Saoirse Downs
The Niagara Falls have been the site of several near-death experiences, including a 1918 incident in which a boat became stuck above the falls, and a 1960 incident in which a boat capsized, killing one of its passengers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 6 August 1918 |
| Boat name | Niagara Scow (also called the Old Scow or Iron Scow) |
| Boat type | Small scow |
| Location | Niagara River, upstream of the Horseshoe Falls |
| Crew | Gustave F. Lofberg, Frank Harris, and tugboat Captain John Wallace |
| Outcome | Boat became stuck on rocks less than 2,000 feet from the edge of the falls; crew rescued |
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What You'll Learn
A boat has been stuck above Niagara Falls since 1918
On August 6, 1918, Gustave F. Lofberg and Frank Harris were aboard the Great Lakes Dredge and Docks Company scow dredging up sand banks from the Niagara River upstream of the waterfall. When tugboat Captain John Wallace brought the Hassayampa over to bring the scow back to shore, it broke loose and began floating downriver rapidly towards the falls.
Lofberg and Harris opened the scow’s bottom dumping doors, which flooded its compartments and slowed it down. Eventually, the boat ground to a halt on a rocky area less than 2,000 feet from the edge of the falls. Authorities from both the United States and Canada began implementing a plan to bring them to safety. The U.S. Coast Guard shot a lifeline from a nearby powerhouse to the scow, and a canvas sling was suspended from the ropes. By nightfall, authorities were inching the sling closer to the men—when it suddenly stopped, caught up in a tangle in the lines.
Lofberg and Harris were eventually brought to safety. The scow remained stuck above the falls until 2019, when it finally broke free.
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Two men were stranded in the 'torturous rapids'
On 6 August 1918, Gustave F. Lofberg and Frank Harris were stranded in the torturous rapids of Niagara Falls. The two men were aboard the Great Lakes Dredge and Docks Company scow, dredging up sand banks from the Niagara River upstream of the waterfall. When tugboat Captain John Wallace brought the Hassayampa over to bring the scow back to shore, it broke loose and began floating downriver rapidly towards the falls.
Lofberg and Harris were now stranded in the rapids, and authorities from both the United States and Canada began implementing a plan to bring them to safety. The U.S. Coast Guard shot a lifeline from a nearby powerhouse to the scow, and a canvas sling was suspended from the ropes. By nightfall, authorities were inching the sling closer to the men—when it suddenly stopped, caught up in a tangle in the lines.
One of the men volunteered to travel over the rapids in the sling and untangle the ropes. It took him two tries—it was too dark to see properly during the first attempt—but he was ultimately successful. Later that morning, Lofberg and Harris were safely brought to shore.
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A man and two children were thrown into the upper rapids in 1960
On July 9, 1960, a man from Niagara Falls, New York, took two children for a boat ride in the upper Niagara River. The boat developed motor trouble and capsized, throwing all three into the upper rapids. The man went over the falls and was killed. The 17-year-old girl was plucked from the edge of the falls, but her seven-year-old brother, wearing only a life jacket and a bathing suit, went over the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.
This was not the first time that people had been in danger of going over the falls. In 1918, a boat carrying two men, Gustav Lofberg and James Harris, broke loose from its tug and began heading towards the falls. The men opened the scow’s bottom dumping doors, which flooded its compartments and slowed it down. The boat eventually came to a halt less than 2,000 feet from the edge of the falls, but the men were stranded in the rapids. A lifeline was shot from a nearby powerhouse to the scow, and a canvas sling was suspended from the ropes. However, the sling became tangled in the lines and it took two attempts to free it. Eventually, Lofberg and Harris were safely brought to shore.
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The man was killed, but the children were saved
On 9 July 1960, a man and two children were thrown into the upper rapids of the Niagara River when their boat developed motor trouble and capsized. The man went over the falls and was killed, but the children were saved. The 17-year-old girl was plucked from the edge of the falls, and her seven-year-old brother, wearing only a life jacket and a bathing suit, went over the Canadian Horseshoe Falls but survived.
In a separate incident in 1918, two men, Gustav Lofberg and James Harris, were stranded on a boat perilously close to the Horseshoe Falls, the largest of the Niagara Falls. They were eventually rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard, who shot a lifeline from a nearby powerhouse to the scow, and a canvas sling was suspended from the ropes.
These incidents demonstrate the dangers of boating near Niagara Falls and the importance of taking safety precautions when doing so.
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The wreck of a small scow can still be seen upstream of the falls
The scow remained stuck above the falls for over 100 years, until it finally broke free in 2019. Staff from Niagara Parks are now monitoring the scow, as there is a chance it could move again and go over the falls.
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Frequently asked questions
No, a boat has never gone over Niagara Falls.
Yes, there have been a few close calls. In 1918, a boat carrying two men broke loose and began floating towards the falls. The men were able to slow the boat down by opening the scow's bottom dumping doors, which flooded its compartments. The boat eventually stopped less than 2,000 feet from the edge of the falls. In 1960, a boat carrying a man and two children capsized in the upper Niagara River. The man and the 17-year-old girl were thrown into the rapids, while the 7-year-old boy went over the Canadian Horseshoe Falls wearing only a life jacket and a bathing suit. He survived.
The Niagara Scow is the unofficial name of the wreck of a small scow that brought two men close to plunging over the Horseshoe Falls in 1918. The wreck can still be seen upstream of the falls.
