The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1883-09-01 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

THE DEATH ROLL OF NIAGARA.  The melancholy death of Captain Webb ham led to the publication in one of the New York journals of a record of the most memorable incidents and disasters c.innected with the Niagara Fade. Some of these fatal and romantic incidents we shall briefly reproduce. The number of suicides at the falls had been very large. On oae occasion a man leaped from the bridge. 19'2 feet, into the current, a id 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 lifeleis on the water. A WOlll4ll who committed suicide tested the current by throwing in her parasol before gathering her skirts together for the plunge. In another case a man calmly undressed and went into the flood, strongly and deliberately swimming to the giddy verge. A brave swimmer trfetl to rescue him, but the man who sought death sped onwards to it with rapidity, on seeing he wa3 followed. He was soon where it was not necessary for him to put forth another stroke. The torrent caught him, and lie was at once beyond help. On one occasion there was a doable 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 shoulders. To it was attached a wire, running loosely over a cylinder on the bridge. That kept is feet downwards, and lie successfully accomplished the leap, afterwards reaping conaiderable 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 aud knotted at the back, and the end frayed. In the head was e bullet hole. A curione question of identity arose concerning the mau who had thus met with a foul end. It seems that one O. L. Rowell had regis. tered recently at a hotel, and had complained of t'vt loss 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, bat not long afterwards Rowell himself turned up. It was then th .ug,ht the body belonged to one Close. The description answered accurately, but it was not Close, as was conclusively proved by hi appearance in the flesh and 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 unrecognised. Strange accidents are also reported. A lady stooped to pluck a flower on the brink of Table Rock, anal was taken up dead from the rocks below. Another lady stooped for a cup of water, lost her balance, and wan out of reach and over the Falls almost before her amazed husband knew what had happened. In 1875 a very sad anal foolish accident occur, ed. Au engaged couple went behind the Falls, into the Cave of the Winds, without a guide. The lady actual!y sought to bathe iii a pool which even the guides never visited. Her lover lost Ins 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 tumbling waves. " Now, Lizzie," he plaa fully said, "I am going to throw you into the water, and lie swung her backwards and forwards. The child screamed, struggled, anal slipped [morn his hands. He gazed after her, aud, realising what he had alone, leaped into the torrent. Rescue, of course, was hopeless, and lie perished. Remarkable escapes have now mid again been recorded. One was that of a murderer. The Sheriff was close behind him, the river in front, anal only the wires of the old bridge at Lewiston to help him across. Hand over hand he began the passage. His hands quickly blistered, mei then they bled. Again anal again he rested his arms by hanging by his legs. At length lie reached the oppanita bank, anal lay panting fully an hour before lie emit:Lineal his flight. On one occasion a painter was at work on Second Sister's Island, when lie fell into the water. He was carried towards the Fulls, anal when only 40rt. from them, caaight on a rock. After a time of tea- i able anxiety he was saved by ropes manipulated from the shore. A boatman was being hurried along towards the Rapids, w lieu he threw out a little anchor he bad with him. It seemed like playing for his life with grim death as he heard the anchor bump c.nitinually 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 lie held the anchor rope. When morning dawned he was saved by those on shore.  MR.