In the Mad Water: Two Centuries of Adventure and Lunacy at Niagara Falls [Paperback]

T. W. Kriner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 1999

T. W. Kriner returns with a fresh torrent of stories from the dark history of Niagara Falls. Written with a healthy dose of horror, exacting attention to detail, and a splash of macabre humor, this book includes: the tragic voyage of the Grider; a ghastly plunge into the postmortem world of Niagara's victims; the complete story of Robert Overacker's bid to conquer the Horseshoe Fall; rare photographs of disasters, heroes and stunters; scores of murders, suicides, and spectacular accidents; a thorough chronology of Niagara stunts.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I've looked through and read dozens of 'Niagara' books . . . [In the Mad Water] is the most thorough, most interestingly put together and presented, best written, and overall best researched." -- E. R. Baxter III Pushcart- Prize Nominee Looking for Niagara

In the Mad Water "is a fast-paced, thoroughly readable and entertaining account of people whose destinies became entangled with the waters of the famous and sometimes deadly Niagara River." -- --Sherman Zavitz Official Historian, City of Niagara Falls, Canada

Journeys to the Brink of Doom "is a fascinating read. It's the kind of thing you can dip into at any time . . . I thoroughly enjoyed the stories . . . " --Pierre Berton Niagara: A History of the -- --Pierre Berton Niagara: A History of the Falls

About the Author

T. W. Kriner lives in Williamsville, New York, with his wife, three children, and four cats.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: J & J Pub (September 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965724514
• ISBN-13: 978-0965724517
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,147,871 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Completely Captures a Feeling, September 3, 2000

By 

Wine Lover (Herndon, VA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: In the Mad Water: Two Centuries of Adventure and Lunacy at Niagara Falls (Paperback)

This is the first book on Niagara that has captured both the fact (which many books do quite well) and the FEELING of the place. I grew up on Grand Island, just upstream from the Falls, and growing up on 'that' water was different from growing up on any other, because you always had the nagging sense that four miles away was certain death. When you went fishing, you were afraid to fall asleep for fear of waking up in the Rapids; when you went swimming, there was always the unreasonable notion that somehow the river would not let you get back to shore. TW Kriner is the first person I've ever read to capture a sense of the ominous presence of the Falls just in the background of daily life on the Niagara Frontier.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In the Mad Water: Two Centuries of Adventure and Lunacy at N, September 29, 2000

By 

Robert Henning (Rutherfordton, North Carolina United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: In the Mad Water: Two Centuries of Adventure and Lunacy at Niagara Falls (Paperback)

Having grown up just a few miles from the falls and working there for four summers, I've seen and heard first hand many accounts of lives lost tempting fate on this incredibly dangerous river (both upper and lower). Perhaps having been a local I have a better appreciation and respect for the Niagara. But I am constantly amazed at the stunts and stupidity people will undertake trying to conquer this obviously unconquerable landmark. After each account you'll be asking yourself the same question locals have for years... what was that guy thinking?

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderfull read, it brings forth the true power of niagara, June 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: In the Mad Water: Two Centuries of Adventure and Lunacy at Niagara Falls (Paperback)

This book absolutly keeps you intrested from the first page to the last. After a recent trip to the Falls ( having not been there since a 9 yr old kid) i was captivated by the wonder of the falls and the respect it comands. I wanted to know more, not just everyday facts, but the inside stories and how lives are affected by the wonder of Niagara. this book captures that and makes the reader gain a respect for the falls and for all those who dare to take on the wonder of it. The stories of those who tept fate at the falls are intriguing and very well told. Again it gives you an added appriciation for the wonder and power of such an amazing place. Anyone with an Intrest in the falls and wants to know more about it and how it affects people has to read this book.