Annie Edson Taylor a widowed school teacher from Michigan made history on October 24, 1901 being the first person to take the daring plunge over the picturesque yet treacherous Niagara Falls. Various people have taken on Niagara Falls and all it’s furry from trapeze artist to barrel jumper all seeking a degree of fulfillment, at what cost? That is the risk these daredevils are willing to take.
While there were many daredevil acts before Mrs Taylor’s bold accomplishment, none quite so renowned, for no one had previously endeavored to drive themselves over the falls. Though Carlisle Graham had announced a few months prior he would journey down Horseshoe Falls he did not go forth with his plans. Annie was strapped into a Kentucky oak barrel that was held together by seven steal rings and packed with padding, the barrel was 34 inches in diameter through the middle and four and a half feet long. The lid was screwed shut and Annie was towed out by a small boat to the mainstream and released at 4:05 pm, several news people were on hand, ready to deliver Annie’s fate to the world. The barrel streamed toward the Canadian side and over the Horseshoe Falls. Mrs Taylor was in the barrel for 17 minutes after her frightening tumble down Niagara Falls, until it was close enough to the Canadian shores to be hauled in. The top of the barrel was cut away. Annie emerged scratched and bruised, very stunned but satisfied, quoted to have said “No one ought ever do that again.” She did try to cash in on her accomplishment, for it is documented that it was one of her motives for such a precarious act, however she was far from victorious. In lieu of money, for 10 years she held the honor of being the only person to ever go over the falls. She died a pauper twenty years later, at the still disputed age of 83.
Not unlike Annie Taylor numerous people tried a variety of different stunts seeking fame and fortune for there dare devilish ways, many paying with their lives. One of the most notorious people to take to the tight rope was Jean Francois Gravelot or better known as “The Great Blondin”, he was branded as the most bold and entertaining daredevil of all time, he was infatuated with crossing over Niagara Falls.
Earlier this year, Helen joined 30 other celebrities to take part in a nerve-wracking abseil from the 29th floor of London’s BT Tower. They were raising funds for Sport Relief 2014 and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust. ‘It’s not until you get up there that you realise how high it is, so going over the edge was a bit nerve-wracking,’ said Helen. Helen’s descent lasted around 17 minutes. All celebrities were supported by the Royal Marines. Apart from wanting to help good causes, Helen, said she wants to use her celebrity status to help inspire others to test their own limits.
In the spring of 1805 the Lewis and Clark expedition decides to take off. But on there way a sudden storm approaches and n...
Annie Oakley is regarded as the most famous and remembered woman from the western time period. She transformed the stereotypes that women were fighting against in the time period. Women faced pressures in their social and physical lives. Every thing they did was scrutinized by men and other women if not within the stereotype of a typical woman. Annie Oakley’s legacy after her death is that of a woman that stood out regardless of what others thought. She is remembered as the greatest woman shooter in history. She was “the first to create a picture of the cowgirl in the public mind” (Riley 34) Annie Oakley through her life and her accomplishments not only changed the stereotype of western women but also changed the way that women live their life.
...a hospital. Today, many people miss his spectacles such as riding fast motorcycles up steep approach ramps and leaping through the air over as many as fourteen greyhound busses before landing safely on a descent ramp as far as 150 feet away, but it was some of his defeats that made him most famous, such as slamming into the pavement in front of Caesars Palace or falling into an Idaho river canyon in an attempt to jump it on his “skycycle.” (K and K Promotions)
...the pressure of those moments will follow me the rest of my life…When Kerri is making the final vault, I am thinking, One legged, no legged, just stay there. And bless her heart, she did it” (Jenkins 39). Kerri landed square, desperately trying to keep the weight off of her left foot. She hopped on one foot to acknowledge the judges and then collapsed in a heap of tears and frustration. The rest was a blur. America cheered as Bela carried her to the stand to receive her gold. There were so many emotions playing across her face as the national anthem played: pain, happiness, and a deep sadness because her injury would end her Olympic experience (Parillo n.pag). Kerri’s bravery acts as a symbol to all human beings. If a four foot ten, one hundred pound girl can carry the weight of an entire nation on only one ankle, then who’s to say that anything is impossible?
Bierce, Ambrose. “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: Norton, 2008. 300-306.
Dann Koeppel, non-fiction, “Taking a Fall” (2010); establishes that survival after free-falling from an airplane is possible and offers various tips and pieces of advice should once choose to do so. Koeppel uses scientifically-proven statistics to support his advice and furthermore illustrates specific survival stories to give credibility to his arguments. Koeppel’s purpose is to explain that survival from free-falling is possible in order to educate his audience on how to survive, as well as reassuring them that airplane accidents are not common events. Koeppel creates a confident and informed, yet humorous tone to explain pertinent survival information and quiet concerns of anxious travelers.
In “Base and Superstructure in Marxist Cultural Theory,” Williams describes the existence of “residual” and “alternative” cultures within the dominant culture of the modern era. According to Williams definition of “residual” and “alternative” culture, Sam Patch’s leap at Passaic Falls on July 4th, 1828 was indeed a form of residual alternative culture. The term “residual alternative culture” can be defined as an alternative cultural practice to a modern dominant culture that is influenced by old cultural practices. Sams 4th of July leap represented a cultural alternative to the residual practice of excluding lower-class citizens from Independence Day celebrations in Patterson. Sam was trying to incorporate the plain people of Patterson into
The story was told during a snowboarding trip to Vermont this past spring. There were two members in the audience (including myself) and it was told in the room of the Red Oak Inn at around 11:30 PM. My cousin, who was seated on his bed, made eye contact with each audience member as he began his story.
Being the first person to ever climb a frozen portion of Niagra Falls, Gadd needed to think of safety first. His team worked for more than a year to get the necessary permits. They all together created a safety plan. He used ice hooks and spiked crampons. On the day of the climb he began
Phineas Gage was a foreman for a railroad crew in the 1800’s. At the age of 25 Phineas’s life was dramatically changed forever. While working at the railroads on September 13, 1848, he was packing explosive powder into a hole when thee powder suddenly detonated. The rod he was using was then blown upward sending the rod threw one of his cheeks all the way up through the brain and out the skull. This rod took out most of his frontal lobe, but surprisingly enough, he survived and was able to speak and talk. For this reason he is one of the most
"An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge." Classic Reader. 2009. BlackDog Media, Web. 2 Dec 2009. .
Falls are a serious public health concern. They are the leading cause of injury related hospitalizations and deaths among older adults. In fact, studies have estimated that one in three persons (sixty-five and older) falls at least once a year, while approximately half experience multiple falls (Scott, Herman, Gallagher & Sum, 2011). Deandrea et al. found that the best predictor of falling is a previous fall, they are several other risk factors involved.
He arrived at his first destination after about an hour of hiking. After a short while he figured he had looked over his new found haven enough, he was ready. He started down the grade with a small arsenal, consisting of a shovel, about ten granola bars, two bottles of power-ade, his snowshoes, and what was left in his hydration bladder in his pack. After descending about two hundred feet he came into the clearing he was hoping to find, it was as smooth as silk, twenty inches of fresh powder under his board. Up ahead he say a small but formidable drop off on the mountain, he knew if he was going to escape this with his dignity he was going to have to work some magic, to his success. The drop was approximately eighteen feet, but he was ready for it, he landed perfectly, it was like a dream the poof of snow exploding out from his impact, and the gentle flakes hitting his face. As he continued down the slope he did not realize that his gentle landing had severely weakened the physical structure of the mountain’s blanket, and that any moment he could bring the mass down upon himself at impossible speeds.
In the digital article titled, “Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek”, John Branch writes about the avalanche at Tunnel Creek that affected a group of 16 skiers on February 19th 2012. Published by the New York Times, this web text is an engaging piece of writing to regular, online, New York Time readers because it displays a captivating analysis of the people affected by the avalanche and it uses computer-animated pictures to help the readers visualize the text. The readers will be enlightened about this avalanche in Washington as well as information about the history of the Cascades mountain range, background stories of the skiers, and the aftermath of the avalanche. Branch’s written work is effective in attracting his readers because