Tragedy At Niagara Falls. 3-People Died in February 1912

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The Buffalo News ~

In 1912, Niagara Falls ice bridge cracks, and three are swept to their deaths.

Ellen Przepasniak Feb 4, 2017 Updated Feb 4, 2021.

Believe it or not, visitors to Niagara Falls used to be able to walk on the ice bridges that form naturally at the base of the cataracts.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, an ice bridge crossing was a means of recreation.

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Hello! I'm Mr. Ed

Blog Created: 5-9-2022

Credits:

The Buffalo News

Ellen Przepasniak, Digital content editor, She has worked at The Buffalo News since 2016. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from SUNY Fredonia and a master's in print journalism from Boston University.

The ice bridges form every winter, typically in January, when Lake Erie is frozen over. Winds push blocks of ice down the Niagara River and over the falls where they freeze into a large chunk.

In the 1800s and 1900s, ice bridges provided visitors with a unique view of the falls in the winter and were hugely popular. Vendors would even set up wooden shacks on the ice to sell souvenirs and food to tourists.

But ever since a tragic incident on Feb. 4, 1912, the ice bridges have been closed.

Vendor's set up shacks on the ice to sell food, drinks and other things.

Crossing an ice bridge at Niagara Falls around 1910.

On Feb. 5, 1912, The Buffalo Evening News reported the tragic tale of three people who died when part of the ice bridge cracked and was swallowed up by the rapids.

The victims were Burrell Hecock, 17, of Cleveland, Ohio; Eldridge Stanton, 28, of Toronto; and Mrs. Eldridge Stanton, 24, of Toronto. Four others who were on the ice chunk narrowly escaped.

The article describes the tragic scene:

The great ice jam in the gorge gave no warning of impending disintegrations. About 30 people were upon it, most of them huddled about the two shacks that had been erected in the center of the ice. Seven venturesome spirits wandered further down the floe. Suddenly, there was a loud cracking noise ... the ice broke and the party of seven found itself on a large cake of ice sailing rapidly down stream.

Hundreds of visitors to Niagara Falls watched what was happening but could do nothing to stop the tragedy. A rescue was attempted as a man hoisted a rope over the American side of the bridge. Burrell Hecock reached for the rope, grasped it and swung into the air as the crowds cheered. As he was being pulled up to safety, his strength gave out and he fell to his death.

The article describes the conclusion of the horrific scene:

Mr. and Mrs. Stanton went to their doom with a prayer on their lips. The man's courage was sublime. When he realized that all hope was gone he took off his coat, wrapped it about the woman, and together they knelt on the ice in an attitude of prayer, the man with his arms about the woman. They were kneeling thus when the first breaker of the rapids turned their frail ice raft over and they plunged into the icy current. Many a prayer went up from the silent groups on the shores in unison with that uttered by the dying couple and hundreds turned their faces away when the ice floe reached the breakers.

Their bodies were quickly swept into the whirlpool rapids ~

The News said this was the first time in history that the ice bridge at Niagara Falls had broken. The day after the tragedy, more ice had formed to mend the bridge, but police posted signs forbidding people to walk out on it. That was the last time visitors would be allowed to walk on the ice below Niagara Falls.

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NEWS ARTICLES ~

The following are the news articles that followed the tragic event for the next few months.

Cleveland, Ohio- February 4th 1912

Ignatius Roth, who was rescued at Niagara Falls today when Burrell Hecock, his companion, was drowned, came back to Cleveland tonight to tell his mother how he won his life from the cracking floes of the ice bridge by a happy catch of a rope's end.

“Burrell and I had crossed the ice bridge from the American side nearly to the Canadian side," he said "We took some pictures and then started back toward the American side. There were a man and a woman near us. We were about in the middle of bridge when I heard a cracking sound. I laughed, because it didn't seem to be anything serious, and we did not run.”

Shore Seems to Move ~

“I told Burrell to see if other people had heard anything. Then I heard a rumbling-sound, and the ice bridge was broken. It seemed as if the shore moved and we stood still, as the ice broke down toward the rapids. The four of us, the man and woman, Burrell and I, were all together In the middle of the river. We began to get scared, and we ran first this way and that. There were some shanty men on the bridge and they ran to shore. The shanty men ran towards the Canadian shore, and one of them, Red Hill, I think his name was, yelled to us to come to the Canadian side. They got off, but when we got there the ice had parted. We ran again to the American side. The man and the woman had been running to and fro as the ice broke up. Finally the woman fell down, and the man called to us to help him. He said he could not do anything alone. We went back and tried. Then I ran to the Canadian shore and didn't see the others again.”

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TELLS HECOCK'S BRAVE END ~

Cleveland Ohio - February 5th 1912

Companion of Niagara Victim Last Heard: "Don't Tell My Mother."

"Don't tell my mother" were the last words shouted by Burrell Hecock across the widening waters of the Niagara River to Ignatius Roth, his companion from this city. Then the rapid current swept Hecock beyond the hearing and sight of Roth, who had leaped to a neighboring ice floe. Roth saw nothing more of his friend, a projecting point hiding the tragic end of Hecock and Mr. and Mrs. Stanton.

Young Ignatius Roth, who arrived home late last night, told how he and Hecock crossed to the Canadian side on the ice bridge and took pictures. Returning, the bridge began to rumble. Hecock dropped the camera, but Roth picked it up. Hecock took it from him and smashed it on the ice.

“This is no time to think of cameras” Hecock said, "We must fight for our lives."

As Roth and Hecock ran, Mr. Stanton behind them shouted for aid for his wife. Roth and Hecock stopped and Hecock took the woman by one arm with Mr. Stanton holding the other. Roth made his way toward the Canadian shore. Leaping a break in the ice, he called to Hecock:

“Can't you make it'?”

“No. Good-bye” replied Hecock “Don't tell my mother.”

Roth then caught the rope thrown him and was drawn to safety.

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Dog Found Alive in Shack on Niagara Ice Floe ~

Niagara Falls, New York- February 6th 1912.

The large collie dog was yesterday afternoon rescued off an ice floe on which the Stanton's and young Hecock of Cleveland were for a time, after the ill-faded ice bridge moved out Sunday, carrying the three to their deaths. The victims would probably have been rescued had they remained on this floe, which anchored off of the plant of the aluminum company and remained intact throughout from the time the ice bridge moved out.

A dozen venturesome employees of the plant ventured out on the ice yesterday in hope of finding the victims of the tragedy. They were surprised when they opened the door of the shack to have the dog, almost famished with hunger and shivering with cold, jumped out and lick their hands.

Nelson R. Butcher and Oliver B. Stanton of Toronto were here yesterday afternoon and claim the effects of their daughter and brother respectively. They had a long talk with A. N. Allen, owner of the hotel, and also made arrangements for the recovery of the bodies.

Before going on their fatal expedition Mr. and Mrs. Stanton purchased a number of articles, which were sent to Mrs. Stanton's mother in New York. Superintendent Harris of the State Reservation, and Superintendent Jackson of Queen Victoria Park, after a long conference yesterday afternoon, said they would shortly issue orders which hereafter would prevent anyone from venturing on the ice bridge.

Bodies Not Found

A report was in circulation that the bodies had been recovered this morning at an early hour, but upon investigation being made by Ontario police and undertaker Russell the report proved to be without foundation. A sum of money has been left with the authorities here by relatives for patrolling purposes. Fred Preston, of the city, who was well acquainted with every part of the rapids, has volunteered to keep a close watch. He patrolled all yesterday and today, but is of the opinion that the search is fruitless on account of the vast amount of ice.

Were to Visit Fenwick's

Mr. and Mrs. Stanton were personal friends of Mr. and Mrs. D. Fenwick, Bridge Street, Niagara Falls, Ontario, and were on their way over here to visit the Fenwick's on Sunday afternoon intending to cross by the ice bridge and returned by the lower steel arch bridge, having notified Mr. and Mrs. Fenwick on Saturday of their intended visit. Mrs. Stanton and her mother visited Mrs. Fenwick about six weeks ago; Mrs. Stanton then expressed her keen desire to cross the ice bridge.

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The Tragedy at Niagara ~

[This is an editorial from the Toronto Star]

Toronto, Ontario-February 6th 1912

To have even witnessed the tragedy of Niagara Falls on Sunday must be ranked as a serious misfortune in itself, since those of us who were not present have been so deeply moved by the story of it.

Another terrible chapter has been added to the history of Niagara, and the terrible part is that it is not merely the losing of the lives, for as we know lives are lost every day in circumstances bad enough, but the tragic and pathetic feature of this affair was the presence of hundreds of eyewitnesses, who were exhausting all the resources of man against the quiet malevolence of natural forces moving steadily for an hour towards the destruction of three human lives. The ice fields moved down the drain of the gorge as they have done for thousands of years, as unmindful of man as a man had never inhabited the earth.

Among the eyewitnesses were men so moved by the tragedy being enacted and before them that they would have sacrificed the fortunes they had almost sold their souls to gain, if by doing so they could have rescued the three unfortunate fellow-creatures they had never seen before, and whom, an hour earlier, they may have passed on the street without a look. Among the onlookers were men who were not only willing to, but did risk their lives in vain efforts at rescue. Men did the most daring things that day, clamoring with ropes down and along the icy walls of the gorge hoping to save life.

Nothing reflects more credit on us as a people than the way men of our race can meet death when they must. The story of it comes to us over and over again, winter and summer, from sea and forest, mine and river. When a ship founders or a crowded building burns, men step forward and quit themselves like men.

In this case a man and a boy went to death like men. Burrell Hecock, of Cleveland Ohio, was but a boy, yet he turned back to help Mr. Stanton with his wife. He could've escaped, for the companion with whom he was with, reach safety. He may not have known that he was actually choosing between life and death at that second of time, but he did know that the peril of the woman was greater than his own, and he promptly increased his own to reduce hers. It was the decision of a brave mind, and his subsequent conduct was in keeping with the views of him. When the ice broke and separated him from the man and woman, to whose agency had gone-strangers whose names he did not know, and whose wraped-up faces he had never seen, he waved his hand to him encouragingly. "He was an only son" said his friend who survived, "and this will break his mother's heart". But from all over America mothers will send sympathy to one who mourns the loss of such a son.

No doubt he was just a normal boy, but in the crisis he rose to greatness. "The bravest man I ever saw" is the tribute paid to Eldridge Stanton by Alfred Scott, who tried to get a rope to him. He faced his fate with equanimity, and devoted all his attentions to his wife. It was her life, not his own, he sought to save, and when a rope dangled from the bridge high above, reach him at one time it was her form he sought to tie to the lifeline. But it could not be done. The last man to exchange words with him says that he was quiet and self possessed. He put his arms about his wife and looked death in the face, unafraid.

Modern business life is not heroic, but it often happens that in a time of stress men show that the spirit of the race does not change.

Patrolling River in Hope of Finding Bodies of Victims ~

Nelson R. Butcher, his son and O. B. Stanton returned from scene of tragedy Rescue was impossible

February 6th 1912

Many messages of condolence are being received by the bereaved family ~

Nelson R. Butcher, his son, Reginald and O. B. Stanton returned last night from Niagara Falls, where they had passed the day, discharging the melancholy duty of learning further details of the Sunday tragedy, in which Mr. Butcher's daughter, Clara Stanton and her husband Elderidge had lost their lives in the rapids.

Though Mr. Butcher and Mr. Stanton had not sent word that they were coming, they were met at the Niagara Station by Mr. Willox, chief immigration officer, Mr. Phemister, G.N.W. agent, and Mr. McNamara, of the Provincial Frontier Police, and given all available information. They saw the route of death taken by Mr. and Mrs. Stanton on their awful journey of one hour and ten minutes.

Rescue Was Impossible

"As we saw the conditions under which the rescuers attempted, we recognize the great difficulties that presented themselves," Mr. Butcher stated this morning. "On either side, the ice formation was such that little or nothing could be done. We have engaged a man to patrol the river for some days until it is thought useless to continue as a matter of fact the presence organization is so thorough and efficient that nothing can be done to improve"

Both Mrs. Butcher and Miss Verna Butcher are ill from grief. The mother suffered greatly even when there was a faint hope that Mr. and Mrs. Stanton might be alive.

Letters and telegrams of sympathy have come to the bereaved families. Mr. Butcher is well known throughout America, and to some extent, across the Atlantic. Of these messages of condolences, a number are from the Canadian judiciary.

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River Man Engaged to Watch for Bodies ~

Wednesday February 7th 1912

Nelson R. Butcher received word this morning from C.E. Willcox, immigration officer at Niagara Falls stating a noted river man, Preston by name, had been engaged to watch the lower river for three weeks, in the hope that the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge Stanton might be found. Mr. Willcox is not sanguine as to the result, but regards his patrol method as the only one that promises any chance of success. Between banks of ice, a torrent of slush and broken ice rushes, the river man considers it barely possible that the bodies may attach themselves to the floating ice or be found floating to one side or the other in the downward flow.

"I have heard nothing further" said O.B. Stanton, brother of the late Eldridge Stanton this morning.

Letters of condolence continue to pour in. Mr. and Mrs. Butcher in particular have received a large number from judges, lawyers, public men and personal friends and each succeeding mail delivery adds to the number.

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Mrs. Hecock Denies Story of the Vision ~

February 14th 1912

Mother of lad lost in Niagara River contradicts tale from Cleveland.

"Not an atom of truth in it" is the way friends of Mrs. Hecock, of Cleveland, mother of Burrell Hecock who was drowned with Mr. and Mrs. Stanton at the breaking of the ice bridge at Niagara a little over a week ago, characterize the story about Mrs. Hecock seeing a vision of her son in a glass of water she was drinking at the time her son was floating down the river. In a letter received this morning by Mr. G. W. Holmes, barrister, of the Janes building, Mrs. Hecock herself says "there is not one word of truth in it, whatever."

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Tragedy of Niagara Ice Bridge Recalled ~

Papers in the estate of Eldridge Stanton filed in Surrogate Court

Eldridge Stanton…..$705

Papers in connection with the estate of Mr. Eldridge Stanton, who with his wife Clara and Burrell Hecock, who stayed to assist them and went to their death when the ice broke free in Niagara Falls on Sunday, February 4th, were entered into Surrogate Court this morning. The tragic death of the couple and the vain efforts made to save them will be recalled.

Mr. Stanton died intestate and, according to the papers "in a common catastrophe in which his wife also died". His estate totaled $705, including five and half shares of O. B. Stanton and Wilson Company stock worth $450. The remainder was household goods and bank balance.

The beneficiaries are Oliver B. Stanton, brother, of 54 Young Street, Toronto ; Mrs. Verna Sheard, of 314 Jarvis Street, Toronto and Mrs. Mabel Lawson, sister of Buffalo, each of whom receive one third of his estate.

May 16th 1912

Mr. Nelson Butcher, father of Mrs. Eldridge Stanton said that he feared the chances of finding the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Stanton were very small.

"A watch is still being kept along the river" he said "and the whirlpool Rapids have been watched by kind friends." Immigration officer McNamara has been particularly kind in this regard but the hopes are now very small, since the ice is gone out, of finding them.

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The winters are cold in the Niagara Regine.

On an ice bridge.

Ice bridges were popular before the accident.

Women walking across an ice bridge around 1912.

Burrell Hecock stranded on ice floe.

Good friends. Roth escaped, Hecock did not.

Mr. Stanton tried valiantly to save his wife. But both perished.

Texture of an Ice Bridge on the Niagara River below the Falls.

A whirlpool just like this one swallowed the three victims.

Niagara Falls in winter.

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