4 Deadline for next issue of the Mirror 5 March, 1993 A Love Siory "Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have 0 QQ ~ fo TO + tr MD = pwO3 gp» Re £2 cr 30m ~~ 3 O35 0. ON = or = «Q 2 Ww Q 7, [0] aye) wo by 8 n [OI] QQ ~~ =x 22 on 2 ao 28 --_n a @ mw Ti 5 a wg a a 11 - i aH I] Cu = T ~ I > . took rides up to the great deluge in boat called the Maid of the Mist and rivermen like R devised a variety of daredevil conveyances with whic challenge the watery force. His favored vehicie was t barrel, 3 ho ® O Before Ontario Hydro diverted much of the river's flow in and out of its generators - water careened over the horseshoe falls with such force that the lip of the Falls was eaten away afoot every vear and every winter such co pious amounts of ice flowed into the river from Lake Erie that the pile-up below the Fails jammed into a mass so solid that the American and Canadian sides were seasonally linked by what was fondly called the "ice bridge". So solid and stationary was the ice bridge that winter visitors amused themselves by walking it from one side of the Niagara River to the other. it was thrilling to see the thundering mass of water from this entirely novei point of view. And, of course, there was always the possibility of calamity. On a February day in 1935, my grandmother's friends Frank and Alice were among the carefree cluster of necple who set off to walk the ice bridge, making a cluster of little black dots on the icey mass for ail to see from above. Frank and Alice had been married ten years and were having one of their rare weekends away from the city and the worries of their haberdashery business. it wasn'teasy or pleasant waiking on the ice. The surface was harsh and the air mist-soaked and dam p, but Frank and Alice were determined to reach the rainbow which appeared to end just above the American Faiis and Goat Island. As they walked, Americans and Canadians mingled and laughed as they navigated the unforgiving surface. It was hard to hear each other above the roar of the Falls and even harder to hear the cracking ice. But, the sound of cracking soon joined the Falls' roar making ominous splintering and tearing sounds which caused the tourists to scatter, seeking the nation nearest to position on the floe. 8 Cet fe D Having nearly gain ~ 4 Or a Ca Ite) @ From above horrified spectators screamed as they watched the ice bridge break up. It swung lazily out into the loved at all." Alfred Lord Tennyson, In Memoriam. river taking with it a few black dots of people who now ran frantically like the trapped animals they had become. !t lumbered inte the river, catching on the shore for a few Fy [=] afew ate VileTe] ao Tar A Fmrarme Ala a rmarvilanio seconds before moving as a whole towards th PErous . felon on mo alana, YT SI py ~ a mami mm bla aed als whirlpool below. Down river, customs men on the bridge Et RPS V0 OR « J AU TI bv. fe 5 dhe PRY Uy Fp py TET oo broke into fireboxes to get the only thing at hand of any use - Bir I. A " og ans Gai fi 5 - cloth firehoses which they flung over the side of bridge Frank saw the hoses descending. There was time to get into position to grab one, but there were only four lines of rescue. People ahead of them caught one as it dangled in mid air. Frank and Alice ran towards another, They were aware of the bridge's shadow, anxious faces above and cries of encouragement. They were aiso aware of the floe picking up speed. The hose came towards them. Frank caught hold of the heavy cloth with its cold nozzle and made a fast loop around his arm, then he grasped Alice firmly with his right arm. They were alright until the floe swept past them. They leapt to be airborne, but the river caught Alice. The current tore at her fest and legs. Up, Up. ard hi i or They yanked him, but she was being dragged down. Her i i 1 12 ric slicker was wet. His grip loosened and, suddenly, she sank ara mda baa alanls loads sarmdar SIVYIIL HILO LNT SICTK UIAC RK WW. LCT. Frank heard a man above shout, Hold on, sir. Hold on. But Alice was moving away fast, the cry of surprise still formed on her face. He looked up for a second and then at Alice disappearing in the dark water. He let go of the hose and dropped into the river, d n to. You could oni "m + tiswith nisasure writer to the read