The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-12-15
A WOMAN IN THE RAPIDS.
Passing Through the Niagara Falls
WHIRLPOOL in a Barrel.


For the first time, as far as is known,
woman has gone safely through thu whirl-
pool rapids at Niagara Falls Her only pro-
te:tion from the rocks and waves was tor
pedo-shaped barrel, in which was also q
male navigator. Tho craft used was the one
in which Potts and Hazlett made. the passage
on August s, and George Hazlett was the
companion of Mis-; Sadie Allen, who helped
repeat that feat. The cask is cigar-shaped,
ten feet long by three in diameter, and has a
double head, the Prov being like batterinS
ram. Hazlett, Potts and a number Of friends,
together with Miss Allen aud some lady ac-
uuaintances, came to niagara Falls OH the
night of the 9th. The adventuresome girl
is eighteen years old, plump, handsome,
and brunette. Her hair, which
is Of luxurious growth, IS almost black.
She lives with the family Of John Scully. q
foreman for the West Shore Railroad in Buff
falo. She is an orphan, and her sister is the
wife Of Potts, who previously made the trip.
Sadie had never seen the Falls before, and
laughed at the idea that there was any danger.
She laughed merrily when at p. NJ. on the
2Sth she went with Mrs. Scully, her sister,
Mrs Potts. Mrs. Samuel Hazlett and others
to the old Maid of the Mist landing near the
Horseshoe Falls.
The barrel had been ballasted with 500
pounds Of sand, and care was taken to make
it water tight. At 2:25 all was ready and
the women bade Sadie good-by as she
stepped from the dock on to the bar
rel and slid through the turret. She
wore a dark woolen suit Hazlett quickly
disappeared in the barrel and arranged some
ropes to steady the occupants. He wore two
heavy flannel shirts, trowsers, and Scotch
ha
dies to aid in steadying the occupants
"Tm all right" said Miss Allen, laughing.
"There's not so much danger as you think"
Then the queer craft was towed by Elmer
Jones and John Keating down toward the
head Of the rapids. On the way
Sadie put her head out and talked
with the oarsmen. When near the
cantilever bridge the turret top was
screwed on and few moments later the first
rapids were reached. So close was the boat
that its occupants narrowly escaped going
through the gorge. 1t was 1856 P. NJ. when
the torpedo with its freight was whirled side
ways into the breakers and began the wild
trip of three-quarters Of mile.
The water was muddy. The river was low,
but tho waves were higher than usual, and
the tiny craft seemed to be dashing on to de-
struation. "If there are any rocks
there" said old riverlnen, that thing will
20 to pieces on them" But thes bar
rel was hurled along from wave to
wave, occasionally buried in clouds Of
foam and sometimes completely thrown from
the water In three minutes the last roller
shot the barrel into the whirlpool. There it
circled round a little and then the outer cur
rent carried the craft into the lower whirl-
pool OF Devils Rapids.
When the torpedo circled out into the
second series, or Devils Rapids, it received
fresh impetus, and was hurled about on top Of
the waves like feather. When near the little
maelstrom, below Thompson's flats, where
Swimmer Scott was killed trying to emulate
Captain Webb, the craft was tossed into an
eddy on the Canadian side. There it was
gently tossel around for three quarters Of an
hour, until man with rope las 'oed it and
pulled it ashore.
Hazlett and Miss Allen got out as quickly
very seasick, and hardly able to walk. Miss
Allen, in conversation with reporter, said
that the worst part Of the trip was the sick
ness she experienced
"Were you not scared"
81 was not bit afraid. hung on tightly,
and it did not seem long. don't believe we
struck any rocks.
The girl seems inclined to make light Of the
danger and hardships Of the voyage. She was
not we'll enough to return to Buffalo, but her
companion, Hazlett took the o'clock train
for home. He said:
''The trip was much worse than the first
one. The water was rougher, and, while we
did not strike any rocks, the shocks were Sc.
we're. Miss Allen is brave girl and made
no outcry. made bet Of S. with her that
the would scream before we got out, but she
won the wager"