Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 July 1875 — Over Niagara Falls. [ARTICLE]

Over Niagara Falls.

A few weeks ago a worthless dog was cast into the Niagara River below Buffalo and swam out to Robinson Island. A half-witted chap decided to immortalize himself l»v rescuing the helpless brute, and succeeded in reaching the island in safety. But the return was more difficult—in fact, the fool hardy adventurer found after repeated efforts that he could not return at all, but was certain to be swept down into the seething cataract if lie venture into the river. The people on shore after .allowing him to live the life of a Crusoe for the balance of the day and the night kindly sent a roj>e to his assistance, and lie was brought off in safety. But the perils of the situation had driven iffl. ehivalric ideas out of his mind, and the poor dog was left la-hind. There he still remained several days after, and this is the way the Niagara Falls Register speculates upon liis case: . The dog on Robinson Island continues monarch of all (the yisland) he surveys, and his pedestrinal surveys were quite vigorously prosecuted yesterday. His only chance of life would seem to be to take to the water and go over the falls. Holley’s “ Niagara” contains several interesting reminiscences of a similar nature. Mr. Holley says: ‘ ‘ Previous to the war of 1812 the Niagara River abounded in swans, wild geese and ducks. Since that war noire of the former have been here except two pairs which came at different times. One of each pair went over the falls and was taken out alive, but stunned; the other two, faithful unto death, were shot, watching and waiting for the return of their mates. In two instances dogs have been sent over the falls and survived the plunge. In November, 1836, a troublesome female bull-terrier was put into a coffee-sack by a couple of men who had determined to get rid of her, and thrown off from the middle of Goat Island bridge. In the following spring she was found alive and well about sixty rods below tbe ferry, having lived through the winter on a deceased cow that was thrown, over the bank the previous fall. In 1858 another dog, a male of the same breed, was thrown into the rapids, also near the middle of the bridge. In less than an hour he came up the fern’ stairs, very wet and not at all gay. He was ever after a sadder if not a better dog. The reason why the animals are not killed is that the water pours down so rapidly and in such quantities that the water, so to speak, cannot run oft" fast enough, and it piles up in large water cones, which are constantly forming and breaking. If any strong animal should fall on one of these cones as on a soft cushion, it might, slide into the current below. The dogs were doubtless fortunate enough to fall in this way, aided also by the repulsion of the water from tile rocks in the swift channel through which they passed. It is not impossible that some strong man, in a light, strong boat, may thus, at some future time, go over the Horseshoe Fall and not be killed.”