Platt D. Babbitt

Babbitt photographed Joseph Avery on July 17, 1853 holding onto a log in the rapids above the falls.

As the boat capsized, two of the men went over the falls and died, but Avery was able to hold on to a log pinned amongst rocks for 18 hours before succumbing after a series of failed rescue attempts.

Newspaper accounts report that he also made diapositive "window hanger" images.

[1] Photographer George Barker worked for Babbitt in Niagara Falls, New York.

Babbitt had emptied his pockets of papers and money before his death, and had fastened a short rope around his neck and the other end around a flat stone.