Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-08-31
IN THE NIAGARA RAPIDS.

William j. Kendall. VINO swan tne Nlaga-
ra whirlpool, last week, paid Buffalo visit
incogito, where reporter obtained an inter-
view with him. He said "The rapids ex-
tend, I should judge, about three.quarters of
q mile, but went in 4 little above, making
the distance traversed probably mile. AT.
ter entered the water my experience was q
rough one. First, was carried towards the
falls over three hundred feet By 81 counter
current. But at this stage had control of
nv movements. I SWAN out toward tho
Canadian shore, where I saw the current
was going the opposite way. in order to get
into il. Once in the currentI got there very
lively. When struck the first wave under
the old railway bridge, my friends mad drv.
en- ahead of me with my clothes, and they
gave me cheer which heard distinctly,
although it seemed to me that everybody
was hollering blue murder up there about
that time. That wac whore [ caught the
first rapid but went over tho FIRST two all
right they seemed to have no whirl.
But the third one--all can compare it to is
thatit hit me like q locomotive. was stunned
by the blow and felt myself to be at the mercy
Of the waves from that on. had no con-
down as far as Buttery's elevator | saw my
self near the shore, but whenever one of
those waves hit me kind Of turned COM
of the time, but when / got to the top tried
fresh supply. Then wave would strike
me and down | went in less time than it
takes to tell it. When | got to the hmeri-
can side and saw the rocks SO close to me
thought to myself, If you turn another
somersaut and strike one Of tine rocks it will
knock your brains out From that on |
could see nothing, but could feel that / was
being knocked about good deal. Ny
senses rather left me. and | could not tell
thing / remember saying 10 myself, Bill,
you're going round could feel, but did
not know where I was. thought 10 my
self, am I through? Where am !? But
could not realize my whereabouts. Very
soon, however I found I was through the
rapids and in the whirlpool. went round
and round half 8 dozen times and then TOOK
q quiet little bathe under water. 1t lasted
sometime. felt myself sucked right down,
how far down ! could Iot tell you. l
thought | went . distance OF about four
miles. But to tell the truth Wsut great
distance. | should say sixty Or seventy
feet sure.
"In the whirlpool l said to myself Bill,
this is the last effort Of your life,' and I
fought for dear life. I felt it was my last
chance When rose to the surface after
being submerged for time, / vomited all
over myself right in the water. After felt
the eddy carrying me towards the lower
rapids, made my way to the Canadian
shore. caught hold OF q rock right there,
and did not move until was pulled out by
my friends. got there twenty minutes
ahead of the team driven by my friends.
Was sensible? Yes, partly, but my head
didn't feel right. They tell me I was un-
able to speak for ten minutes, and it was
only after being we'll rubbed with brandy
that was able to speak. Tue first words
uttered were, 60 away and let me alone
My strength gradually returned, but my
hands and whole body were subject TO
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 touch. am now fairly we'll
over it"