The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1883-08-31 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE DEATH ROLL OF NIAGARA. Dr. Richardsea, decibel as " a Canadian g, ntleman of means, scientrfic attainments, and inventive mind," has co .structed cn app eratus, by the aid of which he intend's going over Niagara Fails. He has arranged everything nicely, even to the spot where he intends to land after having made the descent, brit his frien is ar3 not ov rrweeuiriely c infi dent. The melancholy death of Captain Webb has led to the publication in one of the New York j rurnals of a record of the most memorable incidents and disasters connected with the Niagara Falls. borne of these fatal and romantic incidents we shall briefly reproduce. The 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. For 50 feet he fell like a plummet. He then began 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 skirts together for the plunge. In another came a man calmly undressed and went into the flood, strongly and deliberately swimming to the gid y verge. A brave swimmer tried to rescue him, but the man who Fought death sped onwards to it with rapidity on seeing he was followed. Ho 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 d ruble suicide, the couple being a middle-aged man and woman, about whom there had been some scandal, and who resolved to give the world still more to talk about in their death than they had done in their life. An ingenious Yankee once showed how the dive might be made in perfect safety. In taking the jump he wore a harness over his shod l lers. To it was attached a wire, running loosely over a cylinder on the bridge. That kept his feet downwards, and he successfully accomplished the leap, afterwards reaping considerable profits by the transaction. Terrible 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 mornine. R rand the neck was a rope, sightly drawn and knotted at the back, au,: the end frayed. In the head was a bullet hole, Acurious question of identity are, Iconcerning the man. who had thus met with a foul end. It seems that one O. L. Rowell had registered recently at an hotel, an! had complained of the loss of 800 dollars. His room hid not been slept in, and his cl,,thes were found on the bank. The coroner's jury fount that the body was Rowell's, but net long aft rwaris Rowell himself trailed up. It was then thought the body belonged to one Close. The description answered accurately, but it was not Close, as was conclusively proved by hie appearance in the fish en I his subsequent disappearance to evade a criminal charge. It was afterwards sought, but in vain, to identify the corpse with one Raymond, and it went unrecoguised. Stranee accidents are also reported. A lade stooped ti pluck a flower on the brink of Table Rock, and was taken up dead frem the ro drs below. Another lady stooped for a cup of water, lost her balance, and was out of reach and over the Falls almost before her amaz husband knew what had happen° I. In 1875 a very sad and foolish accident occurred. An engaged couple went behind the Falls, into the Cave of the Winds, without a guide. The ledy actually sought to bathe in a pool which er en the guides never visited. Her liver loot his life in endeavouring ti save hers, One very pathetic and dramatic incident is recorde 1. A young man caught up a charming child, who was watching the tumbling waves, "Now, Lizzie," he playfully sei.l, " I am going to them yen into the water," an I he eveueg her backwards and f arwarde. The child rcreamed, struggle a and slipped from his hands, lie gazed after her, and, realising what he had done, leaped into the torrent. Rescue, of course, was hopeless, and he perished. Remarkable escapee have now and again been rec rded. Orate was that of a murderer. The sheriff was c'ose behind him, the river in front, and only the wires of the old bridge at L ,wibt in to help him across. Hand over hand he began the passage. His hands quickly blistered, and then they bled. Again and again he rested his arms by henging by his legs. At length he reached the opposite bank, and lay panting full an hour before he continue 1 his flight On one occasion a painter was at work on Sec ind Sister's Island, when he fell into the water. He was carrie 1 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 bring hurried along towards the Rapids, when he threw out a little anclarr he had with him. It seemed like playing for his life with grim death as he heard the 'anchor bump continually agaitut the rocks without grounding. At 1 ngth his fearful anxiety was relieve 1 by its ca ching a grip, but all the night through the boatman was tossed about while he held the anchor-rope, When morning dawned he was saved by those on shore.