The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-08-08
Engulfed In a Frightfal V0rtex-Fatal
Ending of the Plaeky Engllshnan's
Attempt to Conquer the Mad
Raplds-Life Lost.

this morning, and spent most OF the day
at the hotels and about the falls, taking
but cnrsory survey of the rapids. Atom
o'clock the press representatives and
others Immediately interested were in
formed that Captain Webb would enter
the river at 4 o'clock. The number of
spectators was small, there being not
more than 500 scattered along the banks
to witness the hazardous undertaking.
The failure of the railroad companies
and hotels to cooperate with him rem
dered the enterprise failure financially.
1t was precisely two minutes past four
when Webb sprang from his boat about
a mile and a half above the railroad
bridge and close to the old Maid of the
Mist landing. He was entirely nude,
save band worn around his body for
the protection of his stomach. The
daring and accomplished swimmer gave
himself no artificial assistance 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
mile and a half below. It was thrill
ing spectacle and a brilliant performance.
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 curious forma-
ton of the channel at this point, with its
curves and ridges of rock, the water is
dashed upward distance of forty or
fifty feet, resembling the pillows of an
angry sea. Then it whirls and seethes
as if lashed by thousand demons. In
the friehtful vortex thus formed a vessel
stick of timber, an 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 signal of distress, fears of danger or
merely to exhibit his strength to those
on land, can only be conjectured. Moth
ing was seen of him afterwards. The
search was kept up until dark, when his
manager announced that there was no
hope of his recovery.
Captain Webb was forty years of age
and was born in Shropshire, England.
He leaves widow and two children in
his native place. He had been a sea-
faring man all his life. He was Of medi-
um size, finely proportioned and very
intelligent looking. 1t was in 1873 that
he first became famous in a 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 sprang into the
water and made desperate and gallant
effort to save the life of his companion.
He could not reach him, however, and
| Webb was taken into boat alter strug-
Cling in the water upwards of half an
hour. He was given purse of $500 on
the spot, and medal.
Alter this Webb gained local fame as
swimmer in the Thames. He swan
from Blackwell to Gravesend, distance
of twenty miles down the stream In foul
hours, and he accomplished the distance
from Dover to Ramsgate, q distance o1
eighteen miles, in nine hours. He at
tempted but failed to swim across the
English Channel, on August 18th, 1875
but on August 25th of the same year, he
made the perilous voyage, reaching
Calais, France, twenty-three hours after
the start.
So brilliant feat was hailed with en-
thusiasm all over England. The poet
r. H. Home, a swimmer Of considerable
experience, wrote letter requesting
that the honor of knighthood be confer
red on Captain Webb. The press dis
suaded the Queen from such thing, and
the question of honering the Captain
dropped out of the public mind.
Captain Webb attempted in August
1878, the feat of swimming for thirty-six
hours in the River Thames. He dropped
into the river at the Parade at Woolwict
at six o'clock on the evening Of August
I'd last year, in the presence Of 100000
people. Long into the night this crowd
awaited his return from Gravesend, but
he gave up before reaching Woolwich on
the return trip, having swan tventy-one
miles in nine hours.
He had many contests in swimming
with Captain Paul Boyton, the latter at
tired in his buoyant rubber suit and
Webb in a simple bathing dress.
rUE RRJDE ar A nay.