100 Years Marooned by Ground State Photos, on Flickr


Clinging to its rocky perch in the rushing water above Niagara Falls, this old hulk of a scow celebrates a full century today since it was stranded. On August 6, 1918, one of the most dramatic rescue efforts in the history of the Niagara River took place when the scow broke loose from its tug at a dredging operation 1.6 km upstream. As it raced toward the edge of the Horseshoe Falls, the two workers trapped on board had the presence of mind to open the bottom dumping doors and flood its compartments. 51-year old Gustav Lofberg and 53-year old James Harris ground to a halt only 200 metres away from the edge of the falls. A lifeline cannon, rushed to the scene by the U.S. Coast Guard, was able to shoot a line from the roof of the powerhouse out to the stranded men; a daring rescue that took until the following morning to successfully accomplish.



Cannon Rescue (Niagara Parks Commission archives) by Ground State Photos, on Flickr


Part way out the breeches buoy suddenly stopped, causing a loud groan of despair to ripple through the large crowd of spectators. It was soon discovered that the stoppage was due to a tangle in the ropes. This problem was not solved until the very early hours of the following morning when William “Red” Hill Sr. offered to go out and correct the problem on the lines. A resident of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Hill was Niagara’s most knowledgeable riverman and a recognized hero who had recently returned home after having been wounded and gassed in France while serving in the First World War.

With the beam of a search light following him, Hill courageously went out in the breeches buoy to untangle the lines and ultimately allow for the successful rescue of the two men.



Downstream by Ground State Photos, on Flickr

That is such an intense photo (the first one) -- amazing!

In my mind, I cannot separate the Old Scow from Hopkins' poem 'Wreck of the Deutchland'; the idea of 'a drift' kind of seals the deal, in that poem. Interestingly, it was pointed out to me that the Niagara wreck occurred in the same year (or thereabouts) that the poem would have been made public...

J->

Thank you for posting this
Incredible save by all involved... talk about guardian angels.

William “Red” Hill Sr was sublime. A Canadian war and peace time hero many times over. A daredevil and then some. I've read about him before, a man of action and incredible composition under pressure. Chillier than a block of ice.
Many owe their lives to him.
https://en.m.wikip..._%22Red%22_Hill_Sr
https://en.m.wikip.../wiki/Niagara_Scow





William “Red” Hill Sr, Rest in Peace

Its amazing that this thing hasn't gone over the falls yet.

I remember in my 20's I had to take some out of towners on a pilgrimage from Chippawa to Niagara via the parkway. The entire time I talked about the tunnels and dams and everything on the way but totally not accurate made up garbage lol. When we got to the scow I somehow (maybe it was the beer I drank on thr walk) pulled the best story out of the air which was a mixtures of movie scenes. I used Quints speech about delivering the A bomb and how most of the sailors died jumping in the water, fire in the sky abduction scene,and I think something from the hunt for red october. And the weirdest thing is...They listened to the whole thing, and as far as I know still believe o____o

Posted by blackhawk Chillier than a block of ice. Many owe their lives to him. William “Red” Hill Sr, Rest in Peace

What the fuck, this dude saved his sister from a burning house at the age of 8...why can't that be me. #manofsteel

Front end FINALLY fell off