A is for Adventurer

Today Olive Tree Genealogy is starting a new Alphabet Genealogy series of blog posts. I'm not following the usual way of going A-Z surnames. Instead I will create a one word "tag" such as this one for A - Adventurer. Then I will share an ancestor (mine, my husband's, an inlaw's or one of my children's) who fits the tag.

So today I want to tell you about my very adventurous 2nd cousin 3x removed, Stephen Peer the Tightrope Walker of Niagara Falls. I've talked about Stephen before on this blog but he gets another spot. He is the only tightrope walker to be killed on the wire. He was killed in 1887 and to this day there are rumours of murder.

Here are some of his adventures as noted in various newspapers of the day.

"Daredevils of the Falls".
It was unusually windy on June 22, 1887, but Peer gave his performance as scheduled. His five-eighths inch cable was a mere thread compared to the heavier ropes of his prdecessors, and the wire was held steady by 20-30 guy wires and weighted down between them with 12-20 sandbags, each weighing about 35 lbs. His walk was a complete success, and he returned to Canada in a carriage via the suspension bridge, welcomed by thousand sof applauding spectators. Three days later he was dead, discovered on the gorge bank below his cable. The reason for his death remains a mystery, but stories suggest murder.

Peer performed under his own billing for the first time on June 22, 1887. His performance was free, but a collection box was passed through the crowd. Somewhere along the way, Peer had gained the title of Professor and added an extra "e" to his surname for effect. [Prof. Steve Peere] HIs first 'official' ropewalk took place between the Great Western's suspension bridge and the Michigan Central's cantilever bridge. These bridges were replaced by the present Whirlpool Rapids Bridge and the Penn Central Bridge, in 1897 and 1925 respectively.

From "History of Welland County"
"On Wed. June 22 [1887] Stephen Peer of Niagara Falls outdid Blondin by walking across the Niagara River between the cantilever and suspension bridges on a wire rope only 5/8ths of an inch in diameter. This is the first occassion on which Niagara River was ever crossed on so slender a rope. The elevation was about 200 ft from the water. Peer carried a balancing pole twenty-one feet in length and of forty-five pound weight. He got a collection of $35.00 for his daring, but reckless deed. On the Sat. evening following, Peer either fell or jumped over the bank or off his cable. He had been drinking heavily, went out from the hotel and was last seen alive near his rope. Not returning soon, a search was made and his body was found down the bank under the cable dying from the effects of the fall. And thus was added another but not unexpected victim to Niagara."

Funeral Card in possession of Learn Family:
DIED
At Niagara Falls, Ont. on Saturday June 25th 1887
STEPHEN PEER
Aged 47 years
Friends and acquaintances are requested to attend the Funeral from the Elgin House on Tuesday, 28th inst., at 2 o'clock p.m. to Fairview Cemetery

NIAGARA FALLS TIGHT ROPE WALKER The Hamilton Daily Spectator, Hamilton Wed. June, 1887, pg. 1 Col 7

Niagara Falls Ont. June 22 Steve Peer, a local tight rope walker, crossed the Niagara River on a 5/8 inch cable stretched from the Canadian to the American side between the Cantilever and Suspension bridges at 4 oíclock this afternoon successfully. A stiff breeze was blowing during the time, and the cable was not properly guyed and he says that several times he very nearly lost his balance from its vibrations. Several thousand people witnessed the daring performance. Peer will repeat his performance several times during the season.

Peer the Rope-Walker Suicide The Hamilton Daily Spectator Hamilton, Canada, Monday June 27, 1887

Niagara Falls, June 25 Steve Peer, the local celebrity who outdid Blondin in daring feats around Niagara and recently crossed the rapids on a 5/8 inch cable is dead. Ever since he did the daring act he has been drinking very heavily, and Wm. Leary proprietor of the Elgin House where Peer has been stopping, has been watching him closely. This evening about 7:30 pm Peer went out unobserved with John Gillespie and a stranger, and later was seen with 2 men near his rope. As he did not show up by 8:30 and no trace of him could be found elsewhere, it was suposed that he had attempted to walk his rope and had fallen from it or stumbled over the bank, and ropes and lanterns were procured and Peerís brother, with John Connolly was lowered down. Near the bottom of the incline they found his lifeless body, badly cut around the head. There was a large gash leading from his nose over the top of his head so that his brains protruded, and death must have been instantaneous. His body was raised to the top of the precipice by means of ropes, and taken to the Elgin House, where it now lies awaiting the coroner. A good many rumors are afloat regarding how he met his death, amongst them one that he suicided, there being, it is said some trouble between himself and his wife. The general belief is that he attempted to walk out on the cable when recovering from his drunk and lost his footing and fell into the abyse below.

Mother's Adventures Part 1 Australia at Age 80

As mentioned in a previous blog post, my mother was an adventurer. At the age of 80 she made a decision to backpack through Australia. On her own. I had set her up on a computer when she was in her late 70s, and showed her how to email and look around on websites for genealogy information. She enjoyed doing this and often spoke to me about how much fun it was to "smurf" the 'net. Yes that's what she called it - smurfing the 'net.

Mother (3rd from right) in Australia waiting for her hot air balloon ride

We had relatives in Australia and Mother met new people through her mailing lists and genealogy forums. This spurred her to wanting to go to Australia to meet some of them. Her final push to go was when she asked me to book a hot air balloon ride for her for her 80th birthday. I wasn't able to do that and so she decided her gift to herself would be the trip to Australia where she'd find that hot air balloon ride she wanted.

To get ready for the trip, mother purchased a pink Barbie backpack - one made for children. She was only 5'1" tall so a child's pack fit her perfectly. Next came Tilly clothing - 2 sets, plus a Tilly hat. Adding socks and underwear, a few toiletries, and an extra pair of shoes, mother declared herself ready. She fit everything she needed into that backpack and booked her trip.

Here are her own words from her trip journal with some editing for brevity:

As my 80th birthday was only a year away I thought it wise to go somewhere that I knew for the first trip alone.  I could then branch out with confidence. My first trip was on a tour for 20 days to Australia and New Zealand.  I flew from Toronto to Vancouver then to Hawaii, then to New Zealand.  I had been in touch with a cousin who lived  near Wellington and she and her husband were going to come to the hotel on the evening of our return from the North end of the island to compare our notes on our Family Tree.  It was a lovely visit and we each found things to add to our respective family trees. It was exciting  to finally meet the family I had found through research in New Zealand. 

I had no idea when I started researching  the Stead family that some of them had emigrated to New Zealand as well as Australia.  I had been in touch with the ones in Australia for some years as one of the relatives had made a trip to Canada sometime in 1950.  I only met him once for a few minutes and did not remember him.  One of my mother’s brothers emigrated to Australia and the rest  of the family came to Canada.

 

I enjoyed New Zealand the only thing that I didn’t enjoy was the rain, it rained 10 out of the 21 days we spent there.  If you are going on a tour by yourself you can ask to be teamed up with another  person who is alone and hope you get a partner who is compatible.  This time I was not very lucky as she was discontented and surly.  This lady had only booked for two weeks instead of three so I had a week by myself.  I was glad because we did not get along.  It was the only time I had a problem with partners  on my trips. It could have spoilt [sic] the last two weeks as she did not speak to me unless she had to.  

After we saw all the sights on the north island we boarded the boat for the south island which was completely different to the north  even the climate was different.  It was colder and there were mountains which we did not see in the other part. We went right down to the end and the mountains were quite high there.  There was snow on the top of them and the last night there was quite cold.  I really did not expect it to be so cold.   I was sick and had to call the leader about 10:00 at night and get a doctor to come out and see me.  This was the only time in all my travels that this happened.  I ended up with a throat infection and had to keep by myself as much as possible.  No one else got sick thank goodness and in a day or two I was fine.

We went back up to Wellington and took the flight to Sydney to finish this tour. By the time we got to Sydney I was fine.  We had a tour of Sydneys water front, saw the new opera house and other things of interest  there. .  My cousin met me there and took me home with him.  I added some more time to my trip and changed my flight to come back home as I wanted to ride the train across country to Perth on the Pacific Ocean.

I booked the train ride and Frank, my cousin, drove me to Sydney when the time came to leave for the West Coast.  He  got  on and was very impressed by the accommodation.  I had a room by myself with a bed and a cabinet holding a toilet and wash basin so that I could get a wash in the morning if I did not want to go out to the shower room in the morning.  There was also a little seat so I did not have to go out of my room unless I wanted to. 

I was sitting on the stool the first morning and a lady came walking along and asked if I was alone.  I said I was and she came in and sat down and we introduced ourselves and decided to go to breakfast together.  She was wonderful company and we spent the rest of the journey together..  We had a wonderful trip and we still correspond.  

We got to a little place called Kilgori just on the edge of the last state which to find that the railway employees were on strike and we could go no further until it was settled.  We had two days  in this little backwater of a town before we could go on.  People who booked trips on the west coast were put on buses and rode all  night to catch their tours and the rest of us stayed on the train until the strike was over.  We had a great time on the train waiting to go on.  We really got to know each other and the train personnel very well.  

....to be continued

Women's History Month: Winnebago Escape Part 3

Continuing with the published story of my mother, aunt and grandmother's adventures in the 1970s:

During the course of the trip they stayed at a great deal of campsites for they were in no particular hurry.  They were delighted to find that most of the overnight spots, be they private or government run, were clean and well kept.  Rates varied between four and  six dollars a night,  with the occasional State Park  costing as low as a dollar fifty. 

Hooked to the rear of the Winnebago, the three widows had seen fit to attach a small economical Envoy Epic.  Though they didn’t realize it at the time, this car was never sold in the United States.  But did the little Epic give them any trouble?  Not on your life.  In all they put more than 5000 miles on the car with it never missing a beat.  The only  problem they had with the arrangement occurred when the arrangement when the Epic hit a bump, throwing the front wheels at an angle.  When this occurred, the little car would sway back and forth at an alarming rate scrubbing miles of rubber off the front wheels.  However they knew enough to stop the Winnebago, get out and straighten the steering wheel of the Epic  and all would be fine again. 

But don’t be mislead.  They were prepared for emergencies even though their trip was trouble free.  Each had coveralls and knew how to handle tools.  Though they weren’t about to do an engine teardown by the side of the road, they had taken a course in auto mechanics and knew how to make small repairs, change propane bottles, fix balky stoves and hook the Epic to the rear of the Winnebago.

Indeed the only spot of trouble they had occurred on the streets of  New Orleans where a brazen  young man had the gaul to pinch Mrs. Ruth Bates, the senior member of the group.  Resisting temptation, Mrs. Bates scorned he young man’s amorous advances turning on heel and leaving without saying a word.  Delighted with their trip and quietly  pleased with  their ability to cope with such an adventurre, the threesome have made plans to visit the Maritimes this summer.  We trust that their luck holds up and secretly wish that we were able to do the same thing.

Part 3 of 3

Women's History Month: Part 2 Winnebago Escape: Three Merry Widows Follow the Sun

Part 2 of Winnebago Escape: Three Merry Widows Follow the Sun (the story of my mother, aunt and Grandmother in 1974 as published in Driving Magazine)
 

They took just enough money to last them a month, the balance being held in trust by one  of the daughters to be mailed in given amounts monthly.  By doing it this way, they would be unable to overspend.  If they had no more money to buy gasoline for the Winnebago, then that’s where they’d stay  until the next month’s cheque arrived in the mail.  Naturally hey kept in close touch with the daughter informing her of their whereabouts at all times.  In truth, a perfectly logical plan of action.

Last summer was the height of the fuel crisis in the United States and here were these unsuspecting dears trundling across the border in a 20 foot Winnebago with a 413 cubic inch engine that sucks gas at the rate of l0 miles to the gallon of gas if you’re lucky. So what happened?  Nothing.  Only once were they restricted to a three dollar order which is ridiculous in a vehicle such as the Winnbago – it merely gets out of the gas station so you don’t block traffic.  Throughout their trip which lasted six months, three of which were spent in sunny California, the three widows never ran into a gasoline problem.

Joan McGinnis,  the youngster of the group who thinks hauling a Winnebago down the freeway is fun commented, “When I do the driving I expect someone else to navigate for me.  I like to see some of the scenery and if you drive more than 55 mph you don’t get a chance to see anything.”  As luck whould have it, that was the speed limit instituted during the crisis, so it wasn’t  as if they were holding up traffic.  Joan didn’t drive when it was windy, or when it rained, or on the weekends or when it go dark.  In other words they drove for a few hours at a leisurely pace Monday through Thursday leaving the highways  to the impatient  ones during the weekends.

It would appear that someone up there watched over them for they had no mechanical problems, no flat tires, no emergencies or problems whatsoever .  Oh, the odd time they  got  lost, but again that was no problem as they didn’t even care which road they took.  All they knew was that they were heading for California and the sunshine.

Part 2 of 3

Winnebago Escape:Three Merry Widows Follow the Sun Part 1

This is a copy of the interview with my mother, aunt and grandmother in Driving magazine in 1974. The interview was called Winnebago Escape: Three Merry Widows Follow the Sun. 

Because it is Women's History Month I wanted to share with my readers the story of these adventurous women in my life.  

It’s the stuff dreams are made of. Sell  your house and possessions buy a motor home and spend the rest of your days following the sun.  So many of us talk about it, but sadly never get beyond the dreams.But three people set their sights on such a goal and through determination and staying power, succeeded where most fail. 

Who are they? Three adventuresome widows.  And they’re not young either.  Their ages range from 58  to 82.  At this stage in life, all too many of us would probably be content to rock our hours away on the front stoop of our home. And in winter we’d probably spend the days complaining about our arthritis, afraid to walk to the local store for fear of slipping on an icy sidewalk.  In the meantime the merry widows of this article will be gallivanting around the southern parts of the United States, soaking up all the glorious sunshine.

Joan McGinnis, Lillian Bonar and Ruth Bates made their decision about two years ago.  All three had lost their husbands sometime earlier and thought hey had a steady monthly income, none were wealthy – not by a longshot.  Nevertheless through careful planning and tight budgeting they felt they could make a go of it in a mobile motor home.  Having sold their respective homes and disposed of their furniture,  the three purchased a 20 foot Winnebago and moved in.  Wisely they decided to live in the unit for a number  of months before venturing out onto  the highway.

Mother Drives, Lily Cooks

Anyone  contemplating a similar move would be wise to follow their example as it’s simply amazing how many things can go wrong at first.  Invariably these occur miles from the nearest help putting a damper on the  good times.  During their period of adjustment they modified a few  things in the Winnbago to suit their lifestyles, namely the closets, but for the most part found that few alterations had to be made either to the unit or to their way of life.

The day of their departure, they had made  no advance bookings, whatsoever, in fact they hadn’t even mapped out an agenda.  Why? Because they didn’t to be burdened by silly schedules.  When they became tired hey planned to stop.  If they saw a pretty place, they’d simply pull over  None of this crashing at breakneck speed simply to  comply with an arbitrary schedule.

Part 1 of 3

Women's History Month: Who's Your Heroine?

March is Women's History Month so let's talk about the heroines in our family trees. Do you have a female ancestor who inspires you or who achieved success in the face of hardships? Or perhaps one of your ancestors was the first female to do something quite amazing or unheard of in her time.

My Grandmother Ruth Simpson 1894-1985

I have several female ancestors whom I admire. One is my maternal grandmother. Ruth Simpson was born in 1894 in Kent, Ramsgate England. She was a pampered and somewhat sickly child who was called Dolly by her family because she looked like a little china doll. A timid woman, Grandma Ruth was not one to take risks or seek adventure. 

But at the age of 19 she left the comfort of her home, left her friends and family, to follow her fiance to Canada. Grandma was terrified of water so this was a very brave and large step for her to take. She was also used to being cared for and pampered but starting a new life in a new land required her to be strong. 

Soon after their marriage in Toronto Ontario in 1914, she and her husband moved to Guelph where they began family life. Grandma had two daughters in quick succession and settled down to be a homemaker. After her third daughter was born in 1923, Grandfather bought Grandma a small store so that she would not be bored. Grandma ran the tiny Tobacco Shop for several years then decided she wanted to have fewer headaches than being a female business owner in 1925 gave her. She applied for, and got, a job selling high-fashion women's dresses in a large department store. Sadly her husband (my grandfather) died when Grandma was only 45 years old. She had to survive on her own.

My mother, aunt and Grandmother in the 1970s

That terrified her but she did it. That's what I admire the most - that as frightened as she was, she drew a reserve of strength from somewhere and did what had to be done. It was WW2 and she soon met Sam R.,  married him and moved to Ajax where she got a job in the Munitions Factory in that town. 

When  Sam died some 10 years later, Grandma moved back to Guelph and got her old job back in the dress department. And yep, you guessed it - she met and married Fred B. She was 62 years old at the time of her third marriage. 

After Fred died Grandma moved in with her two eldest daughters. After a few years in an apartment they sold all their possessions and started traveling around N. America in a Winnebago. She and my mother and aunt were written up in two driving/touring magazines where they were featured as "The Merry Widows" who took a Mechanics Course and did their own repairs as well as driving all over N. America and into Mexico. 

My Grandmother Ruth is my heroine. Who is yours?