Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-15
NIAGARA ADVENTURES.
A Steamers Successful Passage
Through the Whirlpool.

From tie Neto York Tribune.
Terrible as is the rush Of the seethlhg
torrent through the great gorge OF the NJ
agara river below thelalls there have been
found, more than once, men daring or
reckless enough to make the attempt to
pass the rapids. The first attempt was
made by three men in the side-Wbeel
steamer Maid Of the Mist, when LOT years
carried excursion parties INTO Inc od9Iu
at the loot of the falls. Certain financial
difficulties, in which the owners OF ioe
Maid became involved, eliminated IN the
issue of an execution upon the boat, ana IL
was to avoid the service Of this execution
that il was determined 10 try To run me
boat through the rapids, past the Witt
pool and out OF the clutches OF the Jaw
Three men volunteered TO make the peril
GUS voyage. Two took charge OF Juc
wheel, viii one shut him into the en-
CINE room to make the trIp IN dArhheS7;
The steamer put oil from her per ana
glided swiftly down the smooth surface OF
the stream above the railroad suspension
bridge, Then with a sudden plunge she
was hurled among the huge breakers that
make up the rapids. The htst wave tnat
struck her dashed the pilots rl@Et anu 'II
from the wheel and Slowed tue vessel
around. They sprang up bruised ana
bleeding, and, grasping Inc Wheel aEaih'
took the grooming vessel through lhe
raging waters. She was heavily pun,
with double engines and especially de-
signed for service in dangerous waters
but when she came ont of the gorge below
the whirlpool she was stTa ned and rack
ed almost to pieces. the three men who
went through with her gave up all nope
OF life at the beginning Of the struggle,
and said that no money could tempt Them
TO repeat the vOyaee. After the exploit
OF the Maid OF the Mist no human beng
attempted the passage OF the rapide l"r
many wears. Occasional rumOrs were
heard OF dogs floating safely through on
cakes OF ice only TO be engu'fed finally. in
the whirlpool, hutit was not until July,
1888. that another man could be found
willing to risk his life in the iOo.hardy
and improbable attempt.
In that month Capt. Matthew Webb, or
Shropshire, Eng, visited Niagara, and
after studying the characteristics OF the
rapids for some weeks announced MS IN
teution of winning through them. Capt.
Webb was a noted professional swimmer,
long an officer in the merchant marine
service. While sailor he distinguished
himself by saving several people from
drowning, under circumstances OF par
ticular danger. In August, 1870, he swan
across the English channel from Dover
TO Calais, a distance of fifty miles, IN
tweniy-One and three-quarter hours.
Many otner feats of aquatic skill and
endurance that he performed made hlm
the leading professional swimmer OF the
world. He carefully studied the course
of the water in the Niagara rapids for
some time, sending through railroad ties
and logs aud taking them out below the
whirlpool in a battered condition that
would have dsmayed a less determined
man. He was unable to raise
purse from the railroads and
hotels to encourage him in his
foolhardy attempt and, therefore, when
on July n. 1888, be plunged in1o the river
be did 50 with the remark that he was
simply making the attempt for his own
personal satislaction.' He entered the
water Just above the old suspension
bridge and was borne swiftly on to the
rapids. Swimming determjncdly he made
his way through the tossing waves aud
was seemingly getting on well, when just
as he was entering the whirlpool, the
watching crowds nigh in the blu,fs a owe
saw him throw up one hand and immedl-
ately sink. Four days later his body was
recovered and WAS found to be covered
with bruises, while on the head was cut
deep enough to have produced instant
death. This fatal ending put an end for
fury OF the rapids, ana although from time
to time men have claimed thatthey would
pass the rapids in huge rubber balls, or
in open boats. none has dared make the
attempt until sunday.