Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-08-01

BUFFALO, N. Y, July 25.-In 1861
the little steamer Maid of the Mist,
with three persons on board. ran the
rapids of the Niagara, passed through
the whirlpool itself, and glided into
the quiet water beyond. Those on
board survived the trip, the only
persons who ever went through this fear
full channel olive. Yesterday Capt Webb,
without other means of safety than ma
ture had provided him, attempted to swim
through the war of waters and failed.
His body has not yet been found. For
three-quarters Of mile below the sus-
pension bridge runs the whirlpool, the
widest, the most tumultuous, and dan
gerous portion of the river. The tre-
mendous power Of the current cannot be
realized. Webb could not attempt to
swim lit was simply a question of en-
durance, whether he could live in the
wild waves. He was rushed onward
with resistless force and persisted in
his mad attempt. No effort was made
to advertise the undertaking beyond
sending circulars to the newspapers.
Not dozen people in the Falls knew
this morning that the effort was to be
made. There was no advertising dodge
about it. The great swimmer was conf
dent that he could make the trip IN safe
ty. He carefully looked over theground,
but he had failed to realize the immen-
sity of the undertaking, and so deliber-
ately committed suicide.
Capt. Webb arrived in Buffalo Mon
day night, and stopped at the Genesee.
His coming was unheralded, and the
fact of his being here was known to but
few. Seen by areporter Monday night, he
said he would surely make the attempt.
Nothing but desire for notoriety moved
him. Last June he proposed to swim
the rapids, and tried to get the rail-
roads and hotels to make it an OBJ
iect. They refused, but the pa
pers kept talking about it, SO he
determined to make the trial. No one
accompanied him save his English man
ager, Mr.. Kyle. Capt. Webb did not
leave for the Falls until noon. Arrived
at Niagara he proceeded at once to the
Clifton House, where several reporters
and others were In waiting. He chatted
pleasantly and expressed great conf
dence in his powers. The hour fixed
was o'clock, and about 3 the crowd
bade him goodbye and FASTENED to Sc
cure good positions for viewing the
toodhardy experiment. |
| At a few minutes before 4 o'clock
Webb appeared at the foot of the bank
on the Canadian side, where a skiff was
in waiting with the veteran guide, Jack
Conway, at the oars. He entered the
boat and was pulled into the stream.
The captain was entirely nude save for a
small breechclout. Conway pulled as
far down as the Maid of the Mist land
ing, but did not dare proceed further.
can right" sid the captain, " this will
do u.s."
"I don't expect ever to see you
again, said Conway.
sob yes, you will, was the pleasant
reply. ''You don't know me. am an
Englishman.
After few more words Capt. Webb
stood up in the bow of the boat and
dived head first into the water. Then
began the great struggle for life. Il
was just 1920 when the captain entered
the water. A few vigorous strokes and
he was fairly in the rapids, going breast
on, his form mere speck, as seen from
| the great bluff above. He went like ar
arrow shot from a bow. The first great
wave he struck he went under
but in a second appeared way be
You'd. His efforts to strike out IL
swimming form were weaker than an in
fant's against the seething waters. The
great waves dashed over him oeca.
eionaIly, but he always seemed
ready to meet them. His great ches
was boldly pushed forward, and oc
casionally half of the magnificent ply
sique of the reckless adYenturer, waI
lifted from the water, but he bravely
kept his position through it all and
seemed perfectly collected and at home.
In a second more the voyager was
lost to view behind a projecting
bank. He passed through the
lower rapids where the waves dash
higher, the water is confined in g
narrower space, and the trip is in
every way more perilous. How fal
he went alive no one will ever know. He
was seen by many while passing through
this awful sea, but ere then he may have
been dead. His body was borne onward
now rising above, now sinking beneath,
the white capped waves. 1t was seen to
enter the whirlpool. The life of
the captain was gone and not even
his body has yet been found. PEG
pie who were not apprised of the
attempt laughed at the three OF
four newspaper-men who organized a
search. This was continued until dark,
but no trace of Capt. Webb's body was
found. The maelstrom sometimes gives
up it's dead in day, sometimes it holds
them in, its embrace week, until all
semblance of a human being is crushed
out in the revolving waters.
Before leaving the Clifton House
Capt. Webb deposited with the clerk of
the hotel an elegant gold watch and
charm, with a seal and Maltese cross.
The cross has engraved upon it: ''To
Capt. Matthew Webb, by the Victoria
Athletic Club, Stok-upon-T Trent, Dec.
%, 1877" The watch was presented to
Capt. Webb on the occasion Of his
having performed the unprecedented
feat of swimming the English
channel, by few of his friends and
admirers at London, September 9, 1875.
The watch ia q chrOnOmeter made bV