Niagara — Historical and Reminiscent 



the fall. Faster, faster it moved, swinging round toward the 1902 

 Canadian side as if was pulled forward by the terrific force of un ap 

 the rushing waters. Just a moment it was visible on the brink, 

 then with lightning-like rapidity it dropped, a distance of one 

 hundred and sixty-five feet, into the seething, foam-lashed waters 

 of the lower river. This broke the tremendous tension of the 

 crowd, and every one made a wild rush to the edge of the high 

 banks where the gorge could be seen. Before many of them got 

 in position, the barrel had reappeared on the surface of the lower 

 river and was floating downstream. It was caught in an eddy 

 on the Canadian side and swung back between the wash of two 

 eddies. It floated there for some minutes before it was caught, 

 at 4.40, having passed over the fall at 4.23. The barrel was 

 landed on a rock. The cover of the manhole was torn off, and 

 when Mrs. Taylor raised her hand to wave to those about, a 

 mighty cheer went up that told the multitude on the cliff that the 

 Falls of Niagara had been conquered — and by a woman. It 

 was necessary to saw a portion of the head of the barrel away to 

 get Mrs. Taylor out. When this was done, she crossed a plank 

 to land, bruised and shocked, but little injured. 



The woman who performed this remarkable feat gave her age 

 as forty-three years, stating that the day of her performance was 

 her birthday. She had had a varied experience in life, and 

 admitted that she was in desperate need of money when she 

 journeyed to Niagara. Her performance has cast a shadow on 

 the feats of all previous rapids navigators, and now it is expected 

 that the falls and not the rapids will be the scene of sensational 

 feats to be performed by desperate men and women of the 

 future. 



Stoddard, John L. Lectures. Bost: Balch. 1902. Suppl. 1902 

 2 = 131-143. Sfoddard 



A beautifully illustrated lecture on the beginning and recession of the 

 Falls and the infinite variety of Niagara scenery. 



429 



