Connecticut western news., 1883-08-01
IN THE NIAGARA WHIRLPOOL.
Capt. Webb Loses His Life i'm Foolish
 Experiment..

Captain Matthew Webb, the famous tempt of his life at Niagara, on Tuesday, the terrible whirlpool about two miles below the Falls, something that had never been donea and generally regarded as impossible. Visitors at Niagara are familiar with the great whirlpool which is hardly less natural wonder than the cataract. Its power is irresis stible, and there is no instance on record of any living being going through in safety.
 The rapids leading to the whirlpool proper are also of tremendous force, dashing up several feet, and when once in the fatal circular pool bodies of drowned persons have been known to re- main there for weeks revolving all the time with great rapidity. Notwith- standing the almost certainly fatal na- ture of the attempt, Captain Webb re- solved to make it, and visited Niagara some weeks ago to look at the situation. No one, however, had any faith that he would carry out his promise, He did not advertise it extensively and appar- ently cared nothing to make a grand exhibition.
 HIS uAQdsSOI UTleu GO p0TSudu0 u1Iu not to attempt the fearful undertaking, but Webb had made up his mind and said he would take the eAltire responsi- biity. He seemed to realize the dan- ger, and before starting made his will, leaving all his property to his wife, who, with his two children, is in England. So little faith was placed in his promise to make the attempt that scarcely any l credit was given the announcement and less than two hundred people assembled on the banks.
 At half-past three, p. m., perfectly l cool and confident, attired ill blue shirt and light clothes, he went down to the ferry on the Canada side alone. At the ferry he embarked in a skiff rowed by John McCloy, who was the only one who cared to take the risk of rowing him down to the point where he wished to jump. He started down stream, and on the way McCloy asked him how much he had made by giving swimming exhibitions. He replied about 1925, ,00O.
 "How much have you got left?" asked the oarsman.
 "About $15, ,OOO," was the reply.
 ''Then you had better let me pull you ashore and go on a $l5, ,000 spree rather than try to go through that. You can- not do it. It is sure death.''
 But Webb was determined and laughed in a reckless way. He took off his clothes and McCloy said he would never need them again. He told the boatman to meet him with the clothes and blank cts at the Swiss Glen, below the whirl- pool, as he wished to go to Boston on
 Wednesday.
 Having made all preparations, he said
 "Goodby," and plunged into the river at point little above where they are building the new Canada Southern
 Bridge. As soon as Webb went, Nc. Cloy, who dared go no further, turned and pulled to the Maid of the Mist land. ing. Webb plunged into the water al thirty-two minutes past four, New York time. He came up instantly and swan
 with bold, vigorous stroke, apparent ly with ease, till he struck the first rap
 ids, going under the old railway suspen sion bridge. Then he was carried along by the current with tremendous velocity but still seemed to hold his own. The spectacle at this time was yer, , thrilling. He shot along like an arrow with the whirlpool straight before him As he went through the rapids he dov' ach time and reappeared as strong a. ever. His intention was to go througl on the Canada side, but the current wal too strong for him. In thirteen minutes he reached what is known as the Chan } nel or place where the waters shoo rig Int and left. To those on the bridg' he was mere speck.
 Suddenly he threw up his right arn l and disappeared. snd that was the las = seen of the great English swimmer. HI 3 was undoubtedly sucked down into tn l frightful vortex and met an instan l death. It was thought that he was in s iured in some manner while diving, a l he seemed exhausted and unable to mak Q much progress. His manager and tn h reporters were hopeful that he would gee e through, and drove down the Canad k side to the Whirlpool Park, but coul e find no trace of him. He never appeared # and his body is probably still in th | ..l. .A tf, -nso