The Blackpool Herald. — 1883-09-07 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

THE DEATH ROLL OF NIAGARA.  The melancholy death of Captain Webb has led to the publication in one of the New York journals of a record of the most memorable incidents and disasters connected with the Niagara Falls. Some 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 man leaped from the bridge, 192 feet, into the current, and is to believed to have died before reaching the water. For 50 feet he feel 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 iu her parasol before gathering her skirts together for the plunge. In another cases man calmly undressed and went into the flood, strongly and deliberately swim ming to the giddy verge. A brave swimmer tried to rescue him, but the man who sought death sped onwards to it with rapidity on seeing he was followed. He 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 middle•aged man and woman, about whom there been some scandal, and who resolved to give the world still more to talk about in their death than they had done in there 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 shoulders. 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, after wards reaping considerable profit 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 morning. Round the neck was a rope, tightly drawn and knotted at the back, and the end frayed. In the head was a bullet hole. A curious question of identity arose concerning the man who had thus met with a foul end. It seems that one 0. L. Rowell had registered recently at an hotel, and had complained of the less of 800 dollars. His room had not been slept in, and his clothes were found on the bank. The coroner's jury found that the body was Rowell's, but not long afterwards Rowell himself turned 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 his appearance in the flesh and his subsequent disappearance to evade a charge. It was afterwards sought, but in vain, to identify the corpse with one Raymond, and it went unrecognised. Strange accidents are also reported. A lady stooped to pluck a flower on the brink of Table Rock, and was taken up dead from the rocks below. Another lady stooped for a cup of water, lost her balance, and was out of reach and over the Falls almost before her amazed husband knew what had happened. 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 lady actually sought to bathe in a pool which even the guides never visited. Her lover lost his life in endeavouring to save hers. One very pithetic and dramatic incident is recorded. A young man caught up a charming child, who was watching the tumbling waves. ,Now, Lizzie,"he playfully said, ' „ I am going to throw you into the water," and he swung her backwards and forwards. The child struggled, and slipped from his hands. He gazed after her, and, realising what he had done leaped into the torrent. Rescue, of course, was hope less, and he perished. Remarkable escapes have now and again been recored. One was that of a murderer. The Sheriff was close behind him, the river in front, and only the as ires of the old bridge at Lewiston to help him across. Hand over hand he began the passage. His hands quickly blistered, and then they bled. Again and again he restored his arms by hang, ing by his legs. At length he reached the opposite bank, and lay panting fully an hour before he continued his flight. On one occasion a painter was at work on Second Sister's Island, when he fell into the water. He was carried towards the falls, and when only 401 t. from them, caught on a rock. After a time of terrible anxiety he was saved by ropes manipulated from the shore. A boatman 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 against the rocks without grounding. At length his fearful anxiety was relieved by its catching a grip, but all night through the boatman was tossed about while he held the anchor rope. When morning dawned he was saved by those on shore. 7 YBARS  CFNTRAL Brace near the  (A