The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-08-01
CAPTAIN WEBB DROWNED.
Engulfed in Niagra whirlpool.


BUFFALO, July 24.--Captain Webb
the noted English swimmer, met m
untimely death this afternoon in at.
tempting to swim the Niagara whirl.
pool rapids. He was to 70 over the
course which the Maid Of the Mist
ran many years ago in escaping an
attachment. No craft but this ever
survived the perils of that terrible
channel and no human being save
her crew ever passed alive through
the rapids. Captain Webb and his
business manager, Fred Kyle, OF
Boston, left Buffalo this morning and
spent most of the day at the hotels
and about the falls, taking but a
cursery survey of the rapids. At
one o'clock the press representatives
and others Immediately interested
were informed that Captain Webb
would enter the rive at four o'clock.
The number of spectators was small,
there being not more than five hun
dred scattered along the banks to
witness the hazardous undertaking.
The failure ofthe railroad companies
and hotels to cooperate with him
rendering the enterprise a failure
financially. 1t was precisely two
minutes past four when Webb sprang
from his boat, about a third of a
mile above the railroad suspension
bridge and close to the old Maid of
the Mist landing. He was entirely
nude, save a band worn around his
body for the protection of his stom-
ach.
THE STRUGGLE IS THE RAPIDS.
The daring and accomplished
swimmer gave himself no artificial
assistance whatever. His leap from
the boat was greeted with prolonged
cheering. He struck boldly into the
middle of the river and buoyed him
self gracefully upon the surface as
the mighty current carried him to-
ward the deadly whirlpool, nearly a
mile and a half below 1t was a
thrilling spectacle and the brilliant
performance lasted thirteen minutes,
by which time Captain Webb had
reached the whirlpool. His object
was to hug the American side of the
river, although many contend that
his chances would have been better
on the Canadian side. BY the pecu-
liar formation of the channel at this
point, with its curves and ridges of
rock, the water is dashed upward a
distance of forty or fifty feet, resemb-
ling the pillows of an angry sea.
Then it whirls and seethes as if lash
ed by thousand demons. In the
frightful vortex thus formed vessel,
a stick of timber, an animal or
human being is carried under and in
some cases will remain for days
before escaping into the river below.
THE LAST SEEN OF THE SWIMMER.
AS the intrepid navigator came to
the whirlpool he was seen to throw
up one of his arms. Whether this
was intended as a signal of distress,
fear, or danger, or merely to exhibit
his strength to those on land can on
ly be conjected. Nothing was seen
of him afterward. The search was
kept up until dark, when his man.
ager announced that there was no
hope.
Captain Webb was forty years of
age and was born in Shropshire,
England. He leaves wife and two
children in his native place. He
was a man of medium stature and
nicely proportioned. He was very
intelligent-looking. His national
exploits began in 1873. During that
year he was serving before the most
on the Cunard steamship Russia.
One day a shipmate fell overheard
from the rigging. There was a gale
blowing and the Russia was booming
along at fifteen knots an hour. Webb
sprang into the water in an instant
and made a gallant effort to save the
drowning sailor. He could not
reach him however. Webb's strug-
gle in the water lasted upwards of
half an hour. He was given a
purse of $500 on .he spot and after
wards a medal. In 1875 he accom-
pGshed the remarkable feat of swim
ming the English Channel from Do
yer to Calais.