Bobby Leach (born Lancaster, England; 1858 – April 26, 1926) was the second person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel, accomplishing the feat on July 25, 1911 —while Annie Taylor did it on October 24, 1901. He spent six months in the hospital recovering from injuries he sustained during the fall, which included two broken knee caps and a fractured jaw.
Leach had been a performer with the Barnum and Bailey Circus and was no stranger to stunting. Prior to his trip over the falls he owned a restaurant on Bridge Street and would boast to customers that anything Annie could do, he could do better.
Leach returned to Niagara Falls, New York, in 1920 and operated a pool hall. While in his sixties he attempted to swim the whirlpool rapids but failed after several attempts. During these aborted attempts, Bobby Leach was rescued by William "Red" Hill Sr., a riverman, who knew the Falls well and became well known in the area for later rescues.
In 1926, while on a publicity tour in New Zealand, Leach injured his leg when he slipped on an orange peel. The leg became infected, and eventually gangrene necessitated the amputation of the leg. Leach died of complications two months later.
But that was all worth his 15 minutes of fame.
ReplyDeleteWhether they are yellow or orange or any other color, don't throw your peels on the floor. Dry em out and smoke em.
ReplyDeleteNiagara Falls in a barrel, stunts, whirlpool rapids ... and it was the orange peel that got him.
ReplyDeleteLike has it's own rhythm.
Orange you sad for him?
DeleteA reminder that in the days before modern antibiotics an infection could quickly be a death sentence.
ReplyDeleteDarwin was a little late collecting him.
ReplyDeleteEveryone needs a hobby...but...no.
ReplyDeleteSo he was killed by modern medicine of his time, then...
ReplyDelete