Annie Edson Taylor had planned to make a fortune via a one-of-a-kind PR stunt. She intended to take a barrel ride over Niagara Falls on her birthday (October 24, 1901). She had a watertight and cushioned barrel specially made for her. As a test, she threw the barrel over the falls with a cat inside, and the feline survived the drop, much to her pleasure and the cat’s happiness.
So, on that 24th day of October, the 63-year-old retired teacher got into the barrel with the help of her companions and secured the lid. She was cast adrift just above the falls, where she would be swept away by the river. After she fell over the falls, she was rescued by an awaiting boat, and the bruised and frightened lady was discovered alive and unharmed.
