Bridgend Chronicle, Cowbridge, Llantrisant, and Maesteg Advertiser. — 1883-08-31 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE DEATH ROLL OF NIAGARA. The melancholy death of Captain Webb has led to the publication in one of the New York irurnals of a record of the most memorable incidents and disasters connected with the Niagara Falls. Some of these fatal arid 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 behoved 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 akirts together for the plunge. In another case a man calmly undreased and went into the flood, strongly and deliberately swimming 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 hire, and he was at once beyond help. On one oecasion there was a double 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 ttie dive might be made in perfect safety. In taking the jump he wore a harness over his shoulders. 'fo it was attached a wire, running loosely seers cylinder on the bridge. That kept his feet downwards, and he successfully accomplished the leap, afterwards reaping considerable profit by the transaction. Terrible crimes have taken place at the Falb,. 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 arms concerning the man who had thus met with a foul end. It seemsthat one O. L. Rowell had registered recently at an hotel, and had complained of the loss of am dollars. His room had not been slept in, and his clothes were found on the bank. Tire. 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 criminal charge. It was afterwards sought. but in vain, to identify the corpse with one Raymond, and it went unrecognised. Strange eccidents are also reported. A lady stooped to pluck a flower on the brink of Table Rock, and was hikes up dead from the rocks below. Another lady stooped for a cup of writer, lost her balance, and wax 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 Fails, into the Cave a 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 pathetic and dramatic incident is re. corded. A young man c-aught up a charming child, who was watching the tumbling waves.! "Now, Lizzie," he playfully said, "I am going to thrdw you into the water” and he swung her back-I wardsand forwards. The child screamed,struggled, and slipped out of his hands. He gazed after her,! and realising what he had done, leaped into the torrent. Rescue, of course, was hopeless, and he perished. Remarkable escapes have now and again been recorded. One was that of a murderer. The sheriff was close behind him, the river in front, and only the wires of the old bridge at Lewiston to help him across. Hand over hand he began th, passage. His hands quickly blistered, rind 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 full 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. frets them caught on a rock. After a time ot terrible anxiety lie 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 enchor bump continually against the rocks without groundini. At length his fearful anxiety was relieved by Its catching a grip, but all night through the boatmen was toaeed about while lie held the anchor rope. When the morning dawned he was saved by those on shore.