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Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
@CraigBaird
Jul 9 • 13 tweets • 5 min read • Read on X
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On July 9, 1960, seven-year-old Roger Woodward was swept over Niagara Falls. He survived, becoming the first known person to survive going over the falls without a barrel.
Many daredevils have attempted to do the same thing.
This is the story of some of them.

🧵 1/13 The photo is a black-and-white image depicting a nurse attending to a young boy in a hospital bed. The nurse, dressed in a traditional uniform with a cap, is gently adjusting the boy's arm, which appears to be bandaged or injured. The boy is lying on a pillow, wearing a patterned hospital gown, and has a serious expression on his face. The background shows a simple hospital room with a bedside table, and the image has a vintage feel, likely from the mid-20th century.
Annie Edson Taylor:

On Oct. 24, 1901, the 63-year-old Taylor went over the falls in a custom made barrel of oak and iron, padded with a mattress. She survived the journey with just a small gash on her forehead.

🧵 2/13 The photo is a black-and-white image featuring a woman standing next to a large wooden barrel. The woman is dressed in a long, dark dress with a high collar and a large hat adorned with feathers, typical of early 20th-century fashion. She has a flower pinned to her dress and is holding a small object in one hand. The barrel is inscribed with the text "ANNIE EDSON TAYLOR HEROINE OF NIAGARA FALLS OCT 24 1901 RUSSELL MILLS," indicating it is associated with Annie Edson Taylor's famous barrel ride over Niagara Falls. The background is plain, focusing attention on the woman and the bar...
Bobby Leach:

On July 25, 1911, Leach went over the falls in a steel barrel. While he survived the plunge, he spent six months in hospitals recovering from a fractured jaw and two broken knee caps. He later died after injuring his leg slipping on an orange peel.

🧵 3/13 The photo is a black-and-white image featuring a man sitting on a large, cylindrical metal barrel with rivets and a small window or hatch. The man is dressed in early 20th-century attire, including a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, dark trousers, a bow tie, a cap, and boots, and he is holding a cane. The background shows the misty and powerful presence of Niagara Falls, suggesting the barrel is designed for a stunt, likely related to going over the falls. The overall scene has a vintage feel, consistent with historical daredevil feats.
Charles Stephens:

On July 11, 1920, Stephens went over the falls in an oak barrel with an anvil for ballast. Stephens strapped himself to the barrel and the anvil. The anvil broke through the barrel and dragged him under the water. Only his severed right arm was found.

🧵 4/13 The image is a black-and-white illustration depicting a man inside a large, cylindrical barrel with horizontal black and white stripes. The barrel is mounted on a wooden frame, and the man is positioned with his head and upper body visible through an open hatch, which has a wheel-like mechanism. The man appears to be preparing for a stunt, likely related to going over Niagara Falls, given the historical context of such barrels. The background is plain, focusing attention on the barrel and the man.
Jean Lussier:

On July 4, 1928, Lussier went over the falls in a large rubber ball. The ball sustained heavy damage. Lussier not only survived but only had a few bruises. It took nearly an hour to get Lussier out of the water.

🧵 5/13 The photo is a black-and-white image of a man standing on a large, weathered wooden barrel near a rocky shoreline. The man is dressed in a white short-sleeved shirt, dark trousers, and shoes, with his hands on his hips, exuding a confident pose. The barrel appears to be part of a stunt or historical event, with a rope attached to it. In the background, there is a concrete structure and a misty, water-filled landscape, suggesting proximity to a river or falls. The image has a vintage feel, likely from the early 20th century.
George Stathakis:

On July 4, 1930, Stathakis went over the falls in a barrel with his turtle. Unfortunately, the barrel became stuck behind a curtain of water. It could not be recovered for 18 hours, leading to Stathakis' death from suffocation. The turtle survived.

🧵 6/13 The photo is a black-and-white image depicting a group of people handling a large wooden barrel near a rocky shoreline, likely after it has been recovered from water. The barrel is tilted, with ropes attached, and appears to be part of a stunt or rescue operation, possibly related to a Niagara Falls daredevil attempt. Several individuals, dressed in early 20th-century clothing, are assisting, with one person climbing onto the barrel and others pulling ropes. The background is misty, suggesting proximity to a river or falls, and the scene has a vintage feel, consistent with historical events.
William "Red" Hill, Jr:

The son of the man who saved hundreds of people from the Niagara River over his life, William "Red Hill" Sr., the younger Hill went over on Aug. 5, 1951 in a specially-designed craft. He was killed on impact.

🧵 7/13 The photo is a black-and-white image showing a group of people, with two men in the foreground shaking hands. The man on the left is wearing a light sweater adorned with several medals around his neck and a dark tie, while the man on the right is dressed in a dark sweater. The background features a crowd of onlookers, including men, women, and children, with a wooded area visible, suggesting an outdoor event. The image has a vintage feel, likely from the early to mid-20th century, and bears a stamp indicating it is from the Niagara Falls Public Library.
Nathan Boya:

On July 15, 1961, Boya went over the falls in a metal ball he designed and called the "Plunge-O-Sphere". He survived the fall and became a minor celebrity for a few years. He lived to the age of 98 and died in 2022.

🧵 8/13 The photo is a black-and-white image of a shirtless man with his back to the camera, turning his head to look over his shoulder with a slight smile. His back shows visible bruises or marks, suggesting he may have been in a physical altercation or sport. He is wearing an open shirt draped over his shoulders, and his hair is short and curly. The background is plain, and the image has a vintage feel, likely from the mid-20th century.
Karel Soucek:

On July 2, 1984, Soucek went over Niagara Falls in a barrel. He survived the plunge and was rescued from the river with a few cuts and bruises. Sadly, he died a year later performing a stunt at the Astrodome in Houston.

🧵 9/13 The photo is a color image featuring a man standing in front of a large red barrel labeled "NIAGARA DAREDEVILS - 1984" in white text. The man is wearing a matching red jumpsuit and holding a black helmet under his arm. The setting appears to be an indoor workshop or garage, with various items such as cans and tools visible in the background. The image has a vintage feel, consistent with the 1984 date, and suggests preparation for a daredevil stunt, likely related to Niagara Falls.
Steve Trotter:

Trotter was one of the few people to do go over the falls twice.
His first plunge was on Aug. 18, 1985, which he survived with a few scrapes. The second attempt was on June 18, 1995. This led to a compression fracture in his back.

🧵 10/13 The photo is a color image showing a shirtless man with curly hair standing outdoors near a large, covered object, possibly a stunt barrel or balloon, with the partial word "Airs" visible on it. He is wearing checkered shorts with a red waistband, a wristband, and sneakers with socks. He holds a walkie-talkie in one hand and stands confidently, smiling. In the background, there are trees, a parked car, and a few other people, including a man in a suit and another in a red shirt. The setting appears to be a parking lot near a natural area, likely related to a daredevil event, with ...
Jesse Sharp:

Sharp went over the falls on a 3.6 metre long kayak on June 5, 1990. He had planned the plunge for years. His plan was to gain enough speed to project himself over the falls while his friends filmed the stunt. His body was never found.

🧵 11/13 The photo depicts a person kayaking through turbulent whitewater rapids. The individual is in an orange kayak, paddling amidst large waves and frothy water, suggesting a challenging and fast-moving river. The background is dark, possibly indicating a forested area or a shadowed section of the river, while the foreground shows a rocky shoreline with some vegetation. The image has a dynamic, action-oriented feel and a slightly vintage tone, likely from the late 20th century.
Robert Overacker:

Hoping to raise awareness for the homeless, Overacker went over the falls on Oct. 1, 1995 on a jet ski. His rocket-propelled parachute failed to open and he fell to his death to the river below.

🧵 12/13 The photo depicts a dramatic scene at Niagara Falls, showing a person in a red outfit mid-air, seemingly falling or jumping toward the water below the falls. The individual appears to be part of a daredevil stunt, with a jet ski or similar watercraft visible beneath them, suggesting they may have launched from it. The background features the powerful cascade of Niagara Falls, with mist rising from the base and rocky outcrops on either side. The water is turbulent, and the image has a slightly vintage or enhanced color tone, emphasizing the intensity of the moment.
I hope you found that look at the daredevils of Niagara Falls interesting.

If you enjoy my Canadian history content, you can support my work with a donation at 👇


🧵 13/13buymeacoffee.com/craigu

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🧵 1/11 The photo is the cover art for the album "Blue" by Joni Mitchell. It features a close-up, blue-toned image of a person with long hair, captured in a contemplative pose with a cigarette near their mouth. The title "BLUE" and the artist's name "JONI MITCHELL" are prominently displayed in white text on the left side against the solid blue background.
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