2-996-073 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Prince of Wales in Canada - His Royal Highness descending a timber-slide at Ottawa - from a sketch by our special artist, G. H. Andrews, 1860. 'A slide...is an inclined plane, with several feet of water rushing over it, forming a waterway down which the crib can pass without damage, thus avoiding waterfalls like the Chaudière, where they would be broken and the timber injured. A crib consists of sticks of timber of any length, forming a small raft...[which] goes down the slide with great velocity, the water rushing over the forward part and sometimes dashing over the men upon it. On each side of the slide...were thousands of people...When the Royal crib got under way and shot past or below them these people cheered and waved their handkerchiefs, and the most intense excitement prevailed; for, although there is really little danger, yet accidents sometimes happen...And when Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, was to undergo this experience, how much greater than usual was the interest taken in the running of the crib. Everything, luckily, went well, both with the Prince's raft and with that which was carrying the leading members of the press immediately following. The whole of both parties were delighted'. From "Illustrated London News", 1860.