Annie Edson Taylor, by all appearances, did not seem to be
someone who would be willing to tempt fate with such a daredevil adventure. After struggling for years with trying to survive financially on her own, she decided to seek fame and fortune by attempting to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel. She knew that thousands of tourists descended upon Niagara Falls every summer and she wanted to cash in on their curiosity about the bold adventure she was about to undertake. She even drew a picture of a barrel she wanted--strong and just right for her size. She had reluctant workmen build it. They thought that she might be attempting suicide. The barrel was 4 1/2 feet high, weighing more than 160 pounds. She wanted it just big enough to hold her and her pillows. She also had metal handles to hold onto, and a leather belt so she would be secure.
Annie hired Frank Russell, a carnival man to be her manager at Niagara Falls. It was up to him to drum up interest about Annie's death-defying attempt. Things didn't get off to a rousing start, as Annie was concerned about how she would be perceived because of her age, and she lied to Frank, saying that she was 20 years younger than her actual age. He didn't believe it because she obviously didn't look 42, but he went along with the far-fetched idea. He imagined that it might be a money maker as well.
Annie was written about in news accounts before the fateful day came. Her barrel was even displayed in the hotel lobby where she was staying. Her manager hired a man named Fred Truesdale, who lived near the Falls, to be the one to put Annie in the barrel and row out to the river. But two days before that a cat was sent in the barrel over Horseshoe Falls to test how strong the barrel was. Amazingly, the cat survived.
Before Annie's ride over the Falls, the Niagara River currents moved the barrel to the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. The actual trip over the Falls took less than 20 minutes. Before that one end of the rope was tied to the barrel and the other to the boat. Fred let Annie know that he planned to cut the rope. The crowds spotted Annie's barrel, which raced madly along the river to the frightening drop. It banged against the rocks and waves and occasionally disappeared. The observers who waited near the Falls felt excited and fearful,
wondering if Annie would make it out alive. Inside, Annie was all over the place--upside down and on her back and side. She could hear the roar of the Falls. The spectators were stunned when they saw the barrel go over. And then . . . the barrel re-appeared. No sound was heard from Annie. After some time, a hammer was used to pry off the lid. When one of the rescuers called for Annie, she was finally able to crawl out of the barrel. She was dizzy and bruised and had a cut on her forehead, but she was able to walk to a dock.
From the dock Frank Russell, her manager, took her to a carriage, where she was returned to her room. A doctor came to check on her and insisted that she stay in bed for several days to heal from her injuries. She became a star and was visited by news people from around the globe. She was named the Queen of the Falls and attended a fair in Buffalo, New York. People could not believe that this elderly woman had been the one to go over Niagara Falls. As she and Frank took the train to various towns, people were shocked that Annie had been the one to experience such heroics. They expected someone far younger.
Eventually Frank gave up on the travels and took off with Annie's world-famous barrel, which he hoped to sell. Annie was finally able to return with the barrel and a new manager named Billy Banks. The two of them took off for city fairs, but the fairs were not well-attended, and this time it was Billy who took off with the barrel, only to meet up with a prettier, younger woman who pretended to be Annie. The barrel was not seen again, although Annie had even used private detectives to try to find it. Annie had a new one built, and spent her summers selling souvenirs.
Annie tried all kinds of ways in later years to earn money, but nothing was very successful. She died in 1921 at age 82. She is
buried in the "Stunters Section" of Oakwood Cemetery in Niagara Falls, New York.
Annie's most famous remarks regarding her daredevil adventure were: "If it was with my dying breath, I would caution anyone against attempting the feat . . . I would sooner walk up to the mouth of a cannon, knowing it was going to blow me to pieces than making another trip over the Falls."
She did, however, make her mark in history, and will long be remembered for her courageous attempt.
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