Niagara Falls KIRK JONES An Interview With A Daredevil 2003 (Survived) On Monday October 20th 2003 at 12:45 p.m., Kirk Raymond Jones became the first human in recorded history to go over the Horseshoe Falls unaided and survive virtually unscathed. The most remarkable aspect was that he did so without any safety and/or flotation device. The 40 year old, single and unemployed man from Canton Michigan (south of Detroit) came to the City of Niagara Falls on Saturday October 18th along with a his friend Bob Krueger of Garden City, Michigan. Both spend several nights at a local motel on Lundy's Lane before his actual stunt. In preparation , Jones had bought a used video camera. His plan was to have Krueger video record Jones' feat for prosperity, historical and perhaps for financial reasons. Unfortunately Krueger didn't learn to properly operate the video camera before the event and did not capture any part of it on videotape. Kirk Jones carried through with his plan of jumping into to upper Niagara River approximately 20 feet from the brink of the Horseshoe Falls at the Table Rock of the Niagara Parks Commission property along the Canadian shore. Jones, wearing only the clothes on his back, was quickly swept over the Falls (170 feet) to the plunge pool basin below. Seconds later Kirk Jones emerged from the turbulent waters below and was able to pull himself to safety onto a rock a short distance away from the cataracts. Here he remained stranded until the arrival of emergency service personnel who rescued him from his precarious perch and transported him to the top of the gorge. Jones was transported to the Greater Niagara General Hospital suffering only minor rib injuries. Kirk Jones was admitted to the psychiatric unit on an involuntary basis pending an assessment. Jones stated that his stunt wasn't a stunt at all but a failed attempt at suicide. Others close to Jones including family members contradict this view and have indicated that Kirk Jones had planned to go over the Falls as a stunt for the fame and fortune including gainful employment which he believed would follow. The planning process was described as very unsophisticated and unscientific. Whatever the motive, Kirk Raymond Jones has etched his name forever in the annals of Niagara Falls daredevil history. Jones was subsequently arrested upon his release from hospital and charged with Mischief and Performing a Stunt with the Niagara Parks. On December 18th 2003, Jones returned to court. He plead guilty to both charged and was fined $3,000 and in addition was ordered to reimburse the Niagara Parks - Journey Behind the Falls attraction $1,408 for the money they lost during the 45 minutes the attraction had closed to facilitate Jones rescue. Jones has since been employed by the Toby Tyler Circus of Texas to perform as yet undefined stunts. Interview with a Daredevil - Kirk JONES This interview was conducted on October 22nd 2003 in Niagara Falls following his arrest. The following interview has been edited for brevity. Jones: like I’ve heard so many things in the paper that I haven’t said to anybody Interviewer #1: yeah Jones: so I don’t know what that means or what it doesn’t mean Interviewer #1: yeah Jones: but Jones: um hm Interviewer #1: okay and basically I wanna give you an opportunity to give your explanation as to what happened and ah but with that being said it it’s up to you Jones: I I you’ve been great people the the only thing is the only thing I wanna give you is a statement and um if you would like to write it down record on that video tape pur on your recorder whatever you wanna do I’d like to give that statement and I’d like to tell you like it is Interviewer #1: go right ahead Jones: so you don’t even have to do the shorthand like Interviewer #2 does then Interviewer #2: yeah Jones: okay the shorthand is this Interviewer #1: okay Jones: it was my desire my desire only to go to that to go to those falls that day not even the person I was with knew that I was going to try to end my life that day that I purposely thought and there would there and that there would be no doubt that when I went over those falls I would not be coming back history shows for itself that’s the case why I chose that over other means I could question myself now I thought that would be the most peaceful way to go I almost drown once when I was a child and I thought my circumstances the way they were and the lack of hope that I had that that would be my day that I would go and ah for whatever reason I didn’t and I’m grateful now I’m grateful to all those around me in this room and many more that I’m around but that’s all I can say and I and I apologize for for any inconvenience and and danger I put those other parties into and I do not recommend or condone this sort of action for anyone and I would hope that they would get the help that I’m soon going to be getting to to stop this terrible thing called depression that’s (indiscernible) all I’ve got to say Interviewer #1: okay Kirk um have you had depression for a long time Jones: I’ve had some for the last six months Interviewer #1: for the last six months Jones: very strong depression Interviewer #1: have you ah sought any medical attention for that ah depression Jones: no I’ve not Interviewer #1: have you told anybody else about that depression Jones: to be honest no I haven’t Interviewer #1: is is it (indiscernible) Jones: obviously people knew I was depressed my parents I think knew I was depressed I would I don’t know you’d have to ask them I don’t know but I I I knew that I did not want to have my life going living the way it was and I decided that ah it was I had in my mind feel there was no hope that I can tell you all this anything else you’ve heard (pause) is not from me Interviewer #1: Kirk Jones: that’s all I can yell ya Interviewer #1: Kirk why did you select Niagara Falls can you enlighten me Jones: well why did I select Niagara Falls that that that’s a great question I thought that that would be the the easiest most peaceful way for me to go out that’s all I can tell you I’m not scared of water so much as ah as of water like I say I I’ve almost drown once when I was a child I’m not one to ah I don’t own weapons I can’t kill myself that way I don’t want to drive a car into a into a house or set myself on fire or any of these other maniac ways I I just in my mind and I can’t tell you exactly why that is the way I chose why I chose Interviewer #1: how do you get along with ah your brother Jones: me and my brother have fought for years Interviewer #1: and and Jones: almost to the point of killing each other many times really Interviewer #1: why Jones: I don’t know I don’t know it’s just one of those things um there were times when I’ve hated the man so much ah ah my parents would verify this that ah we’ve gotten the guns ah I don’t have guns we’ve gotten the knives out we’ve gotten the clubs out we bashed the house up the police had to come I guess it’s nothing unusual I guess if you read the bible Cain and Abel didn’t get along too well either these things do happen I’m trying ah I’m a forty year old man now it’s it’s it’s sad to see the that that kind of fighting going on um perhaps that’s one of the things that led me to my decision to go over the falls is when my parents left I felt somewhat abandoned and I would have to stay there with him and it would the house would then of course be his house and um those words came out of his mouth a few times well this is gonna be my house now you son of a bitch this is gonna be it and ah all these things added together um could make me decide to do this decision I did Interviewer #1: well the house is actually owned by your dad still right Jones: right but it is gonna be changed over from what I understand Interviewer #1: why would it be changed over to him Jones: because the par my parents are are are staying in [State withheld] Interviewer #1: right but why him as opposed to you Jones: well my brother has has a legitimate job coming in my job my brother does work at Ford Motor Company Interviewer #1: okay Jones: ah um our our business is is over Interviewer #1: okay Jones: whatever me I had no visible means of income other than try and look for another job Interviewer #1: okay Jones: that that that’s where that stands Interviewer #1: how long have you been un unemployed ah I suppose that’s the question I have Jones: overall about twelve twelve to twenty weeks twelve to twenty weeks I I had still lived under my parents Interviewer #1: were were Jones: care Interviewer #1: were there any prospects of ah gaining full em employment Jones: no not at that time Interviewer #1: in the near future Jones: not no not at that time no Interviewer #1: okay Jones: um I obviously think I could work on something now perhaps Interviewer #1: okay (indiscernible) Jones: once I get over this depression is what I wanna do the doctor wants me to immediately seek my personal doctor and ah and try medication and and therapy groups Interviewer #1: and your personal doctor is Jones: Doctor [name withheld] in in ah [name withheld] Michigan Interviewer #1: okay Interviewer #1: do you do you have any major medical ill illness now besides the depression Jones: no I don not Interviewer #1: well let’s take the day when you when you went into the falls Jones: okay Interviewer #1: okay were you on any medications then Jones: no Interviewer #1: were you taking any illicit narcotics or Jones: no Interviewer #1: or drunk Jones: I did take two drinks that morning as liquid courage Interviewer #1: and what were they Jones: vodka and orange pop if you can believe that Interviewer #1: and the amount Jones: amount Interviewer #1: yeah how much would you have taken Jones: about a half pint if it all (indiscernible) in a short of period of time I’m I’m guessing here I had a half pint and ah I made two drinks and I drank it so I’m thinking perhaps less but that’s all Interviewer #1: okay I got a question for you Jones: yeah Interviewer #1: where did you guys park for free Jones: (laughing) where did we park for free Interviewer #1: I have to ask that Jones: well it’s you could always park for free in Niagara Interviewer #1: no no no you said that you said that on the tape Interviewer #2: yeah you said I know a place we can park for free Jones: (laughing) Interviewer #1: so tell me where you were parking so that I can park down there for free from now on Jones: well I think early in the morning um if you go down past the old power house what do you I don’t call it the old not the old power house but there’s another building that’s across the way that there’s the old power house on the right if you’re going down the Interviewer #1: (indiscernible) Jones: well you know the old power house right there’s that older big build it looks like somebody’s old mansion they got all chained up what is that Interviewer #2: Toronto power house Jones: the old Toronto power house Interviewer #2: yeah Jones: I have to see what it looks like again it’s pretty neat um anyway past that on the right hand side is the Interviewer #1: Dufferin Islands Jones: there’s that little hut there where you can park just a little bit past there on the right hand side there’s the hut Interviewer #2: (indiscernible) house Jones: huh the greenhouse probably Interviewer #2: (indiscernible) right Jones: and and certain times of the day there nobody’s there yet Interviewer #1: and you parked did you park there that day Jones: I think so yeah I think so I that’s where I can remember parking Interviewer #1: okay okay Jones: again but see after a certain hour they must show up and then its business as usual I think Interviewer #1: right Jones: I seen other people doing it so I thought it was okay and Interviewer #1: here here’s a question I have for you Kirk ah it deals with the fact that you’re talking about depression and you you you basically are saying to us that because of depression ah you wanted to end your life and you you ended up going into the falls and ah but on the other hand okay I’m hearing from Bob Kruger I’m hearing from your dad and I’m hearing from [your brother] when I talked to him that basically ah and and that um you are were talking to them about being able to come down here perform this stunt succeed and to gain notoriety and hopefully gainful employment from from (indiscernible) Jones: well I’ve heard this too I’ve heard this too Interviewer #1: this is what they said Jones: this is what I read in the paper today Interviewer #1: no this Jones: see I have read this in the paper too Interviewer #1: just so just so you know that I’ve spoken to your dad and your mom Jones: um hm Interviewer #1: I’ve spoken to Keith I I haven’t spoken to Bob but we certainly heard about Bob and Bob was spoken to that day Jones: um hm Interviewer #1: and they all are towing the same line that you were in fact talking about it planning it beforehand so how do you help help me out how do I equate what they’re telling me Jones: well Interviewer #1: to what you’re saying now Jones: well then I then I equate this how would a normal man feel that he could make it above all others when everyone else has died already going over that stupid thing I I knew in my mind there was no damn well I could make it there was no way in my mind I knew that um did I did I think this was my ticket ride to stardom and success no I did not think that and that isn’t true that’s all I can tell you Interviewer #1: okay no I I I’m just telling you what they told me Jones: I understand Interviewer #1: okay Kirk I mean I Jones: I understand Interviewer #1: and I just wanted to try to ah get you to try to ah perhaps (indiscernible) Jones: don’t get me wrong I I’m gland I’m here Interviewer #1: yeah Jones: but ah it wasn’t supposed to be that way Interviewer #1: so the way it worked in your mind is that you ah ah basically in an attempt to commit suicide and failed Jones: yeah that’s it in a nutshell I guess Interviewer #1: but in but in in on the other flip of the coin is that ah in doing so you continued to live and you’ve become the notoriety of of being the first person in recorded history as far as I know of going over the falls without any floatation devices or safety devices and surviving Jones: that I can’t explain to you Interviewer #1: (indiscernible) Jones: (indiscernible) explain how the sun rises Interviewer #1: I don’t I don’t think you can explain that to anybody and I don’t think that anybody can understand that ah because I can tell you from our experiences that no one has ever survived in in modern recorded history everyone who has committed or attempted suicide in in going over the falls has accomplished that task I can tell you that and I can tell you that since nineteen hundred um on an average at least eight to twelve people do it each year and they succeed so you’re you’re you are ah you played the odds and you won ah but those are the things I I wanted to ask you Kirk was with respect to what your mom what your dad and what your brother and what Bob was saying now at some point you’re saying you you you when did you actually cross in to Canada I suppose that’s a question I gotta ask ya Jones: I’m sorry I don’t understand Interviewer #1: when when did you come to Canada when did you come Jones: oh when we come we came um see Satur that would be Saturday in the afternoon we left Michigan Interviewer #1: now I take it Jones: and I did not arrive until um it was raining it was dark it was raining that Saturday night and it time it got into Canada it was raining miserable and cold and it had to be around nine o’clock at night when we came here Interviewer #1: okay Jones: okay we immediately came in I immediately looked for Lundy’s Lane because I I’ve been here before and I realized that’s gonna be my cheapest hotels in the place generally right you guys know the area Interviewer #1: and you’re in Bob’s car right Bob’s car Jones: Bob’s car I stopped at two or three places they were too much for me I stopped at the [motel] and ah she said something like fifty a night and I said well I can’t do that I said I can you give me something a special ah she goes ah okay I’ll give you thirty a night and I go okay that’s for two beds and she goes no that’s one bed so well can you give me two beds for forty she goes ah (indiscernible) I said tell you what you give me two beds for thirty-five and I’ve got the five dollars extra for the tax so forty bucks out the door Canadian right and she said fine and there’s where I stayed it’s probably still the best deal in Canada right for forty bucks a night for a room Interviewer #1: so when do you buy the camera and where do you buy the camera Jones: I had a camera I bought about ah three weeks ago in ah in (pause) two and a half to three weeks ago I bought it used out of a paper called the Trading Times it’s a used paper for articles you probably got something like that around here it’s for used merchandise and um I bought it for just ah to have ah actually (indiscernible) as a memory of of ah of my Niagara trip and and as well as a few other things I was gonna buy it for seeing my parents before they left Interviewer #1: yeah Jones: but the problem is it never worked Interviewer #1: right Jones: the problem is it never worked I had three battery packs not one of them would ever charge I couldn’t even get the tape out and um just before my trip to Niagara I put the last battery pack on and it maintained a little bit of a charge Interviewer #1: um hm Jones: and I put it on and I would record it and within thirty seconds it was dead again Interviewer #1: okay Jones: so this is useless so I said well maybe I’ll try to play with it on our trip for Niagara that’s when I threw it in the car Interviewer #1: right Jones: and I tried to do it once I made a little tape and and it died within minute Interviewer #1: right Jones: I put it on again and then the next time it seemed to last like for two minutes Interviewer #1: right Jones: try it again it last for three minutes and that’s where about where I left with it I I played a little game with it in the [motel] if you you Interviewer #2: (indiscernible) Jones: you’ve probably seen me playing around in the [motel] going to the car Interviewer #1: yeah Jones: playing a little game with it Interviewer #1: actually you should have let Bob do that see you you were you were actually using it and not giving Bob enough time to do it other than that he would have been able to record what you were doing now there therein lies the next question Jones: um hm Interviewer #1: you knew you were going to the falls you give Bob specific instructions on how to record you um (indiscernible) going when you go in the you’re telling him (indiscernible) Jones: no no Interviewer #1: and you’re telling them how to focus it it’s right on the tape Jones: I I Interviewer #1: where you’re sorta giving him instructions Jones: I was giving him instructions how to ah how to video tape ah video tape in general on Interviewer #1: well what help me out here maybe I’m missing something here Kirk but if you’re planning to commit suicide what’s the purpose of the video tape and directing basically a show Jones: well that that Interviewer #1: basically Jones: that wasn’t my idea at all to to to to give a show of my death to anyone (indiscernible) and there alone that’s probably why Bob didn’t video tape it he knew how to operate it I showed him earlier we we played little games ah it’s very simple to operate that thing once it’s recording Interviewer #1: no but from what I we we’ve listened to the tape and if you listen to the voice over it’s like you’re giving him instructions Interviewer #2: yeah Interviewer #1: and and basically you’re playing up a show I gotta tell you that I I’m not I’m not lying to ya I’m I’m listening to this thing and Interviewer #2 has and you’re you’re you’re being the narrator it’s almost like a show um and you’re telling him where to stand you’re telling him how to pan you’re telling him where you’re gonna be how to how to fol follow you in the water Jones: (indiscernible) Interviewer #1: how to focus um that’s almost like a show to me Interviewer #2: it’s there Kirk (indiscernible) Jones: (indiscernible) Interviewer #2: it’s it’s on the tape Jones: yeah Interviewer #2: I mean we’ll let ya see it Jones: yeah you can you can um but it was not my idea to ah ah record my own death that I could tell you now whether obviously ah you guys it’s up to you whether you wanna push this into court and all that stuff and to prove whether did Kirky wanna kill himself did Kirky not wanna kill himself Interviewer #1: no just Jones: I mean it’s it’s it’s Interviewer #1: just so you know let me let me let me lay this right on you right now Jones: I guess it would be like this Interviewer #1: it doesn’t matter whether you what your purpose was Jones: if if I was dead we wouldn’t be here today Interviewer #1: yes Jones: now that I’m alive it’s a stunt so I don’t know Interviewer #1: but it no I I’m just saying from what we we we listened to okay Interviewer #2: well basically you’re right is that either way you’re not allowed to go over the falls Jones: well that’s you are totally right Interviewer #2: and that basically that’s it you know Jones: you’re totally right you’re totally right Interviewer #1: and you had to know I suppose in your mind that if you did survive that you’d have to be at some point rescued it’s not like you were ah you got wings and you can fly so you had to know that you’re gonna inconvenience people you’re gonna in Jones: yeah hey you’re right there is a wrong here and I I am not trying to to to suppress it or deny it I’m shocked that I’m here to tell you it but ah of that I’m sorry Interviewer #1: I don’t have any more questions Interviewer #2 do you have any Interviewer #2: no that was ah the video taping was the big one I I was curious Jones: I’m sorry for for all the for all I’ve caused you people I would gladly go on TV to tell people never to try such a horrible stunt I would gladly whatever I can do to help the Park Commission to end this sort of thing tomorrow (indiscernible) grateful to me Interviewer #1: I hope you do that I do um so is there anything else that you want to say Jones: I’m all set sir Interview Concluded. NIAGARA FALLS THUNDER ALLEY NAVIGATOR

INFORMATION INDEX

Information Index Accidents & Rescues Aero Car American Falls Attractions Attractions Price List Aviary of Niagara Barge (Scow) Books & Authors Botanical Gardens Boundary Waters Treaty Bridges History Butterfly Conservatory Carillon Tower Casino Niagara Cave of the Winds Clifton Hill Climate Customs Regulations Daredevils Dewatered Falls Directions & Parking Dufferin Islands Environmental Issues EVENTS & NEWS Falls Facts & History Festival of Lights Fireworks Over Falls Floral Clock Floral Showhouse Frequently Asked Questions Geology Greenhouses Horseshoe Falls Hydro Diversion Ice Bridges / Ice Boom Illumination Lights Links to Educational Sites Maid of the Mist Municipalities of Niagara NEWS & EVENTS Niagara Glen Niagara Gorge Niagara Parks Niagara River Niagara River Treaty Niagara Tunnel Project Oakes Garden Theatre Parking & Directions Power History Rankine Power Station Rescues & Accidents Scow (Stranded Barge) SITE MAP Spanish Aero Car Towers of Niagara Falls Urban Developments Weather Whirlpool Whirlpool Aero Car Whirlpool Rapids



HISTORICAL ARCHIVE

History Index Barge (Scow) Accidents & Rescues Accounts Historic American Falls Dry 1969 American Revolution Barnett, Thomas Bender, Phillip Birth of the Cities: a history Bridges: a History British in Niagara Burning Springs Caroline, the Steamboat Center, the Chippawa - a History City of the Falls Project Clifton, Town & Village of Commerce (Early) Crysler, Harmanus Daredevils Hall of Fame Devil's Hole & Massacre Dewatered Falls Drummond Hill Early Settlers Explorers Accounts Forsyth, James Freedom Trail of Niagara French in Niagara Frontier Amusement Park Geology - a History Great Gorge Route Historic Accounts Honeymoon Bridge Collapse Hotels & Campgrounds Ice Bridges Ice Bridge Deaths Incline Railway Crash (1907) Indian Nations Islands of Upper Niagara Lorreto Academy MacKenzie Rebellion Michigan, the Schooner Mill District of New York Mowat Gates Muddy Run Creek New York, Western Niagara Falls 1800's Niagara Parks - a History Oakes, Harry Pioneer Families Post American Revolution Portage Road Power - a History Powerhouse at Queenston 1954 Prospect Point Rockfall Railroads - a History Rankine Power Station Schoellkopf Power Collapse Scow(stranded barge) SITE MAP Skyview Airlines Streetcars & Trolleys Subchaser Superior, the steamboat Table Rock - a History Terrapin Point - a History Toll Roads - a History Tower Terminal Inn Towers - a History Townships: a history War of 1812, Rumours of War of 1812 Battle of Queenston Battle of Newark Battle of Beaverdams Battle of Chippawa Battle of Lundy's Lane Battle of Cooks Mills War of 1812- Ending Post War Development Water Works Yesterday 1909 Zimmerman, Samuel



PICTURES & SLIDESHOWS

Photo Index American Memories (link) Fireworks Over Falls Historical Pictures Page #1 Historical Pictures Page #2 Honeymoon Bridge Collapse NF Library Collection (link) Panoramic Pictures Powerhouse at Queenston 1954 Small Town America (link) Yesterday 1909

SITE MAP Date last updated: February 13, 2012



the following locations and facts about them are but a few of many famous sites & attractions to be found in Niagara Falls. The best of it is FREE to see...so think of Niagara Falls when planning your next vacation. If you have questions of a current or historical nature about the Niagara Falls area or suggestions feel free to e-mail Rick at niagarahistory@gmail.com







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KIRK JONES an Interview With A Daredevil



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