Niagara Falls 



1E69 The author's visit to Niagara was in 1833. In his reminiscences he 



Neal gives a humorous account of writing the poem entitled the Battle of 



Niagara before he had ever seen the Falls. 



1871 



1871 First impressions of America. (Leisure hr., June 3, 1871. 20:- 



344_346.) 



1871 Niagara. (Hist, mag., Jan., 1871. 2d ser., 9:79.) 



It is a standing tradition of the Niagara Indians, shared to a 

 great extent now by the white people in the vicinity of the Falls, 

 that the " Great Spirit," or Thunderer of Waters, must have, 

 annually, four victims sacrificed to his power. Curiously enough, 

 a year seldom passes during which at least four persons are not 

 drowned, either in the Falls or the whirlpool, below. This year, 

 an old man of more than seventy years stepped into the breakers, 

 above the Falls, and loosing his hold, was swept over the fright- 

 ful cataract. At De Vaux College, a student, daring his com- 

 panions to wade into the whirlpool, was sucked into its terrific 

 eddies, and instantly disappeared, to be seen no more. A few 

 days afterward, a drunken father adventured with his two 

 children and a reprobate companion, into a boat, above the 

 rapids, and, in their drunken orgies, the little ones were thrown 

 out and drowned, though the two drunken wretches escaped. 

 So far, therefore, the Indians believe, implicitly, in the fourfold 

 sacrifice; and each year's disasters confirm their belief. 



1871 A wrestle with Niagara. (Every Sat, Aug. 1 2, 1 871 . 11:1 67.) 



A graphic and detailed description, by an eye witness, of attempts to 

 rescue a man from the rapids and their ultimate failure. 



1871 A wrestle with Niagara. (Lit. liv. age, Aug. 19, 1871. 110: 

 509-511.) 



1872 



1872 GARCZYNSKI, R. E. Niagara. (In Bryant, William Cullen, ed. 

 Garczynskl Picturesque America. N. Y.: Appleton. (1872) (1:432-451.) 



A well-written and detailed description of all the sights at all seasons. 



390 



