Without a kite and a ten-year-old boy, Homan Walsh, the Niagara Falls Bridge would not have been built in 1847. The problem was how to get the first line across the steep cliffs, rapids and swirling winds. First Homan crossed the river on a ferry lower on the river since the prevailing winds came from the Canadian side. He hiked back to the cliff chosen by the engineer and launched his kite and released more and more line as the kite sailed to the American shore. Then he waited for the winds to subside after sunset. It was a long wait, but finally the line became slack, and he reeled it in. Unfortunately, the line had fallen into the gorge where the sharp ice had shredded it.
Due to bad weather Homan stayed with a family on the Canadian side for eight days before a second, successful, attempt. After securing the initial kite string, progressively heavier and heavier line was fed across until a steel cable that connected across the gorge, and the bridge construction could begin. Homan Walsh was rewarded with a ten-dollar cash prize.
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