The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-07-26
THE NIAGARA TRAGEDY.
Latest Particulars Of the Death Of Capt.
Webb in Whirlpool Rapids
General News,

HBUFFALo, July 25.-Capt. Matthew
Webb. thu noted English swimmer, was
Lost in the Niagara whirlpool rapids yester-
day afternoon. 1t had been advertised for
several weeks that ne would attempt TO 20
over the course which the Maid oft Mist
ran in her trip 70 escape an attachment
many years ago. No craft but this one
channel and no human being save her crew
ever passed alive through 1.-THE rapids.
Captain Webb and his business manager,
Fred Kyle, OF Boston, left Buffalo In the
morning and spent most Of the day at the
hotels about the falls, taking but cursory
survey Of the rapids. At two O'Clock the
press representatives and others immedl-
stely interested were informed
that the Captain would enter the
river at 4 O'Clock. The number Of vis-
itors was small, there being not more than
five hundred scattered along the banks to
" tness the hazardous undertaking. The
failure Of the railroad companies and hotels
cooperate with him rendered the enter
prise failure financially. 1t was precise
ly four O'Clock when Capt. Webb sprsng
from his boat about a third OF mile from
the railroad suspens ion bridge and close to
the old Maidof-the Mist landing. Heswas
entirely nude, save band worn around his
body for the protection Of his stomach
The daring and accomplished swimmer
gave himself no artificial assistance what
ever. His leap from the boat was greeted
with prolonged cheerin ing.
HE STRUCK BOLDLY
into the middle OF the river, and buoye d
himself gracefully upon the surface Of the
water, as the mighty current carried him
toward the deadly whirlpool, nearly mile
and half below 1t was a thrilling spec
tacle, and brilliant performance. The
struggle in the rapids lasted thirteen MIN
utes, by which time Capt. Webb had
reached the whirlpool. Here he
was seen TO throw up one Of his arms, as
II to signal some unforeseen danger. A
second later he was buried In the foaming
pillows which dash upwards forty or fifty
feet and whirl and seethe as IL lashed
by thousand demons. This was the last
seen Of the intrepid natator. The search
continued until dark, when his manager
gave him up as lost and returned to
Niagara Falls. Capt. Webb was 40 years
Of age. He leaves wife and two children
In England, He accumulated SO, 200 BY
his exhibitions. Capt. Webb was 4 man OF
powerful physique, being six feet one inch
tall, finely proportioned and weighing about
200 pounds when In condition, He was a
most powerful swimmer and made long
distance swimming specially, His great.
nj. aut in i'm, ipu ha
fish Channel from Dover 10 Calais. The
trial took place August oath and 25th 1875,
and after desperate struggle with the
choppy sea he accomplished the distance
OF twenty five miles in "a hours As
minutes,
THEeEsT TIME ON RECORD.
July ~, 1878, he swan with the tide on the
Thames river, a distance OF forty miles in 0
hours 90 minutes. At the Lamb eth baths,
London, from May 10 to "a, Capt. Webb
swan IA hours day and accomplished "A
miles. With only minutes rest, he swan
for "A hours, the trial taking place at Scar.
borough, England, August 8, 1880. He al
so kept ailoat for 10 consecutive hours with
out touching anything, the trial being at
scarborough, June % to July |, 1880. Au.
gust 10, 1879, be swan, unassisted, from
sandy Hook 10 Manhattan Beach Coney Is
land. He swan several races with willie
Beckwith, but was as often defeated.
From juno 20 to %, 1881, In a 80. hour race
OF 10 hours day, he was beaten by Beck.
with, who made "a miles 80 laps, 40 laps to
the mile, and Capt. Webb swan g2 miles Il
laps. In this country he gave many exhI.
billions of long distance swimming at Coney
Island, Long Branch and Newport.