The Maid of the Mist

There is nothing more poetic an experience as the “Maid of the Mist” ferries through the midst of mists of water spawned by the cascading waters of the Niagara Falls. The tourists are not only treated with novel experience of crossing the vast expanse of the river but also the overwhelming power and sound of the falling waters. 

Legend has it that a maid plunged into her death at the falls as a sacrifice to appease the angry gods, the Thunder God Hinum and his two sons, who the villagers thought to have brought misfortunes to the Indians. However, as the maiden fell to her death, the Thunder God Hinum caught her and let her live with them. Not forgetting the reason of her sacrifice she asked the gods to let her resurface as form of a mist to warn her people that a big snake is the one who is poisoning the people to die and eat their dead bodies. As a result, the villagers were to kill the evil snake, but before succumbing to death the snake slithered at the base of the waterfalls and died, its body decayed forming a curve shape as it can be seen now, which is also the main attraction in the course of the river tour-the Horseshoe Falls. Today, “Maid of the Mist” is no longer a legendary maid but ferries that bring tourists to see the waterfalls at the Niagara River. We can only surmise that ferries names are inspired by the legend of a sacrificing maiden.

It was Christian Dow in 1807 that had speculated the possibility of crossing the river below the falls as he saw ducks swam across the river. Eleven years later, in 1809 that William Forsyth realized Dow’s speculation by constructing ladders to the site in the hope of operating a ferry service.   However, it wasn't as smooth as planned for there were some parties who would want to have the same business as William Forsyth wanted. In May 1846, a big, odd looking 100-ton ferry boat made her first appearance at the River manned by Captains Filkins and George Synes, operating at the south Railway Bridge. When the suspension bridge was completed at the Falls View in 1848, it was considered rather fancy to ride in a ferry than using the bridge that took people across the Niagara Gorge. Seeing the death of ferry servicing, Niagara Falls Ferry Association took a significant step in keeping the industry afloat by using the “Maid of the Mist” as a boat that will take trips past to the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls or the Canadian Falls. In the year 1854, marked an important milestone for a new  “Maid of the Mist” boat was launched. The passengers of this new ferry were given caps and oil-skinned coats to keep them dry. In 1860, among its famous passengers was Prince Albert Edwards, Prince of Wales who was on a Canada tour. However, in 1860 with the onset of Civil War, financial difficulties and not so rosy patronization of the ferry boat, the “Maid of the Mist” I was sold to a Montreal firm. It took several years before the ferry was resurrected from the depths of Hades when another suspension bridge in Niagara Gorge was built. It was this time that tourists came back to bosoms of the “Maid of the Mist”. The sudden influx of tourists made R.F Carter and Frank Le Blond of the Village of Clifton to invest in the construction of the new “Maid of the Mist II”, this time a steamboat ferry unlike the first one, which was a single-stack steamer. Unfortunately, in April 22, 1955 the draughts burned. Like phoenixes, two came alive; this time made of steal and diesel powered engines with both accommodating 101 passengers. The 66 ft Maid of the Mist I ferried tourist from 1955 and retired in 1990 while the twin boat Maid of the Mist II glory days was from 1956 until 1983.  Since the Niagara River has become a “must do” itinerary for both locals and foreigners alike, five more maidens were built excluding the small tugboat called “The Little Maid".

The “Maid of the Mist” vessels were not only for tourists’ enjoyment but also an instrument in rescuing a seven-year old boy, Roger Woodward, who plunged over Horseshoe Falls in July 9, 1960 with nothing but life jacket on. It was the Maid of the Mist II that took on the role of the rescue. Upon her retirement, the maid continued her human charity work by being a missionary boat in the Amazon River in Brazil.

For over 150 years, the maidens, has earned the reputation as being one famous ferries that take tourists to the main attraction of the cruise, the basin of the Horseshoe Falls where people are made to experience the powerful intensity of water falling that produces mists and foams. The half an hour Niagara Falls tour starts at the calm area near the Rainbrow Bridge, then sail through the American and Bridal Veils Falls and of course lastly the Horseshoe Falls basin. The tour can either start from the Canadian or American side of the river. One shouldn’t forget to bring passport for one will need it when crossing the borders coming from either both countries. As for the price of the tour and the schedule it varies also depending on which country you start the tour from. The tour schedule is not daily, for reference there are wealth of sites to be researched and viewed online.

The Niagara Falls with its waterfalls has attracted people for its expanse and obvious prestige however; one cannot enjoy it without being in the midst of her powerful girth if not aboard the “Maid of the Mist”.  Like the maid who rescued her people from death, she promised life to her people who will sail through the river with safety and enjoyment.