The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-08-02
CAPT. wEBB'S FATE.

HOW THE ADvENruRous SWIMMER persisted.
NIAGARA FALLS, Special Telegram, July 20.
When Capt Matthew Webb announced yes
terday that he would swim the rapids IN the
afternoon, no one believed him; but at few
minutes before 4 o'clock Webb appeared at
tue foot of the bank on the Canadian side,
where skiff was in waiting with the veteran
guide, Jack Conway, at the oars Inc captain
was entirely nude save Tor small
breech clotit. Conway Pulled as tar down as
the Maid OF the Mist landing, but did not dare
proceed further. After few words Capt
Webb stood up in the bow Of the boat ana diyed
head first Into the water. Then began the
great struggle for life.: A few vigorous strokes
and he was fairly lin the rapids going breast
on, his form q nero speck as seen from the
great bluff above Ho went like an arrow shot
from bow. The first great wave he struck he
went under, but in sec,nd appeared way be-
yord. His efforts to strike out in swimming
form were weaker than an infants against the
seething waters The great waves seethed
over him occasionally, but he always seemed
ready to meet them; His greas Ghest was
the nagnifcenr physique of the reckless adj
ventufer was lifted from the water, but he
BRAyELY KEPT HIS POSITION
through it all, and seemed perfectly collected
and at home In second more the voyager
was lost to view behind projecting bank, so
s upper "u rapids He ' passed thon through the
lower ones. There the waves dash higher,
p pea e Ho 5D far N he we. went alive no
one will ever know. He was seen by
many while passing through the awful sea,
lody was borne onward, now rising above,
now sinking beneath the white capped waves.
It was seen to enter the whirlpool. The life
Of the captain was gone. and not even his
body has yet been found. search was
continued until dark, but no trace Of Capt
times gives up it's dead in q day; sometimes it
holds in its embrace week until all semblance
of human body is crushed out in the revolv-
ing waters Capt Webb looked upon it Us i
pleasant undertaking Those, who saw him
start looked UPON 1t as certain DEATH
A Clergyman Knocked Down and
Robbed.
On Thursday night Rev. DR.. E. Thomas,
rector of st. Paul's church, St. Paul, was
going to his residence, Eighth and Jackson,
aSout 10 o'clock, when he was knocked
down and robbed by two highwaymen.
He had been visiting at Samuel Mayalrs,
on Daytons Bluff. When he reached John
street, between Eighth and Ninth, two men
jumped on him and rob-
bed him of gold watch and chain, So
and some railroad tickets. The thieves
.. choked him very severely. and also kic ed
him. He furnished the police a description
If the men Immediately. Capt. Bressett
| and Roundsman Hanft at once settled on
John Koran and Peter Brown, alias Pc
ter Hansen, as the thieves, and they were
arrested and identified, When DR.. Thomas
| identified the man Koran was In the city
hall, standing with gloup of men. DR..
Thomas entered and looked at him two OF
| three times, and then, without knowing any
one present, called out, THAT is the man
who robbed me-" Hansen had been out
side, and then entered, and Chief Clarke
I asked Dr. Thomas if he had ever seen him
He said yes. The man denied it, and then
DR. Thomas said, eyes, I saw you last night
when you knocked me down and choked
mo ~