Prior to the deaths in 1912, the ice bridge was a tourist attraction. Many years in January and February, the Niagara River froze just below the falls, forming a bridge 40 to 50 feet thick, and locals used to set up shanties selling snacks and souvenirs.
Just before noon on February 4th, a huge chunk of ice went over the falls and rammed the ice bridge. A young, childless married couple, Eldridge and Clara Stanton, were taking in the sights. He was a well respected 36 yr old stationery company executive, she, 28 yrs old and an avid photographer. They lived in Toronto, Canada.
Also present were two lifelong friends on vacation, Burrell Hecock, and Ignatious Roth, both age 17. They were from Cleveland, Ohio, USA. The four met and Clara offered to take a photograph of the boys.
After the ice bock crash, the bridge began to break up and people ran for either shore. Roth stooped to pick up his dropped camera, leading to Hecock saying, "This is no time to think of cameras! We must fight for our lives," knocking the camera from Roth's hands.
When Clara Stanton fell, her husband called out for help. Hecock, who had been headed in the other direction, stopped and then ran to their assistance. Roth called out to his friend, "Can't you make it?" to which Hecock replied, "No. Goodbye. Don't tell my mother."
The Stantons, Hecock, and Roth all ended up on separate chunks of ice. Roth was fortunately saved. The current pulled the others downriver toward the white water of the lower rapids and the whirlpool.
People dropped a rope from Cantilever Bridge and Hecock grabbed the rope, but his freezing hands lost their grip and he fell 30 feet to the ice, where he was immediately washed off and downstream.
Near the Lower Arch Bridge, farther down the river, Mr. Stanton was able to grab a rope. He tried to tie it around his wife, but the rope broke. He gave his wife a final kiss, and they were then both washed into the river.
None of the bodies were ever recovered.
Just before noon on February 4th, a huge chunk of ice went over the falls and rammed the ice bridge. A young, childless married couple, Eldridge and Clara Stanton, were taking in the sights. He was a well respected 36 yr old stationery company executive, she, 28 yrs old and an avid photographer. They lived in Toronto, Canada.
Also present were two lifelong friends on vacation, Burrell Hecock, and Ignatious Roth, both age 17. They were from Cleveland, Ohio, USA. The four met and Clara offered to take a photograph of the boys.
After the ice bock crash, the bridge began to break up and people ran for either shore. Roth stooped to pick up his dropped camera, leading to Hecock saying, "This is no time to think of cameras! We must fight for our lives," knocking the camera from Roth's hands.
When Clara Stanton fell, her husband called out for help. Hecock, who had been headed in the other direction, stopped and then ran to their assistance. Roth called out to his friend, "Can't you make it?" to which Hecock replied, "No. Goodbye. Don't tell my mother."
The Stantons, Hecock, and Roth all ended up on separate chunks of ice. Roth was fortunately saved. The current pulled the others downriver toward the white water of the lower rapids and the whirlpool.
People dropped a rope from Cantilever Bridge and Hecock grabbed the rope, but his freezing hands lost their grip and he fell 30 feet to the ice, where he was immediately washed off and downstream.
Near the Lower Arch Bridge, farther down the river, Mr. Stanton was able to grab a rope. He tried to tie it around his wife, but the rope broke. He gave his wife a final kiss, and they were then both washed into the river.
None of the bodies were ever recovered.
Prior to the deaths in 1912, the ice bridge was a tourist attraction. Many years in January and February, the Niagara River froze just below the falls, forming a bridge 40 to 50 feet thick, and locals used to set up shanties selling snacks and souvenirs.
Just before noon on February 4th, a huge chunk of ice went over the falls and rammed the ice bridge. A young, childless married couple, Eldridge and Clara Stanton, were taking in the sights. He was a well respected 36 yr old stationery company executive, she, 28 yrs old and an avid photographer. They lived in Toronto, Canada.
Also present were two lifelong friends on vacation, Burrell Hecock, and Ignatious Roth, both age 17. They were from Cleveland, Ohio, USA. The four met and Clara offered to take a photograph of the boys.
After the ice bock crash, the bridge began to break up and people ran for either shore. Roth stooped to pick up his dropped camera, leading to Hecock saying, "This is no time to think of cameras! We must fight for our lives," knocking the camera from Roth's hands.
When Clara Stanton fell, her husband called out for help. Hecock, who had been headed in the other direction, stopped and then ran to their assistance. Roth called out to his friend, "Can't you make it?" to which Hecock replied, "No. Goodbye. Don't tell my mother."
The Stantons, Hecock, and Roth all ended up on separate chunks of ice. Roth was fortunately saved. The current pulled the others downriver toward the white water of the lower rapids and the whirlpool.
People dropped a rope from Cantilever Bridge and Hecock grabbed the rope, but his freezing hands lost their grip and he fell 30 feet to the ice, where he was immediately washed off and downstream.
Near the Lower Arch Bridge, farther down the river, Mr. Stanton was able to grab a rope. He tried to tie it around his wife, but the rope broke. He gave his wife a final kiss, and they were then both washed into the river.
None of the bodies were ever recovered.
Just before noon on February 4th, a huge chunk of ice went over the falls and rammed the ice bridge. A young, childless married couple, Eldridge and Clara Stanton, were taking in the sights. He was a well respected 36 yr old stationery company executive, she, 28 yrs old and an avid photographer. They lived in Toronto, Canada.
Also present were two lifelong friends on vacation, Burrell Hecock, and Ignatious Roth, both age 17. They were from Cleveland, Ohio, USA. The four met and Clara offered to take a photograph of the boys.
After the ice bock crash, the bridge began to break up and people ran for either shore. Roth stooped to pick up his dropped camera, leading to Hecock saying, "This is no time to think of cameras! We must fight for our lives," knocking the camera from Roth's hands.
When Clara Stanton fell, her husband called out for help. Hecock, who had been headed in the other direction, stopped and then ran to their assistance. Roth called out to his friend, "Can't you make it?" to which Hecock replied, "No. Goodbye. Don't tell my mother."
The Stantons, Hecock, and Roth all ended up on separate chunks of ice. Roth was fortunately saved. The current pulled the others downriver toward the white water of the lower rapids and the whirlpool.
People dropped a rope from Cantilever Bridge and Hecock grabbed the rope, but his freezing hands lost their grip and he fell 30 feet to the ice, where he was immediately washed off and downstream.
Near the Lower Arch Bridge, farther down the river, Mr. Stanton was able to grab a rope. He tried to tie it around his wife, but the rope broke. He gave his wife a final kiss, and they were then both washed into the river.
None of the bodies were ever recovered.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
