Table of Contents
Bobby Leach was born in 1858 in Lancaster, England and in history, he was the second person to have traveled over Niagara Falls in a barrel. It must be noted that Bobby Leach was able to achieve this feat on July 25, 1922.
The first person to have achieved the same feat was Annie Taylor on October 24, 1901. She did that at Horseshoe Falls in a barrel on October 24, 1901, and asked that no one should repeat it.
Bobby Leach sustained some injuries after achieving the feat; two broken knee caps and a fractured jaw. Due to the injuries he suffered, he had to spend 6 months in the hospital to be able to recover.
Stunting had been part of Bobby Leach as he had performed with the Barnum and Bailey Circus. Even before he traveled over the Niagara Falls in a barrel, he always bragged about the fact that he could do much better than anything Annie Taylor could do at a restaurant he owned.
Bobby Leach made a return to Niagara Falls and attempted to swim the whirlpool rapids but he was not successful even though he tried several times. It was William “Red” Hill Sr., a riverman who rescued him. William “Red” Hill Sr., a riverman, knew much about the Niagara Falls.
The role of Bobby Leach is played by Jim Howick in Season 2 of CBBC’s adaptation of Horrible Histories and the Primus’ song from the Brown Album, ‘Over the Falls’, describes a man who straps himself into a metal capsule and prepares for his descent over the falls in an attempt at fame. The description fits the metal capsule that Robert Leach had made.
Bobby Leach Cause of Death
It would be recounted that Bobby Leach went on a publicity tour in 1926. In the course of the tour in New Zealand, Bobby Leach slipped on an orange peel and ended up injuring his leg. His leg became infected and was subsequently amputated. Two months later, due to some complications, Bobby Leach died.
Bobby Leach Burial
Bobby Leach was buried in Auckland’s Hillsboro Cemetery. The inscription on his gravestone reads: “In loving memory of Bobby Leach, world-famous by his trip over Niagara Falls in a barrel. Died 28th April, 1926 aged 69 years. R.I.P.”
Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Leach
https://nfexchange.ca/museum/discover-our-history/history-notes/bobby-leach
