The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1883-08-17
Jhe 9e,llotrat.
IL, 1883,
carr. MATHEW wRnn. TmE FAMOUS
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I
carr. MATTHEW WRRn. TmE FAMOUS
SWIMMER
Physical endurance, for good
cause, Is ever most merltorious and
praise worthy, but q direct challenge
10 providence, even through IL invol-
YES an exhibition OF strength and skIlI
can not batoo vigorously condemned.
Capt. webb's attempt to swim the
rapids and whirlpool at Niagara, on
tho afternoon Of July "a. was, morally
q suicide, for he realized his danger
solfully that he inade his will, leaving
the $4,000 which he had accumula-
ted to his wife and children. He
was rowed out into the river by
ferryman, and plunged Into tho wa
ter at / o'clock.
He could be plainly seen by persons
lstandlng on tho bridge, battling with
tho huge waves. Just as no entered
the whirlpool, where the bIllows dash
upward TO a height of forty or fifty
feet, he was seen 10 throw up his
right hand and disappear. The river
below was searched until dark, bat
no trace Of the bdoy could be found.
| ECapt Webb was O native OF Shrop-
shire, England, and the son Of ply
sIclan. His incllnatIons at an. early
lage led him to seafarIng life, and he
Iflrst came TO public notice by jumping
from the rigging OF Cunarl steamer
during q storm TO save q sailor who
had fallen overheard. For this he re-
ceIved a gold medal at the hands OF
Edlnburg, which was the first given
by the Royal Humane Society.
In 1876 he swain the English
channel in q achoppy sea, making the
besltlme on record, twenty-five miles
In twenty-one hours and forty-flve
minutes.
Ini1s7o he swan from Sandy ii ook
Ito Manhattan beach and on several
occasions swan TO Coney Island from
the passing Roekaway steamers.
He was = man OF powerful phys
ique, being six feet ono Inch In height
finely proportioned, weighing about
200 pounds, and not more than forty
years old.
His theory about the whirlpool al
Niagara was that II he could avoid
The suction hole and the two ledges
of rock which project from the shore,
he could pass through with the cHrrcnl
In safety.
al Will make no attempt 10 60 for
ward" he said tfor the speed OF the
water win carry me; when the. water
gets very bad will go under, and
; remain below until am compelled
i to come up for breath, which sup
. pose will be pretty often. When
strike the whirlpool I viii strike oui
I with all my strength, and try and
) keep away from suction hole. i VIII
Ibegin with breast strokes and then
use overland strokes. Ny life vii
depend upon my muscles and my
breatb, with little touch Of science
behind them. II may take me two
or three hours TO get ont OF the wirl
pool, which Is a quarter Of mile long.
When do get through, will try te
land on the Canadian side, but lf the
current Is too swift, as I think Il Is,
VIII keep on down TO Lewiston, on
the American side. The current,
they say, is thirsy.nIne miles an hour
and the river nlnety-Eve feet deep.
, II suppose the rapids are about the
angriest bit OF water in the world.
| have made q critical examination
Of The rapids, and I think ] am strong
enough TO get through alive, thongh
they say eighty persons have LOST
their lives In the rapids.
Admiration for his confidence and
. daring leads as TO regret and sorrow
at the sudden termination, must alsc
attend the fanaticIsm which could. Sc
! carry away mans judgment thai
he forgot his duty 10 his family and
to his fellow-men.
II Is to be hoped that his death Will
psovc a warning TO the manyi whoss
solelclaim to notoriety Is the narrow
ness Of the way by which they car
pass deaths door and escape unscath
ed.