Would you go over Niagara Falls in a barrel to make sure you had enough money to retire?
This school teacher did.
Her cat, Lagara, went down first and deserves the real honor of "first living thing over the falls in a barrel." He tried out the barrel method of transport a few days before and survived to be in this later photo with Annie.
But Annie was determined to do something different. She needed to make an impact. She needed the publicity. She wanted to make an impact with her life. Literally it seems.
After her father died, she helped raise the rest of her siblings. Eventually she became a schoolteacher, married, and had a son of her very own.
She was a dance instructor, seasonal worker, and took on odd jobs in cities—but always on the move. Until she came to Niagara Falls. And met this man, Frank M. Russell: her new manager and potential love interest.
And with Frank M. Russell's help came up with a system to potentially survive the fall in an anvil weighted barrel. They hoped to cash in on the subsequent publicity and secure their retirement.
Theoretically it would also help pull her down and away from the bottom of the falls before the water coming from above could crush the barrel.
They were set adrift and relied on the current to drag them towards the precipice.
Her barrel was opened while she was still in the water to show she was still alive.
Despite her shakiness, she was ready for the waiting press conference. She told the press "If it was with my dying breath, I would caution anyone against attempting the feat ... I would sooner walk up to the mouth of a cannon, knowing it was going to blow me to pieces than make another trip over the Fall." Lies— given she would go over a second time in 1906.
Ten years later, Bobby Leach went over the falls in a metal barrel and then spent 23 weeks in a hospital recovering from his many injuries.
Annie had hoped to make a mint off of the stunt by posing alongside her famous barrel at a souvenir stand. But she didn't.
Her manager ran off with the barrel and Annie spent her savings on private detectives to track them both down. She then tried going over the falls a second time and filmed it this time for more coverage. But to no avail. She worked as a fortune teller on the Niagara tourist scene for the rest of her life. And when she died in 1921, she was buried in the "Stunters Section" of Oakwood Cemetery in Niagara Falls, New York.
This school teacher did.
Dare You
No. Really. Here are the Niagara Falls.
If you had no money and no way to earn a living—would you really go over these things to make sure you never had to worry about money again? It's a terrifying choice to make. But daredevil Annie Edson Taylor made it in 1904.Cats And Ladies First
And 113 years ago on October 24, 1901, her 63rd birthday, she became the first person to ever go over the falls and survive.Her cat, Lagara, went down first and deserves the real honor of "first living thing over the falls in a barrel." He tried out the barrel method of transport a few days before and survived to be in this later photo with Annie.
The Impetuous Daredevil
Before Annie's barrel stunt, people had tried to jump off the falls (and one had even survived).But Annie was determined to do something different. She needed to make an impact. She needed the publicity. She wanted to make an impact with her life. Literally it seems.
Living For Others
Annie had been born into a comfortably wealthy family of eight kids.After her father died, she helped raise the rest of her siblings. Eventually she became a schoolteacher, married, and had a son of her very own.
Lost Souls
But after her son and husband died, she took to wandering the United States and Mexico looking for something to do with herself.She was a dance instructor, seasonal worker, and took on odd jobs in cities—but always on the move. Until she came to Niagara Falls. And met this man, Frank M. Russell: her new manager and potential love interest.
Making Anvils Into Gold
Having taken a boat trip along the falls, Annie had decided that daredevilry might suit her.And with Frank M. Russell's help came up with a system to potentially survive the fall in an anvil weighted barrel. They hoped to cash in on the subsequent publicity and secure their retirement.
In Theory
Annie and a heart-shaped pillow would lie in the barrel in transit, relying on the anvil's weight to drag it upright once in the water.Theoretically it would also help pull her down and away from the bottom of the falls before the water coming from above could crush the barrel.
Set Adrift
Annie and her barrel were rowed out from the American side of the land above Niagara Falls' largest chute: Horseshoe Falls.They were set adrift and relied on the current to drag them towards the precipice.
Anticipation
Spectators watched with bated breath as Annie and her barrel went over the falls and were collected twenty minutes later at the base of the falls.Her barrel was opened while she was still in the water to show she was still alive.
Shaken But Not Stirred
She was unhurt except for a bloody gash on her forehead and a mild state of shock.Despite her shakiness, she was ready for the waiting press conference. She told the press "If it was with my dying breath, I would caution anyone against attempting the feat ... I would sooner walk up to the mouth of a cannon, knowing it was going to blow me to pieces than make another trip over the Fall." Lies— given she would go over a second time in 1906.
The Sincerest & Most Painful Form Of Flattery
Despite her warning, her feat encouraged several copycats—few of whom fared as well as Annie had.Ten years later, Bobby Leach went over the falls in a metal barrel and then spent 23 weeks in a hospital recovering from his many injuries.
Dying Dreams
Annie had hoped to make a mint off of the stunt by posing alongside her famous barrel at a souvenir stand. But she didn't.
Her manager ran off with the barrel and Annie spent her savings on private detectives to track them both down. She then tried going over the falls a second time and filmed it this time for more coverage. But to no avail. She worked as a fortune teller on the Niagara tourist scene for the rest of her life. And when she died in 1921, she was buried in the "Stunters Section" of Oakwood Cemetery in Niagara Falls, New York.
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