Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-24
WENT THROUGH
rHx DARING FEAT or A BOSTON DE-
rEcIIvR.
risssra Rapids and the whirlpool Passed
In Five Minutes With No Protection
Dut q Life-Preserver.

A Buffalo IN. W special OF Sunday
SAYS that William J. Kendall, Of Bos-
ton, on that day swan the Rapids Of Nj
sesra river and The whirlpool withnoth-
ing on bat an ordinary cork lifs-pre-
server. Kendall was born aud brought
up ia Boston. He is young man, but
twenty .fonr years Old, and IL married.
His wife is nov In Boston, aud her
first intimaiion Of her husbands terri
bic swim was a telegram which he sent
Der the night after its conclusion aad
bis return to the Falls. They have
one child.
Kendall Ia six feet two inches high,
and weighs 1875 pounds. lie Is OF sandy
complexion, and wears short side Wits"
hers. Rather an ordinary looking man,
though good looking, he is not person
whom one would turn to look at twice
in crowd. That he is possessed OF
great conrsge is sslfevident. lie is
strong. we'll built, aud wiry, and has
knocked about in this world to con-
siceyable extent. lie Is mschlnist
by trade, though for several years he
has not followed 1t. lie has crossed the
ocean three times, and visited Liver
pool, Glasgow, Paris, and the other
European cities. These ocean trips he
made % an employee in the engine
rooms of the steamers. lie is also
considerable Of swimmer, though ne
does not claim to be professional, and
does not brag much Of his powers.
During one Of his trips across the
ocean in the steamship Werra he jump
ed overheard in mid-ocean and gallant
" rescued = passenger who had uuior'
,unately fallen overheard. For this
heroic action he was presented with
medal suitably inscribed. On another
occasion be jumped from an East Bos-
ton ferry boat and rescued man who
bad jumped overheard with the inten-
lion Of committing suicide. lie has also
entered various swimming races at dif.
jerent places, in which he has won both
medals and money. Several years ago
be was appointed policeman on the
Boston force, but for some time past he
has been connected with Dams Private
Detective A geney, Of Washington street,
Boston.
One evening not long ago Kendall aud
several friends were sitting 10 an Office
In Boston reading an account Of Ora
hams 6rst trip through the rapids.
alt was terrible ride" said one,
"and emily brave man would under
take it,"
"Pshaw I" was Kendall's reply to
this remark, "any fool can 60 through
the rapids in barrel. A trick worth
a dozen Of that would be to swim the
rapids with no protection except per-
haps that afforded by liie-preserver."
an bet that you wouldn't dare
swim ,hem," said the first speaker.
"What will you bet?"
"Well, III bet you $500"
"No, that would be no object. |
would not risk my life for that. Now,
I have got o little money that am
willing to wager. will bet yon el,00O
that | can swim the Rapids and the
whirlpool with nothing on but an ordi-
nary liie-preserver."
Some chatting followed, with the re-
suit that the bet was declared go, aud
later the money was put up. The bet
was quietly talked up among the friends
Of both men, and finally something
like 100000 was put up by Kendall's
friends, inside bets, half Of which Ken
dali himself is 70 receive now that his
trip has been successful. So it was
purely money making scheme which
he entered.
Kendall left Boston at o'clock on
Saturday night. He told his wife that
be was going away on business. AS
be frequently left home in q like man
Der TO be gone for several days she
made no inquiries, and he boarded the
Up. NJ. train on the Boston and AL
bsny, the Central carrying him to Sus-
pension bridge from Albany. lie ar
rived at the bridge early this morning,
and then saw the river for the first time.
He spent some little time in looking over
the ground, and then went to Niagara
Falls, where be registered at the West
ern Hotel. After dinner he asked the
proprietor of the hotel for a. light rig,
saving that he wished TO take a ride.
lie told the proprietor nothing of his
intentions. A two-seated carriage was
obtained, driven by William Walker,
and be then invited Fred. Salt, son Of
the proprietor, and s. Toby, a son.in'
law, to ride with HIM. At | O'Clock
the party started out, and after going
short distance, Kendall informed his
companions Of his intentions. They
demurred somewhat, but finally agreed
to assist him. They drove to Sas
pension bridge, where Fred. James. 0
Buttery's elevator, was found. He als'
joined the party. ,
Ate O'Clock Walker and Salt, ioi
lowed By Kendall, smoking cigar
walked down the path to the old Maia
of-the. Mist landing. Toby and Jane
started fer the whirlpool. On reacniu
the landing a number Of excursion'S'
were found idly gazing at the sPo,
where Grahsm's barrel lay before III
first trip. Kendall threw away III
cigar, calmly remarking that he wa
gong TO take a bath. He then Stripe
Of all his clothing, putting on an ORD
nary cork life-preserver, which he ha
brought with him, and which hs
apparently seen service before, an
waded into the water. AS soon as tn
water became deep enough he bega
swimming toward the centre Of II
river. An eddy caught and carried hir
over to the Canadian shore, but by dir
of much effort he finally succeeded
getting into cross current, which ca
ried bin toward the American shol
and into the centre Of the river. The
no struck out with long, stead
stroke.
This vas ct 2:05 O'Clock. The stroI
current swept him swiftly forward, 81
he passed under the Suspension bird
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