Niagara — Historical and Reminiscent 



1902 



DUNLAP, Orrin E. Niagara and its notoriety-seekers. (Cosmop., 1902 

 Mar. 1902. 32:333-335.) Dunlap 



A detailed account of the various rope-walkers, barrel-fiends, and 

 swimmers who have sought notoriety at Niagara. 



Dunlap, Orrin E. Niagara — the scene of perilous feats. (Cosmop., 1902 

 Feb. 1902. 32:358-370.) Dunlap 



Niagara stands unrivalled the world over as the scene of the 

 most daring feats known. In all cases the motive prompting 

 those who so wantonly risked and often met death has been a 

 desire either for money or for notoriety. 



It was the late Sam Patch who first traveled to Niagara to 

 perform an unusual feat and thereby win fame and fortune. He 

 worked in a mill just above Pawtucket Falls, Rhode Island. 

 There he used to bathe with his companions and engage in high 

 jumping. They dove down from a bridge into a deep pool, and 

 not satisfied with this, they sought greater heights and leaped 

 from the roof of the mill near by. It was here that Sam Patch 

 developed his ambition and ability. An early business venture 

 failing, he began accepting engagements about the country to 

 jump from high places. In September, 1829, he found himself 

 one of a big crowd attracted to Niagara Falls to witness the 

 sending over the cataract of the condemned brig " Michigan," 

 cruelly loaded with terror-stricken wild animals. Sam Patch 

 was inspired to profit by the excitement that prevailed, and accord- 

 ingly, he built a wooden tower, ninety feet high, at the water's 

 edge at the foot of the Biddle Stairway on Goat Island. From 

 a platform on top of this structure he leaped safely into the 

 waters of the lower Niagara River. His career closed soon 

 afterward, however, with a leap in Rochester which cost him his 

 life. 



Thirty years after, Monsieur Blondin, a Frenchman, appeared 

 at Niagara with his business agent, Harry Colcord, and 

 announced his intention of crossing the gorge on a tight rope 



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