Annie Edson Taylor went over Niagara Falls in a barrel on October 24, 1901. She was the first person to survive such a stunt. According to the New York Times story of October 25, 1901, she was 43 at the time. Either she lied about her age or the reporter got it wrong. She was actually 63. Trying to get some social security, I guess. Different strokes, different folks.