Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-09-10
Through the Whirlpool Rapids.
The EXPERIMENT Ar NIAGARA FALLS.

HE EXPERIMENT Ar NIAGARA FALLS.
NIAGARA FALLS. Sept. 6.-The boat which
was built here few days ago for an expert
mental trip through the Whirlpool rapids
was sent on her perious journey this after
noon. There were about 10000 spectators,
excursion parties having come from various
points in the United States and Canada
The affair had the characteristics of a
money-making scheme, the vessel having
been purchased by Lockport company and
covered with advertisements. This did not
prevent the pubic from turning out however.
The craft was built from an old scow, and
was made to resemble the original Maid of
the Mist. The work upon it was strongly
done. When decorated with flags and ever
greens she made good appearance. Her
length over all is fitty-two feet. her beam
sixteen and her hold eight. She has a tall
smoke stack and two masts. A green rail
encircles the deck, on the forepart of which
is the wheel-house. \ figure dressed like "A
sailor stood at the wheel
Soon after O'Clock the vessel was lowed
out from the old Maid of the Mist landing
one and One-ioutth miles above the whirlpool
Charles Wiedemau, who was associated with
Captain Webb, was master of ceremonies"
Some difficulty was experienced in giving her
start. Before getting into the current she
came into collision with rock on the Ameri-
can side and lost couple of boards above
the waterline. After getting headed down
stream the launty craft soon attained an as
tonishing rate of speed She passed under
the old railway suspension bridge in good
style, but was whirled stern foremost soon
afterward on a tremendous wave. Several
revolutions were made before the maelstrom
was reached, but never for a moment while
in the rapids did the vessel seem in danger
of going to pieces or in danger of being en-
quilted.
The vessel was headed up stream when she
arrived ut the whirlpool. On entering two
revolutions were made in a twinkling and
then the boat shot swiftly to the Canada side
going SO far as to be out of the power of the
circling waves. 1t looked for a time as if the
vessel would be kept hedged in by the mael
strom. Her revolutions were slow, and she
was in sight Of the multitude all the time
The water dashed and roared and whired.
seemingly with fury enough to destroy any
object coming within the dreadful circle
Finally q number of venturesome spectators
climbed down the ledge of rock on the Canada
side and BY means Of poles pushed the boat
of. Then she was taken into the channel
and literally hurled through the water to the
open river beyond
Iells and cheers broke from the excited
crowd when the success of the experiment
became apparent. The time occupied was
thirty minutes, seventeen being consumed in
shooting the rapids and thirteen at the edge
of the whirlpool.
The vessel went rapidly with the current to
Lewiston, where she was boarded and exam
ined. She was found to be practically unin-
jured. Several ethgies were sent over the
course after her, some of which did not come
out of the whirlpool, while others made the
trip in quick time. larger crowd has never
been seen at Niagara Falls and the widest
enthusiasm prevails this evening. Several
persons have volunteered to make the trip on
the boat. but the management gave an en-
phatic refusal in each case.