The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-27
ENGULFED IN NIAGARA'S wIIIRL.
POOL.
Particulars of the Drowning Of Cap.
tain webb, the English Swimmer.


tain webb, the English Swimmer.
A special Of Tuesday from Buffalo gives
the following particulars OF the drowning
OF Captain Webb. the celebrated English
swimmer. Ii had been advertised for
several weeks that Captain Webb would
attempt TO 20 over the course which
the Maid of the Mist ran in her trip TO
escape an attachment many years ago. No
craft but this one ever survived the perils
OF that terrible channel, and no human be-
ing save her crew ever passed alive through
the rapids.
Captain Webb and his business mana
ger, Fred. Kyle, OF Boston, left Buffalo
this morning and spent most OF the day at
the hotels and about the falls, taking but
cursory survey Of the rapids. Att O'Clock
the Press representatives and others imme-
diately interested were informed that Cap
tain Webb would enter the river at O'Clock.
The number OF spectators was small, there
being not more than 500 scattered along
the banks to witness the hazardous under
taking. The failure OF the railroad cOmpa-
nies and hotels to cooperate with him rem
dered the enterprise failure financially.
THE PLUNGE INTO THE RIVER.
1t was precisely two minutes past when
Webb sprang from his boat about third
of a mile above the railroad bridge and
close TO the old Maid-of-the-Mist landing.
He was entirely nude, save q band worn
around his body for the protection Of his
stomach The daring and accomplished
swimmer gave himself no artificial assist
ance whatever. His leap from the boat
was greeted with prolonged cheering. He
struck boldly into the middle of the river,
and buoyed himself gracefully upon the
surface Of the water as the mighty current
carried him toward the deadly whirlpool
nearly a mile and q half below. 1t was
thrilling spectacle and brilliant perform
ance.
The struggle in the rapids lasted thirteen
minutes, by which time Captain Webb had
reached the whirlpool. His object was to
hug the American side Of the river,
although many contend that his chances
would have been better on the Canadian
side. BY the peculiar formation OF the
channel at this point, with its curves and
ridges OF rock, the water is dashed up
ward distance OF forty or fifty feet, re-
sembling the pillows OF an angry sea.
Then it whirls and seethes as If lashed by
thousand demons. In the frightful vor-
tex thus formed vessel, n stick OF timber,
ar animal. or human being, is carried
under, and in some cases will remain for
DAYS before escaping into the lake below.
AS the intrepid navigator came to the
whirlpool he was seen TO throw up one OF
his arms. Whether this was intended as q
signal of distress. fears OF danger, or merely
to exhibit his strength to those on land,
can only be cODiectureG. Nothing was
seen OF him afterwards. The search was
kept up till dark, when his manager an
nounced that there was no hope for his re-
cOvery.
THE FAMOUS SWIMMERS CAREER.
CAPTAIN Webb was forty years of age,
and was born in Shropshire, England. He
leaves a widow and two children in his
native place. He had been a sea-faring
man all his life. He was OF medium size,
finely proportioned and very intelligent
looking. 1t was in 1919 that he first be-
came famous in natatorial way. While
serving before the mast on the Cunard
steamship Russia a shipmate fell overheard
from the rigging. A gale was blowing at
the time and the Russia was booming along
at the rate of fifteen knots per hour. Webb
sDrane into the water and made despe-
rate and gallant effort TO save the life OF his
companion. He could not reach him, how
ever, and Webb was taken into boat after
struggling in the waves upwards OF half
an hour. He was given purse OF 5000
on the spot, and medal.
SWIMMING THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.
After this Webb gained local fame as a
swimmer in the Thames. lie swan from
Blackwell TO Grayesend, n distance OF
twenty miles down the stream, i'm four
hours, and he accomplished the distance
from Dover to Ramsgate, distance OF
eighteen miles, in nine hours. He at
tempted, but failed, to swim across the
English channel on August 13, 1875. but
on August 18th, of the same year, he made
the perilous voyage, reaching Calais,
France, twenty-three hours after the start.
SO brilliant a feat was hailed with enthu-
siasm all over England. The poet X. ii.
Horne, a swimmer OF considerable eXpe-
rience. wrote letter requesting that the
honor OF knighthOod be conferred on Cap
tain Webb. The press dissuaded the
Queen from such thing, and the question
OF honoring the Captain dropped out OF
the public mind.
Captain Webb attempted in August,
1873, the feat OF swimming for thirty-siX
hours i'm the river Thames. He dropped
into the river at the parade at Woolwich at
O'Clock on the evening OF August I'd last
year in the presence OF 100000 people.
Long into the night this crowd waited his
return from Gravesend, but he gave up
before reaching Woolwich on the return
trip, having swan twenty-five miles in
nine hours.
He has had many contests in swimming
with Captain Paul Boyton, the latter at
tired in his buoyant rubber suit and Webb
in SIMPLE bathing-dress.
fBy Associated Press.l
Captain Webb's Death at Homo.
LONDON, July 26.-Captain Webb's death
in bis unfortunate attempt to swim the