The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-07-26
TN THE WHIRLPOOL.
Capt, Webb Loses His Bile in an
Attempt to Shoot the Nj
agara Rapids.

BrFFALo, N Y, July 25-In 1861 the
little steamer Maid Of the West, with three
persons ON board, ran the rapids Of the Nj
ngara, passed through the whirlpool itself,
and glided into the quiet water beyond OF
the three on board two survived the trip, the
only persons who ever went through this
fearful channel alive Capt Webb without
other means OF safety than nature had pro-
v1ded him, has attempted to swim through
the war OF waters and failed His body has
not yet been found For three quarters of a
mile below the suspension bridge runs the
whirlpool, the widest, most tumultuous, and
dangerous portion of the river The tire
| nendous power OF the current cannot be
realized Webb could not attempt to swim
tit was simply a question of endurance.
whether he could live in the tumultuons
waves. He was rushed onward with resist
less force, and persisted in his mad attempt
The great swimmer was confident that he
could make the trip in safety. He carefully
looked over the ground but he failed to
realize the immensely of the undertaking
At few minutes before O'Clock p Ia
| Webb appeared at the foot Of the bank gu
toe Canadian side, where a skiff was in wait
| ing with the veteran guide, Jack Conway,
at the oars. He entered the boat aud was
pulled into the stream, The captain was en-
tirely bude save for a small breech clout
| Conway pulled as far down as the Maid of
the Mist landing, but did not dare proceed
| further. "All right" said the captain, "thi,
| will do US"
81 don't expect ever to see you again, " SAID
Conway.
20 yes you will, " was the pleasant reply
You don't know me | am AN English
man"
| After few words Capt Webb stood mp in
the how of the boat and dived head first into
the water Then began the great struggle
| Tor life 1t was Just 420 when the captain
entered the water. A few vigorous strokes
and he was fairly in the rapids, going breast
| on, his form mere speck as seen from the
! great bluffs above He went like an arrow
shot from bow The first great wave he
| struck he went under, but in a second APP
peared way beyond His efforts to strike out
in swimming form were weaker than ait
Infants against the seething waters The
press correspondent stood the bluff
| Just below the curve of the rapids ns the
Captain came down the river the fierce tur
bulence OF which seemed striving TO dash his
life out, The great waves Seethed over him
occasionally, but he Away" seemed ready to
meet them His great chest was boldly
| pushed forward, and occasionally the mag
| niticent physique of the reckless adventurer
| was lifted from the water, but he kept his
| position through 1t all aud seemed perfectly
| collected and at home. IN a second more the
Voyager was lost to view behind projecting
| bank So the mad journey went on safely
through the upper rapids
He passed then through the lower ones
| There the waves dash higher, the water is
confined In narrower space, and the trip Is
IN every way more perilotis How ter he
went alive no one will ever know. flee WAS
seen by many while passing through this
FIJI sea. but ere then he may have been dead
Ills body was horne onward, now rising
above. now sinking beneath the white capped
waves II was Seen to enter the whirlpool
The life OF the captain was gone, and not
even his body has yet been found When
press correspondent reached Queens
town after rapid drive the people
laughed at the idea that the attempt
had bean made and laughed at the
thIec or four newspaper men who organized
| a search. This WAS continued until dirk
but no trace of Capt Webb's body wa,
| found The maelstrom sometimes gives uE
its dead In day, sometimes it holds them il
Its embrace week, until all senblance OF &
human being is crushed out in the revolving
waters. Capt Webb looked upon it
pleasant undertaking. Those who saw hin
start looked upon it certain death A
dozen ladies were among those who saw thu
captains body disappear and thoy ntded nj
tiIs evening in searching the banks for som,
trace of it. Capt, Webb's family il uudcr
4tOud TO In al Nantucket Beach