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DAREDEVILS
OF NIAGARA FALLS |
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Annie Taylor was the first person to conquer the falls in a barrel. After climbing inside
her airtight wooden barrel, the air pressure was compressed to 30 p.s.i. with a bicycle
pump. |
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Though bruised and battered Annie made it, she expected fame and fortune.
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Annie died in
poverty
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| July 25th
1911 |
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The
infamous Bobby Leach plunged over the Falls in a steel barrel. Bobby broke
both kneecaps and his jaw during his daring event. Years later while touring in New Zealand, Bobby slipped on an
orange peel and died from complications due to gangrene !
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| July
11th 1920 |
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| Englishman Charles G. Stephens
equipped his wooden barrel with an anvil for ballast. Charles tied
himself to the anvil for security. After the plunge, Chucks right
arm was the only item left in the barrel. |
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July 4th
1928 |
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"Smiling
Jean"
Lussier survived the trip over the brink in a large rubber ball |
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| July 5th
1930
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A Greek waiter
named George L. Statakis suffocated to death after his barrel was trapped behind the falls for more
than 14 hours. |
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| June 30th
1961 |
| Nathan Boya
drops off the brink in a ball-like contraption. |
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| July 3rd
1984 |
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first Canadian to conquer the Falls was Karel Soucek. Karel survived the plunge, but later
that year Karel was killed while recreating the drop from a platform inside the Houston
Astrodome. (Karel's barrel hit the edge of the water tank) |
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August 18th 1985
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A Rhode Island bartender named Steven Trotter made
the trip in a barrel wrapped in
inner tubes. |
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Steven was fined a total of $5,503.00 |
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| October 5th
1985 |
| A Canadian
mechanic John "Super Dave" Munday made a successful trip in his barrel. Dave could not get
enough! He made a second successful trip on September 26th
1993. |
| September 28th
1989 |
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| Niagara
Falls Ontario residents |
| Peter De Bernardi and
Jeffery |
| James Petkovich
accomplished |
| the first duo descent of the Falls. |
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October 1st 1995 |
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Robert Overcracker rides a
jetski over the brink of the Horseshoe Falls to help promote awareness for the
homeless. His parachute did not open and Robert ended up promoting better
parachutes. He plunged to his death and his body was never recovered. An
Egyptian tourist captured this amazing image. |
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| June 18th
1995 |
| Steve
Trotter returns to the Falls again to make his second attempt. This time with a
partner, Lori Martin a caterer from Georgia.
They were the first male and female to make
the big drop together ! |
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October 22nd 2003 |
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Kirk Jones from Canton
Michigan becomes first stunter in the history of Niagara Falls to survive the
plunge wearing only the clothes on his back. Kirk's idea had been in the works for a
number of years. While here on a visit with a friend, Kirk made the decision. They
purchased a used video camera to record this historical event and went to the
Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side of the river. Kirk entered the water about
one hundred yards upstream and began swimming out into the swift current.
Eight seconds later Kirk made the 175 foot drop and swam to shore while passing up
a free ride with the "maid of the mist" tour boat. Kirk was treated for minor
bumps and bruises at local a hospital and released only after promising to
return for court. For his stunt Kirk was fined a total of $2,300.00 dollars and
banned from entering Canada for life. Kirk is now wrapping up a
stint with a US circus and plans on writing a book about his ordeal. Unfortunately
Kirk and his friend had been imbibing in alcohol before the stunt and Kirks friend couldn't figure out how to work the camcorder and the
entire stunt went
unrecorded! |
Be
sure to
visit:
THE
DAREDEVIL MUSEUM
See the
actual barrels used by Steve Trotter and
Peter De Bernardi |
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!!!! ADMISSION IS
FREE !!!! |
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303 Rainbow Boulevard
@ 3rd Street |
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Niagara Falls
New York |
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(716) 282-4046 |
Also... Discount
Souvenirs, Film, T-Shirts, Post Cards & More !!!! |
*note all images are
copyright protected*
Exclusive property of Niagara
Falls Daredevil Museum
Contact the museum by e-mail:
daredevilmuseum@aol.com
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