Niagara — Historical and Reminiscent 



Hour after hour passed, darkness fell, and the roar of the 1902 

 whirlpool came with a solemn sound to the men on shore. Huge Dunla P 

 bonfires were built for warmth and illumination. Messengers 

 were sent to Niagara Falls to have the searchlight car of the 

 electric line sent down the gorge, that the waters of the whirlpool 

 might be fully illuminated. This was done, and after a while 

 the great beam of white light shot across the waters from the 

 American to the Canadian side. Now and then the tossing 

 barrel could be seen, tumbling and rolling about on the waves 

 and current. Nine o'clock came, and the girl had been imprisoned 

 in the barrel over five hours. All knew the craft had air-holes, 

 but how had Miss Willard stood the terrible strain, knowing that 

 night had come? 



About 9.20 o'clock that night, an old river hand, standing 

 about one of the bonfires, looked out on the waters of the pool 

 and observed a piece of wood drifting in toward the shore — a 

 sure sign that the currents were changing. Within a short time 

 the barrel hove in sight within the light of the fire, and men swam 

 out and caught it. When the manhole cover was removed, the 

 little dog leaped joyously out, but Miss Willard was limp and 

 lifeless. Possibly, if the dog had not been in the barrel, there 

 would have been more air for Miss Willard, and she might have 

 lived. She was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, and before many 

 days her mother was placed in a grave at her side. It had been 

 Miss Willard's hope that she might earn money to give her 

 mother a pleasant home in her declining years. 



During all these years of sensational feats at Niagara, until 

 the summer of 1901 nobody ever voluntarily tried to go over the 

 falls and live. At least two men tried to pretend to make the 

 trip, but without success. When Mrs. Taylor arrived at the falls 

 with a barrel, residents smiled at her statement that she would 

 make the falls trip. Dropping a barrel and a human occupant 

 over the Horseshoe Fall could have but one result, all agreed. 

 But Mrs. Taylor was persistent. The fact that there was a trip 



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