Niagara — Historical and Reminiscent 



very light and those who knew the rapids had their misgivings, 1902 

 but nothing could alter his determination. From the same hotel un * p 

 left by Webb on the day he went to death, Flack walked to 

 the river. In order that he might not fall out should the boat 

 capsize, a harness had been adjusted about his waist. With bold, 

 strong strokes he pulled out into the current and headed straight 

 into the rapids. The waves tossed the boat as though it were a 

 shell, and it was capsized three times in the trip. Never has a 

 crowd that assembled on the Niagara cliffs witnessed such a fear- 

 ful tragedy. As the boat was about to enter the whirlpool, it 

 was raised high in the air by a huge wave and then dashed down 

 bottom-side up. Poor Flack was beneath it, and for over an 

 hour this boat, designed to save the lives of others, floated there, 

 rolling and whirling about in the great river pocket. Percy, wit- 

 nessing the tragedy from the American side, jumped into a buggy 

 and drove to the whirlpool on the Canadian side, where, throwing 

 off his clothing, he leaped into the river and swam for the boat, 

 which was now approaching the shore. When it was righted, 

 the lifeless body of Flack was taken from the harness rigging. 

 The secret filling was excelsior and shavings. 



The next year Walter G. Campbell appeared at the falls with 

 an open flat-bottomed boat, which he launched above the rapids. 

 His only companion was a black dog. He stood up, using his 

 oar as a paddle, and boldly drifted with increasing speed toward 

 the seething pool. Fortunately, the boat capsized before the worst 

 water was reached, and with a life-preserver around his waist, 

 Campbell just managed to struggle to the shore, but the dog paid 

 the penalty of his master's folly. 



For ten years the appetite for notoriety in the waters of the 

 Niagara slumbered. The peace was unbroken until Peter 

 Nissen, known only as " Bowser," came to the falls from 

 Chicago. He announced that he was on a vacation, during which 

 he intended to amuse himself by going through the rapids in a 

 boat he brought with him. With the exception of a cockpit in 

 the center, it was decked over. There were air compartments at 



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