Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-14
1 FOOlHAROY ADVENTURE.
r. u. Graham Successfully Shoots the
Rapids Of Niagara In
Barrpi.
The Man Floats Five Niles In His Novel
Bark and Escapes Without
Injury.
, ruu Description Of the Foolhardy
Journey and Of the Sin.
gular Vessel.

HurP,io, y V, July livery few ol
tbe thousands of wrOns who visited
Niagara Falls to-day had any idea that
another adventurous man would attempt
TO swim " Whirlpool Rapids, in which Capt
Webb lost his lie. For some time c. ID
Graham has been max ng prepa arations fol
the attempt, but few persons believed that
him to make it, Such, however, was not
,he case, and about this afternoon Ora.
ham started on his periious voyage, which
he successfully accomplished. Graham
had told Mr.. Porter all about his plans
and related that he would carry them out
at the time he did, but requested that the
time be not given in publishing the article
for fear that the authorities would
prevent him in his; purpose. Accord
,ely very few were among the
snectators. Graham kept the cssk
in which be intended to make his
rim in a saloon in this city. About IL
,,,clock last night he loaded it ia a wagon,
and accompanied by several friends started
for the Falls. They arrived about O'Clock
this morning ana
uNlOADED THE CASK
# q noint on the American side OF the
r;ver below the Falls and about 800 rods
above the Cant liver bridge. A policeman
arrest, d him on suspicion OF being a TOna-
wanda horsethief, but bis Buffalo friends
secured bis release on bail. When every
thing was ready. Graham got into the bar
rel and closed manhole at the top. At
this point OF the river the current is very
slight. A small boat, towed the cask out
into the river to point where the current
would catch it and where Graham was
started on what might have been
HIS TRIP TO ETERNITY.
The towing process took only few minutes
and then the stream caught the cask and
started it towards the whirlpool. At first
it moved slowly down, then faster and
faster until the mad current dashed it on
with its mad force. The cask pounded up
and down over the great waves and several
ii nes turned complete somersault, but
the wider portion remained uppermost,
although it turned round like top. The
,ask kept pretty well in the center of the
river unit it reached the Whirlpool when
it struck strong side current and was
carried swiftly through, reaching the waters
beyond in safety. From here the journey
was
COMPARATIVELY QUIET.
The cask was picked up at lewiston,
aboat five miles below the starting point,
and Graham crawled out of the barrel
with only slight bruise on his arm. He
remarked: when struck the eddies it
was one continued round OF jerks, but
au not hurt bit" Graham is q native
OF Philadelphia, 33 years old and a cooper
by trade. He is a poor man and did this
thing for glory.
The cask is feet long, 33 inches in
diameter at the widest portion, % inches
at the top and IS inches at the bottom.
1t is boNnd around with iron hoops, which
weigh 250 ponds. The ballast which was
attached to the cask to keep it in position
weighs 24O pounds. Graham will probably
repeat the trip. He says he will yet 60
over the Horseshoe Falls.