the bridge, That kept his feet downwards, and he successfulty neon. plished the leap, afterwards reaping considerable profits by the transaction. Teirible crimes have taken place at the Falls. One, comparatively recent, has never been solved. A body, with a handkerchief over the face, was found one morning. R tund the neck was a rope, tightly drawn and knotted at the back, and the end frayed. lathe head was a bullet hole, Acurious question of identity aroselconcerning the man. who had thus met with a foul eml. It seems tnat one 0. L. Rowell had registered recently at an hotel, and had complained of the loss of 800 dollars. His room hid not been slept in, and hie clothes were found on the bank. The coroner's jury found that the body was Rowell's, but at long afterwards Rowell himself turned up. It was than thought the body belonged to one Close. The deecription answered accurattly, but it was not Close, as was conclusively proved by his appearance in the flesh and his eub-equent disappearance to evade a criminal chargo. It was afterwards sought, but in vain, to identify the c)rpse with one Raymund, and it went unrecognissci. Strange accidents are also reported. A lady stooped t pluck a flower on the brink of Table Rock, and was taken up dead from the ro As below. Another lady stooped for a cup of water, lost her balance, and was out of I reach and over the Falls almost before her amsz td husband knew what had happens'. In 1875 a very ' sad and foolieh accident occurred. Au engaged couple went behind the Fads, into the Cave of the Winds, without a guide. The lady actually soqght to bathe in a pool which even the guides never visited. Her :over lost his life in endeavouring to save hers. One very pathetic and dramatic incident is recorded. A young man caught up a charming child, who was watching the tutnb!ing waves, "Now, Lizzie," he playfully said, "I am going to throw you into the water," an I he swung her backwards and forwards. The chill screamed, struggle I. and slipped from his hands. He gazed after her, and, realisiog what he had done, leaped into the torreut. Rescue, of mune, was hopeless, and he perished. Remarkable eseepes have now and again been rec ,rded. Ode was that of a murderer. The sheriff was come behind him, the river in front, and only the wires of the old bridge at Lawist m to help him across. Hand ovee hand he began the passage. His hands quickly blistered, aud then they bled. Again and again he rested his arms by hanging by his legs. At length he reached the opposite bank, and lay panting fall an hour before he continued his flight. On one occasion a painter was at work on Sec rod Sister's Island, when he fell into the water. He was csrried towards the Falls, and when only 40ft from them caught on a rock. After a time of terrible anxiety he was saved by ropes manipulated from the shore. A batman was being hurried along towards the Rapids, when he threw out a little anchor he had with him. It seemed like playing for his life with grim death as he heard the anchor bump continually againet the rooks without grounding. At hdigth his fearful anxiety was relieve I by its crechiog a grip, but all the night through the boatman was teased about while he held the anchor.rope. Warm morning dawned he was saved by those on shore.