Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-08-17
DEAD AND LIV Ing SPORTS.
The Tragic Fate Of the Rash Swimmer Excltes
Sympathy at the Hub and Brings
Up Old "reminiscences.


The Palatial Gin Nill Where slugger Sullivan.
Will Deal Out Drinks to Boston's s
sa@~ & Thirsty Threats. a
BogToN, Mass, Special Correspondence, Aug:
1.-The Dolly D. has now been at her moor
ings nearly week, and the jolly yachting
party that cruised in her during the past few
weeks has broken up, it's members, perhaps, to
meet later in the year and again skim over the
waters along the picturesque New England
coast After experiencing the various tenn
peratures of = good many Of the popular sea-
side resorts in this vicinity, could not help
remarking, on returning to the Hub, upon the
comparative GOODNESS of the city over q num-
Der OF the watering places In my Judgment,
it has been much warmer, on the average, this
summer, in one-half the beach cities than it
has in Boston; and yet deluded cool-air seek
ers are contentedly paying So and 81 day
for poor accommodations at seaside hotels and
are fattering themselves that they are getting
iced atmosphere on the half shelf, compared to
that which their less fortunate, or less foolish,
brethren are breathing in the city. I find that
the principal topic Of conversation is Capt
Webb and his terrible death; that interest in
the telegraphers' strike is rapidly dying out,
and that the greatest event now looked
forward to by bibulous Bostonians is
the opening of Slugger Sullivan's saloon
When Capt Webb first announced his intention
of swimming the falls, few thought that he
really meant to do it. except perhaps his most
intimate friends So little interest was mani
tested in the proposed feat that the public had
almost forgotten it when the news arrived that
the bold swimmer had met his death in at
tempting to accomplish it. Then it was not
believed that the captain was so foolhardy,
and many thought that dummy of some kind
had been substituted, and that the captain
would turn up again in few days scratched
and torn and half dead from supposed exhaus-
ton. This, it was thought, would be done as
an advertisement, as the captain was about to
make professional tour Of the watering
places and large interior Cities It was remeru-
bored that four years ago the captain and Paul
Boyton, the rubber suit patator, were matched
for So, 900 to swim at Nantucket, just off the
beach, Webb to swim ten miles, while Boyton
was to paddle twelve and half miles. The
race was not started until late in the afternoon
and by the time it was dark Webb had become
confident that unless he did something desperate
he was beaten man. He swan to the shore and
ran along the beach as fast as he could in the
| direction Of the judges boat Passing Boyn-
ton and thinking himself unseen in the dark
ness he rushed into the water again and swan
to the boat Before reaching it, however,
Boyton, by quick work, came in first, greatly
! surprised that his rival was 80 near as he had
for long time been far ahead of him. An in
| vesdgation followed, and the fact that Webb
ran good part of the distance on shore was
well established. The stake money was never
paid, and for a long time Webb and his under
! takings were looked upon by the public with
! suspicion. Judging from this, many thought
the swimming of the falls a *'skin,' but now all
doubt is dispelled, and only expressions Of sor-
row at his untimely death are heard.
WEBB IN BOSTON
| Capt Webb was widely known in this vicin-
| ity through the many exhibitions given by
| him. He was very pleasant, quiet and gentle-
manly, and there was nothing of the s'blawstel,
| blowing Britisher" about him. A year ago last
spring he attracted considerable public notice
in this city by his wonderful feats of endurance
| in the water. A large room WAS hired by his
manager, Fred Kyle. on fremont street, and
| large tank built in it, which was filed with
fresh water s1oaded'' with salt. The salt was
put in the water in order to make
! it heavier, and so that the swimmer
]
In this he foated constai- lily for five days and
four nights, coming out but five minutes in
every twenty -four hours. At the end of that
| time he was seized with cramps and was out Of
! the water full half hour. He went back
again, however, and finished out the week
| When the captain desired to sleep, he put his
hands under his head and clenched them to-
gether with his fingers. In this manner he
| would float and sleep until his fingers would
relapse their hold and allow his head to slowly
sink beneath the water, when he would awake
aud try it over again. He would thus get fifteen
| minute maps. A short time after this he
| essayed to remain in the water month, night
| and day Before the first week had expired he
began to grow weak and loose flesh, but he per-
| sisted in his attempt At last he grew SO terri
up his physician ordered him out of the water
| to save his life. The remains of the unfor-
| tunate man are expected to arrive in this city
! tomorrow, and funeral services will be held
| at Hull, Mass, the day following Capt Webb
| once remarked to his wife Madelaine, that if he
SHOULD DIE WHILE IN THIs COUNTRY
he wished to be buried in the little old ceme-
terry at Hull, close by the sea he loved 90 we'll.
This quiet burial place is located upon the
southeast slope of Telegraph Hill, Hull, and is
observable, miles from shore by the noble
| memorial slabs within it for those who have
persisted at sea, and few monuments The
cemetery has been in use nearly 200 years,
but now few are buried in it At one time
there were number of ancient monuments
| there, but tradition states that the French
troops, CHARTERED on the peninsular away
back in the last century, carried them down
to che water side and utilized them for wash
boards.
A subscription list has been opened
i'll this city for Mrs. Webb and her children.
and no doubt snug little sum will be Sc
cured and presented to her.
sLUGGER SULLIVAN.
fell in with Frank Moran, John L. Sulli-
vans manager, yesterday, and was invited to
| inspect the elegant gin mill which the
champion Of the American prize ring has had
fitted up for him. 1t Is located on Washing
ton street. near Eliot, quite near the favorite
haunts of the lesser stars Of the prize ring, and
is numbered ia 1t has not yet been opened
public ecu and close guard has
! inquisitive persons from gaining admission
| as the champion desires to surprise and
| overcome Bostonians with the magni6cenca Of
bis saloon upon the evening Of Aug. or s.
It is almost entirely finished, and will be ready
for business at the appointed date. Sullivan
has been exceedingly lavish in his expenditure
in fitting up his drinking palace, and fear he
has put more money INTO it than he will draw
| out In the opinion of competent judges it is
equal in elegance to the famous bar-room Of
Ned Stokes in New York There are not so
many costly works Of art, but the carving and
wood work is much more lavish Outside
there is nothing particularly attractive. It Is
tSstily painted, and above, running The whole
width Of the saloon, is plain black sign board.
| On which, in gilt letters Is the name of the
| owner, John l. Sullivan Handsome shades
with Sullivan's monogram finely painted upon
them and with artistic borders, protect the
large panes Of glass when desired, but during
| business hours these are to be kept up and
| through the windows the : whole in
terror can be seen from the outside.
| The saloon might be called q marvel in ma
| hogany. for there is not a piece Of wood in it
of any other kind than that The door lead
| ing into this throne room Of King Alcohol is
double one of sold mahogany, with engraved