KAYAK CAMPING the DELAWARE RIVER : (DAY 1) FOUL RIFT to GETTERS ISLAND.

Описание: 3 DAYS of KAYAK CAMPING the DELAWARE RIVER in NEW JERSEY and PENNSYLVANIA.

BELVIDERE TO RIEGELSVILLE
TOTAL DISTANCE: 25 MILES

DAY 1: FOUL RIFT to GETTERS ISLAND

FOUL RIFT is a Class II rapids in the Delaware River located about a mile south of Belvidere, New Jersey. The rapids are caused by a 22-foot descent in elevation of the limestone ledge riverbed for approximately 0.5 miles, and are considered to be the most dangerous on the Delaware River. At elevated water levels some of the narrower rapids can become extremely dangerous.

GETTERS ISLAND
In 1833, the island received its most familiar name, Getter's Island. Charles Getter, accused of strangling his wife, Margaret (Rebecca) Lawall, was hanged there. Usually, hangings took place in Easton's Centre Square, but the island was selected so the largest possible crowd could watch.

Reporters said 100,000 people watched from the riverbanks. More accurately, the crowd numbered around 20,000. It was a festive occasion, as was the custom. Getter, dressed in white, elected to walk from the prison in Centre Square to the island, rather than be taken by carriage. He made his way to the island over "a bridge of boats."

Getter chose to be "drawn up" for the hanging, rather than being dropped through a trap door. The noose was placed around his neck. With the swing of a hatchet, the sheriff cut loose a 300-pound weight. It plummeted to earth, pulling Getter up by the neck.

But the rope broke. Getter fell to the ground.

Getter waited 20 minutes while officials found another rope. During that time, he complained that he had hurt his arm when he fell.

When weight, rope and the prisoner were all in place, Getter asked that his necktie be adjusted to cover the rope burns from the first attempt.

A written account of the event ended with these words: "Again the weight was cut loose, and Charles Getter was launched into eternity."