TORONTO – American Nik Wallenda’s high-wire walk across Niagara Falls is historic because of the rarity of the feat.
The last person to cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope was James Hardy in 1896.
In order to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the area, including protecting public safety, the Niagara Parks Commission has a rule in place which only permits stunting by professionals “no more than once in a generation, or approximately once every 20 years.”
The commission says daredevil acts are allowed to pay tribute to the stunting history that helped make Niagara Falls a top global tourism destination.
Below is a timeline of those who have conquered the Falls over the past century.
Stunters at the Falls:
October 24, 1901 – ANNIE TAYLOR (Survived)
Mrs. Annie Taylor, a 63-year-old schoolteacher, decided that a trip over Niagara Falls was her way to fame. Assistants strapped her, along with her cat, into a special harness in a barrel. Seventeen minutes after the plunge, the barrel had been tossed close enough to the Canadian shore to be hooked and dragged onto the rocks. Mrs. Taylor was dazed but triumphant and became the first person to conquer the mighty Falls of Niagara.
July 25, 1911 – BOBBY LEACH (Survived)
Bobby Leach, an Englishman, successfully made a trip in an all-steel barrel and then spent 23 weeks in hospital recuperating from numerous fractures and other injuries.
July 11, 1920 – CHARLES STEPHENS (Died)
Englishman, Charles Stephens was the the next barrel stunter. When his heavy oak barrel hit water after the drop over the Falls, Stephens went out the bottom. He was killed and only one arm was recovered.
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July 4, 1928 – JEAN LUSSIER (Survived)
Jean Lussier, a native of Quebec, designed a six-foot rubber ball composed of 32 inner tubes and a double-wall steel frame. The ball took some hard knocks in the rapids but the skip over the Falls was perfect. About one hour after entering his ball, Lussier stepped ashore none the worse for wear.
July 4, 1931 – GEORGE STATHAKIS (Died)
George Stathakis, a Greek chef from Buffalo, went over the Falls in a 2,000-pound contraption of wood and steel. He survived the plunge over the Falls only to die after becoming trapped behind the curtain of water for 22 hours.
August 6, 1951 – RED HILL JR. (Died)
Red Hill Jr. planned to go over the Falls in a transport device he called the “Thing” that consisted of 13 inner tubes held together with fish net and canvas straps. On August 6, Hill and the “Thing” headed into the rapids. It was tossed into the air, upended, and bounced off rocks. When the drop came, the “Thing” disappeared into churning water. The following day, Hill’s body was taken from the river.
Tightrope walkers over the Niagara Gorge:
June 30, 1859 – JEAN FRANCOIS GRAVELET (THE GREAT BLONDIN)
Known as “The Great Blondin”, Gravelet was the first of many tightrope walkers to appear at Niagara Falls. He made the trek at five o’clock in the afternoon. Never content to repeat his last performance, Blondin crossed his rope on a bicycle, walked blindfolded, pushed a wheelbarrow, cooked an omelet in the centre and made the trip with his hands and feet tied.
On August 17, 1859, he would cross the gorge carrying his manager, Harry Colcord, on his back.
September 5, 1860 – WILLIAM LEONARD HUNT
A resident of Port Hope, Ontario, known as Signor Farini, William Hunt duplicated almost all Blondin’s stunts, but never managed to steal the limelight from Blondin. But on September 5, Hunt strapped a washing machine on his back and made his way across the falls.
June 15, 1865 – HARRY LESLIE
Harry Leslie, billed as “The American Blondin”, crossed the Whirlpool Rapids gorge on a rope.
August 24, 1869 – ANDREW JENKINS
Andrew Jenkins crossed at the same site, riding a velocipede.
July 8, 1876 – MARIA SPELTERINA
A 23-year-old Italian woman, Maria Spelterina was the only woman to cross the Niagara gorge on a tightrope.
June 25, 1887 – STEPHEN PEER
Stephen Peer of Niagara Falls, Ontario made several crossings, but a few days after his walk on June 25, 1887, his body was found on the rocks below. It was assumed that he had fallen while attempting a night crossing wearing his street shoes.
September 6, 1890 – SAMUEL DIXON
Samuel Dixon, a Toronto photographer, crossed the gorge on the same cable used by Stephen Peer. He made a number of crossings performing various stunts on the wire.
October 12, 1892 – CLIFFORD CALVERLEY
Clifford Calverley, a Toronto steeplejack, crossed several times on a 1.9 cm (3/4″) steel cable. On one of his crossings he established a record when he made the trip in 6 minutes, 32 ½ seconds.
July 1896 – JAMES HARDY
James Hardy at 21 years of age was the youngest person to cross the gorge on a wire and made several crossings. His performances were the last tightrope walking displays permitted in Niagara Falls.
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