There are conflicting reports whether Lofberg and Harris were able to release the false bottom of the scow to dump their load of sand and silt—-but regardless, the boat got caught on a rock shoal from the edge of the falls, leaving the two Niagara Falls Power Company employees stranded in the middle of the raging torrents of water. Later reports suggest that Lofberg had tied a rope between himself and the scow as a safety precaution lest he fall overboard while the scow was still beached, while Harris tied one between himself and a free barrel.