New-York tribune., 1886-07-12
PASSING THE WHIRLPOOL.
SAFE THROUGH NIAGIRA RAPIDS.
c. D. GRAHAM SUCCEEDS WITH HIS NOVEL
CRAFT.
THE SHAPE OF HIS vEssEL-TossED ABOUT by THE
WAVES But UXHURr-oFFERING TO GO
OVER THE HORSESHOE FALLS.

WAVES But UNHURT-oFFERING TO GO
OVER THE HORSESHOE FALLS.
tBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
NIAGARA FALLS, July 11.-C. ID. Graham, a
cooper Of Buffalo. went through the perous Whirlpool
Rapids this afternoon With some Buffalo friends he
drove to this village, arriving here at O. In to-day.
The mon slid the barrel In which Graham was TO oat
down the bank tho old landing Of the Maid OK the
Mist and loaded 1t with lead ballast Then some of
the party went to sleep in the grass.
Graham and another man took o walk about tue vii-
lage. Constable Mahoncy suspected that tho strange
rig with the wooden navigator had been stolen ana
about breakfast time locked the two up as horse
thieves Police officer Madigan came around couplo
OF hours later and told the constable that mistake had
been made. No evidence could be found. and when
Graham told who he and mentioned the fact that
his cask was moored in the river the constable DECIDED
to have the prisoners released. As 1t was Sunday
neither Justice Esbelman Justice Piper could DO
more than release the THAR rocognizance.
The intention had been to make the experiment OF
passing the rapids quito early in the morning, but the
arrest prevented this plan from being carried
out Justice Piper said that he did not
see how there could be legal for nterferen ce
with Graham's plans The man certainly did not intend
TO commit suicide. AMI he did the world would be rid
OF one more crank Graham did not like to be called
crank. but was pleased by the Justices views.
John Brown. president OF the Suspension Bridge did
not agree with him. lie requested the town police 10
arrest Graham. He certain about tho charge.
but thought that disordory conduct, intended suicide,
anything else would do. The policemen did not make
the arrest
hile tho crowds pscted the cask as hoated
near tho wharf. 1t made at Matthew Lands cooper
shop In 5enechst. Buffalo, and is peculiar affar The
barrel shaped much like egg 26 inches In diameter
at the top, IL inches the bottom and 33 inches in
the middle Tho slaves vary from ono and half
TO two inches in thickness aud In tho top is manhole
Fact protected
bottom by tive ny three hoop iron bands nearly Two
inches wide and four heavy bands the top Inc Dal-
last was said to weigh 800 pounds. test made few
days ago in Buffalo River had efectualiy proved the
buoyancy OF tho craft and the question was merely
whether 1t could stand the pounding the rocks IN
the torrent Graham had provided for air. The cask
arranged to float end and leave three feet above
water.
When Graham got intSthe cask at 3:55 p. m. he fa'
tened himself the inside with heavy canvass belt
which strapped to bagsnaped hammock There
were two air valves top OF tho barrel aad several
holes from which plu1s could be drawn AT 3:of the
manhoe closed aud the wooden egg sot adrift In
tho stream which lazy bore 1t toward tho rapids
Thousands Of people who down on excursions
from Buffalo brOnged the Suspension Bridge anu the
banks the gorge The foated slowly along, and
In about five minutes reached tho rough water The
began whirling and su0mersinz the queer
vessel Several times it seemed certain that 1t would be
dashed to pieces OF the rocks The rapids are
about quarters mile long. and the trip was
made In four minutes When the whirlpool was reached
the craft went around in the outer eddcs OF tho mae
srom and passed safely the lower rapids in five
minutes II was thought Graham put his head olt OF
the man hole but he did not
Devils Hole and the dangerous rocks opposite the
Catholic Seminary safely passed. and about twenty
five minutes after the venuresome cooper was
safe at lewiston. lie had been tossed about roughly
but said that had not suffered much Inconvenience.
He confident from the first that he would be sue
cessfu and declares that he will make the at
tempt 90 tho Horse shoe Falls or Niagara He Is
willing to be dropped into the water from the rail-
road pension bridge distance OF 100 feet, and then
through the Rapids. He says he isnot crank and
his object appears to 10 wholly mercenary one.
His idea, apparently, is to repeat the feat as
often he get any one to give
money for the exhibitions IL Is said that
OK Mayor Manning. OF Buffalo, who owns hotel here.
helped to pay for building the barrel Graham, how
eve made several with other barrels first and
came to the conclusion that 1t WAS safc.
The cask did follow the course Captain webb TOOK
when he attempted to swim through the Rapids and
people think that cask might he stove on second
trip Nobody except Graham and his friends believe
that the feat can be successfully accomplished every
lime Graham is a quiet noifensive fellow thlrty-two
old aud weighs 140 pounds. He talks about going
hr0ug IN the Rapids In matter of fact sort OF way
~ htch astoni .hea ven .he hack -dryers.