The Irish standard., 1886-10-09
THE NIAGARA RAPIDS.
The Experience of Kendall, the Only Man
Who Ever Swan Them.

lfalo Cor. N. Y. World.

LOuua1O COr. N. i. w OriO.I
| William j. Kendall, who swan the Nj
| ayara whirlpool, has given an account OF
his exploit. He said: 1.-The rapids extend
should judge about three-quarters Of 8
mile, but went in q little above, making
the distance traversed probably mile
After entered the water my experienc ce
was rough one. First, was carried to.
wards the falls over three hundred feet by
; counter current But at this stage l had
control Of my movements I swan cut
toward the Canadian shore, where I saw
the current was going the opposite way
in order to get into it. Once in the current
I got there very lively When struck the
first wave under the old railway bridge my
friends had driven ahead of me with my
clothes and they gave me cheer which I
heard distinctly although 1t seemed to me
that every body was hollering blue murder
up there about that time. That was where
l caught the first rapid, but went over
the first two all right; they seemed to
have no whir! But the third one
all l can compare it to is that it hit
me like a locomotive. I was stunned
by the blow, and felt myself to be at the
mercy Of the waves from that Or I had
no control Of my actions whatever After
got down as far as Bntterv's elevator
saw myself near the shore. but whenever
one Of those waves hit me kind Of turned
a complete sonlersault.
81 could not breathe a part Of the time,
but when got up to the top I tried TO get
the old wind out Of me and catch a fresh
SUPPLY Then wave would strike me- and
down went in less time than it takes to
tell it. When [ got to the American side
and saw the rocks SO close to me thought
to myself: II you trrn another so1ner-
saut and strike ono Of the rocks it
will knock your brains out. From that
on could see nothing. but could feel that
] was being Knocked about a good deal
My senses rather left me and could not
tell thing. remember. saving to mysals:
'Bill. y';7 re going round / could feel, but
did not know where J. was. l thought to
myself, am t1rough? Where am I? Bur
could not realize my whereabouts Very
soon, however ] found that I was through
the rapids and in the whirlpool I went
round and round half a dozen times. and
the1. took q quiet little bath under water.
Ii lasted some Tina I felt myself sucked
right down. how fsr could not tell you I
thought went distance OF about four
miles. But, to tell the truth I went q
great distance. I should say sixty or
seventy feet. sure.
'ln the whirlpool, I said to myself tBill,
this is the last effort Of your life and [
fought for dear life. [ felt it was my last
chance When 1rose to the surface after be-
ing submerged for q time vonited Ill over
myself right i'll the water. After iel5 The
eddy carrying me towards the lower rap
ids made my way to the Canadian shore |
l caught hold Of rock right there, and did |
not move until l was pulled cat by my
friends ! got there twenty minutes ahead |
OF tnc LEAN driven by NY friends Was
sensible! Yes, partly, but my head di7n'c
feel right They tell me / was unable TO
speak for ten minutes, and it was only
after being well rubbed with brandy that |
was able to speak Ihe first words ] Ut
tered were: Go away and let me alone'
My strength gradually returned. but my
hands end whole body were subject to a
continuous shiver for q long time. They
could hardly hold me still. Next day
was still confined to bed and every muscle
was panied by a touch, I am now fairly
we'll over it,"