|
|
|
In Niagara Falls and opposite the Greenhouse has been there since August
6, 1918. It is a mute reminder of near tragedy and a spectacular rescue.
The steel barge, loaded with rock and with three men aboard, was being
towed to the upper river by a Hydro tug when its tow line broke and it
set adrift. Fortunately, the men thought to open the dumping hatches in
the bottom of the craft and the scow was grounded 767 m from the brink
of the falls. Frantic efforts were made to rescue the men all that night
and until late the next day. Finally a breeches-buoy was rigged from a
powerhouse on shore to the rig. After several attempts were made to throw
a line across to the rig the line became tangled, preventing the buoy from
reaching the barge. William "Red" Hill Sr., a famous Niagara River daredevil
volunteered to swing himself out to the obstruction hand-over-hand above
the raging water. The breeches-buoy finally reached the scow and the men
aboard were rescued. index American Falls Height 184 ft (56 m) Width 1060
ft (320 m) Volume of flow 10% of total Horseshoe Falls Height 176 ft (54m)
Width 2200 ft (675m) Volume of flow 90% of total Total Flow Over Falls
April 1-Sept 15: 100,000 cu ft/sec (2830 cu m/sec) (8am-10pm) Sept. 16-Oct.
31: 100,000 cu ft/sec (2830 cu m/sec) (8am-8pm) All other times: 50,000
cu ft/sec (1415 cu m/sec) Total Average Flow of Niagara River (before diversion
for electricity) 202,000 cu ft/sec (5720 cu m/sec)