Zahner, MH (Martin H.) / Wikimedia Commons
The first person to descend the Niagara Falls in a barrel made it by “fame and fortune” with a caricature method.
In 1901, New York dance teacher Annie Edson Taylor, at 62, was out of money. As an adventurous, he decided that a good moment of entertainment could get her out of poverty, making her famous for a stunt never before achieved.
Then decided that would go down the Niagara Falls At that time, activities like this, which challenge their lives, were very popular, and could guarantee wealth to those who dare to do them.
In fact, in 1858, acrobat Charles Blondin had already crossed the Niagara Falls on a tightrope. But No one had never come down effectively. At least never inside a barrel.
Annie then began by engendering the object on which one of the largest waterfalls in the world – and most dangerous, about 2650 cubic meters of water falling per second.
As he herself said in interviews, it was “Fame and Fortune or Instant Death.”
Then decided to go down the falls in a kite, covered with metal and pillows to support her head.
The trip took place, according to, on October 24, 1901, with the help of a boat that rebuked Annie and his barrel to the cliff. Some tell that a kitten also accompanied Annie on his journey, but no image proves it.
The feat was assisted by a large crowd, which observed the kite falling downhills below. In the end, a few minutes later, Annie was rescued – hurt and disoriented, but alive. The crowd burst into applause, and the dance teacher stayed forever in history.
Annie It was certain that he would get a big fortune due to his feat, but that… it didn’t happen.
For years, he tried to sell his photographs by his barrel and even claim that he was 43 instead of 63 – many called him a compulsive liar. Despite all the efforts, Annie did not achieve the success she expected.
Later, there were those who tried to follow his example, as was the case with Bobby Leach, ten years later, who had to be covered for 6 months, or George Stathakis in 1930, who died suffocated – and took his survived pet turtle with him.
However, after some disasters, it was prohibited to perform prowess in the Niagara Falls. Still, there are still offenders.
