![](\"http:\/\/cyber.law.harvard.edu\/blogs\/static\/dowbrigade\/Niagaraa.gif\")
I
\n grew up about an hour from Niagara Falls, and it seems like every year,
\n at least once, on somebody’s birthday or a national
\n holiday, we would visit the Falls. The Falls themselves were of course
\n impressive, and to a kid keen on science the hydroelectric generators,
\n which at that time tourists could visit, were pure power personified.
\n The quaint Canadian town of Niagara Falls also featured obligatory stops
\n at the Souvenir Shop, the Niagara Soda Fountain, and the exotic Madame
\n Tussaud’s House of Wax.<\/p>\n
However, my personal all-time favorite Niagara Falls stop was the Daredevil Did you know, for example, that the first person to successfully go over Or that on July 3rd, 1984 Karel NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario – A man who went over Niagara Falls with only the Kirk Jones, 40, of Canton, Mich., is the first person known to have gone "He just looked calm. He just was gliding by so fast. I was in shock really from I grew up about an hour from Niagara Falls, and it seems like every year, at least once, on somebody’s birthday or a national holiday, we would visit the Falls. The Falls themselves were of course impressive, and to a … Continue reading
\n Museum<\/a>, where they chronicled all of the weird, harebrained schemes, mostly
\n unsuccessful, to go over the falls in a barrel. Many of the actual
\n barrels were there, along with period photos and elaborate recreations
\n and descriptions of the scenes. To me, it seemed eminently doable, and I
\n spent considerable time planning and designing my own descent.![](\"http:\/\/cyber.law.harvard.edu\/blogs\/static\/dowbrigade\/darede.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n Niagara Falls in a barrel was a woman! On October 24th 1901 Annie Taylor
\n proved exhibitionist insanity is gender-indiscriminate. After climbing
\n inside her airtight wooden barrel, the air pressure was compressed
\n to 30 p.s.i. with a bicycle pump. She survived, thinking the ensuing fame
\n would guarantee fortune. She died in poverty.<\/p>\n
\n Soucek became the first Canadian to conquer the Falls?
\n Karel survived the plunge, but later that year he was killed while recreating
\n the drop from a platform inside the Houston Astrodome.
\n (Karel’s barrel hit the edge of the water tank).<\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/cyber.law.harvard.edu\/blogs\/static\/dowbrigade\/CharlesStephens.jpg\")
Since Annie in 1901, 15 Daredevils have gone over the falls in a variety
\n of barrels, flotation devices, inner tubes and special suits. 10
\n have survived. In addition, over the years there have been dozens of suicides
\n and accidental falls. But until today, no one has ever survived the
\n drop with just the clothes on their back. Until today.<\/p>\n
\n clothes on his back and survived will be charged with illegally performing
\n a stunt, park police said Tuesday. <\/p>\n
\n over Niagara Falls without safety devices and lived. He could be fined
\n $10,000. <\/p>\n
\n that I saw a person go by," Brenda McMullen told WIVB-TV in Buffalo. <\/p>\n
\n AP<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"