The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-08
The Maid In tho Rapids.
A LITTLE BOAT, WITH AN EFFIGY OF EMPEROR
WILLIAM As TIE sTEERsMAN, PASSES SAFELY
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A LITTLE BOAT, WITH AN EFFIGY OF EMPEROR
WILLIAM As TIE sTEERsMAN, PASSES SAFELY
THROUGH THE NIAGARA WHIRLPOOL.
A Buffalo, n. Y, special Of Thursday
says: The largest crowd that has ever as
sembled at Niagara Fails was present to-
day TO witness the much-talked-of expert
ment OF sending q fac-simile OF the famous
" Maid Of the Mist" on a trip through the
same angry waters and turbulent currents
of the rapids which the original made in
safety twenty years ago.
The interest felt in this test was shown
by the fact that over 10000 persons were
congregated along the banks OF the river.
every available point OF sight being
thronged by eager spectators. The new
Maid " is fifty-two feet long, sixteen feet
beam, eight feet hold. and only draws a
foot OF water. She has tall smokestack,
two masts, fore and aft, rigged with flags:
= green-colored rail encircled the deck. on
the fOrepart OF which was the wheel-house,
in which stood figure with the face OF
King William Of Germany wearing a black
silk skuIl-cap tied on with band OF scar
let, check-Shirt, dark pants. held by
long strap of leather around the waist,
and high boots. This figure was ashed to
the wheel The "Maid" " was well built,
but not of very extraordinary strength.
The original idea Of simply having her
name. 1.-THE Maid of the Mist" painted
on her paddle-boXes was departed from,
and the advertisement OF a gargling oil
was painted in large-si7ed letters. This
caused a great deal OF dissatisfaction among
the eight partners in the undertaking, one
of whom, -. G.. HeTtIOg, is a Campbellite
minister and friend Of Garfield. Ee was
the originator OF the scheme.
TIE MAID IN TIE RAPIDS.
At $40 the craft was towed out from her
moorings above the old Maid-of-the-M Mist
landing by men in q couple OF boats, and
five minutes later she was set adrift. she
floated rapidly down the current. Neerng
over to the American shore and turning
across the stream, she drifted very close to
a rock Just above the old suspension bridge,
but escaping it by foot only was hurried
under the bridge and swept into the first
rapids. She was stern foremost and rose
high on the top Of the first big mountain
OF water. She kept an even keel to the
next big wave, when she was whlried
around and shot forward at 4 tremendous
pace. She continued with her bow in front
for short distance, when she slowly
turned as she was being carried with great
swiftness along the rushing torrent. When
half way through the rapids she was going
stem first, keeping this position all the way
into what is known as the whirlpool.
Here she was carried over towards the Ca
madam shore. making five complete turns
in the eddies OF the big pool. When about
five rods from the shore she came 10 dead
stop. rs though anchored. After remain
ING in this position for about minute she
was slowly carried, bow forward, to the
Canadian shore, where several persons got
aboard. These soon landed and pushed
her OFF again.
COMING OUT UNSCATHED.
She sluggishly dIifted to the outlet OF the
whirlpool, going toward Lewiston, and
DaSsing into the current close to the Can
adian side. swept gracefully and steadily
down, breastlng the lower rapids without
any trouble. She continued on her course
undisturbed, arriving at Lewiston, where
she was secured and found to be in almost
the same condition as when she was start
ed. The time she made from the start TO
the first rapid was eight minutes; thence to
the neck Of the whirlpool two and hall
minutes; It was seventeen minutes after
the start when she struck the Canada shore.
Passing Buttery's elevator she went nj the
rate of twenty miles an hour. HeraVeraSe
time was fifteen miles an hour.
Before she started large cIgar-sign,
lashed to a large. flat packing-boX, was
sent through the rapids. and beyond being
turned over several times it got through all
right. A dummy was thrown from the
railroad bridge into the river, and being
mistaken for a man caused much excite
ment. 1t disappeared in the rapids. \
patent.medicine raft was also sent through,
but was badly demorallzed in the transit.
Thelaric Balsatt, the young French SWIM
mer. has written private letter to your
correspondent assuring him that he will
make the attempt to swim the rapids.