Trip to Niagara Falls: Stories of the Daredevils

We recently took a trip to Canada and before we crossed the border, we stopped by one of the Niagara Falls parks in New York. We took a trolley around the park and as we were passing the Horseshoe Falls, a tour guide told us the history of the falls. One interesting thing he mentioned was the fact that of the sixteen daredevils that attempted to go over the falls, only nine survived. Later, when I went to the IMAX Museum around Clifton Hill in Canada, I was able to read more about the stuntmen. Most of the stuff in this article will be based off information from the museum and film.

The first was Annie Edson Taylor in 1901. Now, the tour guide mentioned her during the trolley ride and I didn’t think much of her until I got to the hotel. On the walls of the entrance hung a picture of Taylor and her barrel as well as a little informational paragraph. She was a 63 year old former dance teacher who longed for fame and fortune. Taylor conquered the falls on her birthday, October 24th, supposedly with her cat, which also survived. However the feat did not yield the results she hoped for. She never received her fortune for the stunt and like many other daredevils, died penniless and largely forgotten.

Among the survivors were Roger Woodward and his sister, Deanne, in 1960. However, unlike the other daredevils, Roger and Deanne did not choose to take on the falls. This was just a case of a family vacation turned tragedy. The pair were boating near the falls with their friend, James Honeycutt, when their motor failed and their small vessel capsized. They floated in the deadly cataracts until Deanne was rescued only 20 feet from the edge of the falls by tourists, John R. Hayes and John Quattrochi. Roger and James, on the other hand, went over the Canadian Falls unprotected. Miraculously, Roger survived the plummet and was later rescued by the Maid of the Mist. Unfortunately, Honeycutt would perish from this tragic incident. Woodward would become the first person in history who survived the plunge without the aid of a protective craft. Today, Roger and Deanne continue to share their miraculous story fifty years later.

The Niagara Falls would claim the lives of not only these four daredevils, but thousands of civilians as well. The falls are a common place where people go to take their own lives but once in a while, tragic accidents do occur (as in the case of the Woodwards).

The first stuntman to lose his life to the falls was Charles Stephens, father of eleven, in 1920. He hoped the fame from such a stunt would bring his family out of poverty, however, the stunt quickly failed when his wooden barrel was smashed to pieces over the falls.

The second was George Stathakis in 1930. He was the fifth person to go over the falls and the second to do so with a pet. His craft had become lodged behind the falls and he ultimately died of suffocation. Sonny, his 150 year old turtle, on the other hand, survived.

William Red Hill (a.k.a Red Hill jr.) lost his life to the falls in 1951 after his craft, named the “Thing” was torn apart in the water. Red Hill jr. was the second person in his family to attempt going over the Horseshoe Falls. His brother’s trip, a year before, was cancelled after the barrel was swept into the falls unoccupied. Unlike his brother, Red Hill jr. did not employ a steel craft. His “Thing” was an inflatable ball-like contraption made up of several inner tubes. Unfortunately, the rubber vessel could not withstand the pressure of the waterfalls and was torn apart in the water. Hill’s body would be recovered the following day.

In 1995, the falls would claim its latest victim. Robert Overacker attempted to go over the falls in a jet ski. His stunt was not meant to only generate fame, but to also raise awareness for the homeless. After seven years of planning, Overacker finally attempted to conquer the falls with a “Save the Homeless” sign attached to his jet ski. However, Murphy’s Law couldn’t have applied more. The parachute meant to save Overacker’s life never deployed and he plummeted over the falls and into the raging water. His body was recovered the next. Officials say that Overacker may have survived the fall and that the cause of death was actually drowning.

Photos taken with Apple and Samsung's smartphones.

Article written by Anna Nguyen who wants Uncle P. to post it on Steemit.