Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1883-08-09
CAPT. wEBB's LAST SWIM. ..
How the Swimmer vas Swept ThrepgA
the Rapids an d fnto tAs hhlf Nh. ,
From .ss asaa,lJ ssI.,e,.a,i.Ii.sH.

the hapIus ah MO Nc WnnipO0is
From s,lssa ,sss I'D "a III ssl.,e.. ..i, eia
Capt. Webb and his business agent,
'rederick Kyle Tat Boston, left this
'ity shortly before IL O'Clock yester-
lay and .tapk tsA Npoa, tEaia sVus the
Sew York Central to the Falls. They
ssSs drissa.in m tte qifts4 House ,oms
'ibus to that hotel, on the Canada
'ide. Here they passed the time
'ery qnFts webb, s9ffablE cosyers-
ng with whoever chose to; address
lin. His manner was genial and ex-
gentlemanly. He respond
I'd freely to- all questions that were
lsked him and his pleasant, hearty
manner Instantly won the favor and
good will of all who approached him.
During long conversation with a
representative of the Courier he con-
Tersed in highly intelligent manner
IN a variety of subjects. He related
some Of bis experiences in the NOR
chant navy OF Great Britains j and ne
TERED in a modest manner to some of
MS saquatieGtachievementsa 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
the attempt, he assured the
ioubter 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 ln diasnot an$ic-
pate any trouble, but acuh \
spoke confidently there was 20 traee
Of hraggadooia in his manner. He
chatted pleasant , untI de- dir
hour at the hotel Strange to say be
declined partaking Of the meal, say
ing that he preferred not to eat, add.
ing, in a hearty English way, 81 can
keep my wind better, you know, On
an empty stomach, He smoked q
cigar, and sat quietly on the veranda
Of the Clifton House. So the, time
passed until 4 O'Clock, when Mr..
Kyle took him aside and said few
words to him. He then left the piaz.
ga, walked short distance along the
road, and turned off down the steer
pathway leading down to McCloy's
ferryboat house, which is several hun.
dred yards above pie REV SUSPENSION
bridge on the Canada shore. CloJ
and Webb had aabrief eonversafpn'
The latter also spoke to Mrs NC cCfoy
who asked him whether he awddE
see his wife and children again. HI
replied confidently, 81 hope to- "a HI
spoke about his baby, seven months
old, his wife and other child, and sale
that be expected to meet sthem in .
few days atsNantasket,. NeCaog 90
the boat, small scow painted bottle
y - ~
green, in readiness with two pairs o.
oars, and Webb stepped steadily ant
cheerfuHy into it. ssTime is up,'
he remarked to McCloy as the latte
rowed the boat carefully out through
the rocks into the stream. Arrived
in the centre of the stream, McClo,
slowly pulled under the new ssuspen
sion bridge, on which only few per
sons were congregated to see the dar
ing man-fish start out on his venture
some journey. In utter silence, saw
the hoarse murmur Of the cataract
the scow made its way. Gradual.
the current grew stronger and th
speed became correspondingly great
er.i Very: few words passed betwee1
the two men, save that the ferTyfna
asked Webb whether he had.swaml OF
ten before. to which he replied
"Many times.'' ssHave you eve
seen the rapids2' asked McCloy
Webb answered, s'I've had gIimps
of them,'' In answer to McGley'
questions he said he had made $25,
600 by swimming the English Char
mel, and he had SID, 600 left. Mt
Cloy states that he advised him to g
ashore and spend it and not risk HI
life in the rapids. A few moment
later McCloy told the hardy swimme
that he had brought him as far as b
could with safety to the boat and hin
self. Webb promptly removed .h
hat; handkerchief, coat, and all b
clothing save q pair of short red co
ton trunks around his loins, ant
without a word of farewell, plunge
boldly into the waterat a point opp'
site the Maid of the Mist landing. :,
tsga y zlre ~ >
moment later he rose gracefully :.
the surface, and, swimming with in1
| mite ease and power, struck bold
out. It was at 4:24 o'clock, Ne
York time,awhen he dived into II
river, which seemed to he fowir
placidly onward, giving on its surfat
few indications of the awful DANCE
beyond. He, cleared the water vii
strong and steady strokes, swiHmi1
On his breast with his head clear fro
the surface. He kept in the cent
of the stream and the strong eddi
which occasionally swirled past hi
tseemed in no way toimpede orsSer'
him from his course. As he q
preached the old suspension bridl
the flow of the current increased WI
remarkable rapidity. There we
about two hundred spectators on Il