The heavy rain and wind of Halloween night have managed to move a huge iron catana that had been trapped on a rocky perch near Niagara Falls since 1918.
For 101 years it was considered that the old vessel was immovable, until the storm cleared it on Thursday, according to the Niagara Park Service. The ship, which had deteriorated during the last century, seemed to turn and turn sideways.
A massive ship stuck over 100 years just ahead of Niagara Falls moves after storms dislodge it. The question is: will it go over the edge? https://t.co/Sftnbfgcg2 pic.twitter.com/drvb8sjbJU
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— AccuWeather (@accuweather) November 4, 2019
The catana got rid of its trailer during a dredging expedition on the Niagara River of Canada on August 6, 1918, one mile from the Horseshoe Falls, and glided toward the middle of the river near the border between Ontario and the state from New York.
A barge that's been lodged in the same position above Niagara Falls for more than 100 years shifted on Oct. 31 due to strong winds.
READ MORE: https://t.co/gwv400UwjX pic.twitter.com/AjcurJbVMJ
— Globalnews.ca (@globalnews) November 3, 2019
Two men were on board when the ship began to move towards the edge of the falls. Gustav Lofberg, 51, and James Harris, 53, opened the discharge gates to flood their compartments and stop the ship, preventing it from falling down the falls.
The men were caught in the rapids of the river after the boat ran aground on the rocks. The US Coast Guard managed to rescue them the next morning, but saving the boat seemed impossible.
The old iron boat had remained undisturbed in the river for more than 101 years.
According to an NBC report, the metal remains barely moved about 150 feet (about 45 meters), and is now about 2000 feet (600 meters) from falling through the falls. The offset is not visible from the Canadian side.
Related: This man launched himself from the Niagara Falls. He survived. Only four have achieved it by miracle
