Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-28
CAPT. WEBB,s LAST SWIM.
How the WINNER was Swept Through
the Rapids and into the whirlpool.

the Rapids and into the whirlpool.
From the Buffalo Courier July u.s.
Capt Webb and his business agent, Frederick
Kyle. of Boston. left this city shortly before IL
o'clock yesterday, and took the noon train on
the New York Central to the Falls. They were
driven in the Clifton House omnibus to that
| hotel, ON the Canada side Here they passed
the time very quietly. Webb affably conversing
with whoever chose to address him. His man.
ner was genial and exceedingly gentlemanly.
He res pended freely to all questions that were
asked him and his pleasant hearty manner in
stantly won the favor and good will of all who
approached him. During long conversation
with representative ofthe Courier he cOnversed
in highly Intelligent manner on q variety of
subjects. He related some of his experiences i'm
the merchant navy of Great Britain, and re-
ferred in modest manner to some of his
aquatic achievements. He did not appear
particularly concerned about the hazardous feat
he was about to undertake. and when any doubt
was suggested in regard to his making the at
tempt, he assured the dOubter in firm. but quiet.
terms of his absolute intention to try to do what
he had said he would. He said more than once
that he did not anticipate any trouble; but
tnOugh ne spoke confidently, there was no trace
OF braggadOcia in his manner. He chatted pleas
antly until the dinner hour at the hotel Strange
TO say. he declined partakng Of the meal. saying
that he preferred not to eat. adding in a hearty
English way. lean keep my wind better, you
know, on an empty stomach" He smoked
cigar, and sat quietly on the veranda
of the Clifton house. So the time passed
until o'clock, when Mr.. Kyle took him
aside and said few words to him. He
| then left the piazza. walked short distance
| along the road and turning off down the steep
| pathway leading down to McClOys ferrybOat
! house. which is several hundred yards above
the new suspension bridge on the Canada shore.
McCloy and Webb had q brief conversation The
oft al ,Ea fp Mro ON xryh<, J>oA
him whether he would see his wife and children
again. He replied confidently 81 hope to-" He
spoke about his baby. months old his wife and
other child. and said that he expected to meet
them in few days at Nantasket McCloy got
the boat, small scOw painted bottle green in
readiness with two pairs of oars. and Webb
stepped steadily and cheerfully into it. thine
Is up" he remarked TO MeCiOy as the latter
rOwed the boat carefully out through the rocks
into the stream. Arriving in the center of the
stream. McClOy slowly pulled under the new
suspension bridge on which only few persons
were cOngregated to see the daring man-ish
start out on his venturesOme journey. In utter
silence, save the hOarse murmur of the cataract,
grew stronger, and the speed became CORES
pOndngly greater. Very few words passed be-
tween the two men. save that the ferryman
asked Webb whether he had swan often before,
ever seen the rapids?" asked McCloy. Webb
answered, I've had a glimpse Of them" In
answer to McClOy's questions he said he had
made 5000 by swimming the English chan
mel. and he had $4,000 left McCloy states
that he advised him to 60 ashore and spend it,
and not risk his life in the rapids. few mo-
ments later McCloy told the hardy SWIM
mer that he had brought him as far as he
could with safety to the boat and himself. Webb
promptly removed his hat handkerchief, coat
and all his clothing save pair of short red cot
ton trunks around his lOins. and, without word
OF farewell, plunged boldly into the water at a
point opposite the Maid of the Mist landing A
moment later he rose gracefully to the surface
and. swimming with infinite ease and power
struck boldly out. It was at 4:24 O'Clock. New
York time. when he dived into the river, which
seemed to be flowing placidly onward. giving on
its surface few indications OF the awful dangers
beyond. He cleared the water with strong and
steady strokes, swimming on his breast with his
head clear from the surface. He kept in the CEN
ter of the stream and the strong eddies which
occasionally swirled past him seemed in no way
to impede or SWerve him from his course AS
he approached the old suspension bridge the
flow OF the current increased with remarkable
rapidity. There were about two hundred spec-
tatOrs on the bridge who saw the intrepid
swimmer glide toward them, pass swiftly be-
Meath them, and ere they could reach the east
side of the structure he was fifty yards down
the current. He was carried along as fast as
the eye could follow him. With speechless
wonder and fear he was seen to reach the first
furious pillows of the rapids. Onward he was
swept like feather in the sea. High on the
crest OF huge boulder of water his head and
shoulders cleaned for an instant and then was
lost in dark abyss of turmoiling water. Again
he appeared, his arms steadily moving as if
balancing himself for plunge into another
mighty wave. The tumbling, rushing,
swirling element seemed to give
forth an angry sullen roar as if sounding
the death knell of the Inflated swimmer. Once
more away down the rapids he was seen still
apparently Drawing fate and ste,nmng the
seething waters with marvellous skill and en-
durance. Instead of been hurled hither and
thltner as might have been expected, he was
carried with furious rapidity onward almost in
a straight course. For nearly a mile he was
hurried forward by the tumultuOus rushing
waters, and still he seemed to be riding the
awful pillows in safety. In four minutes after
he had passed under the old suspension bridge
he had been hurried through the terrible RAPIDS
and arrived at the mouth of the great
whirlpool. Reaching what seemed to be
less troubled and dangerous waters, he
raised his head we'll above the surface,
shore, and then turned his face to the high
bluff on the Canadian side. second later he
diyed or sank and was seen no more There
were few who witnessed the tragic disappear
ance. as the passage was completed in an almost
incomprehensibly brief period. Mr.. Kyle and
few others were on the banks OF the whirlpool
below the cliffs. but they waited and watched
In vain for the fOOlhardy victim of the perilOus
and. as it doubtless proved, fatal venture to re-
appear. There can be very little doubt that he
was drawn down into one of the powerful
eddes or under currents or into the down
swirl of the central whirlpool, and was too ex-
hausted to struggle from the deadly embrace.
Two ladies and an enterprsing Canadian re-
porter aver that they saw him fairly in the cur
rent of the whirlpool, but the general testimony
Is that he did not appear above the surface
after he sank or dived at the mouth of the
malestrOm.
THE WIDOW SWANN,S DOVER.