Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-07-16
THROUGH THE WHIRLPOOL
c. d. Graham Makes the Passage of
the Rapids at Niagara in a
Barrel.
Thousands of People on the Shore Wit
ness the Accomplishment of the
Deed.

BUFFALO, July 1S.-Very few of the
thousands who visited the Niagara falls
to-day had any idea that another adven-
turous man would attempt to swim the
Whirlpool rapids. in which Capt. Webb
lost his life. For some time c. ID. Gra-
ham had been making preparations for
the attempt, but few persons really be
lieved that his courage would hold out
long enough for him to make il. Such,
however, was not the case, and at about
O'Clock this afternoon Graham started
on his perilous voyrge, which he success
fully accomplished.
Graham had told Mr.. Porter all about
his plans, and related that he would carry
them out at the time he did, but request
ed that the time be not given in publish
ing the article, for fear that the authori-
ties would prevent him in his purpose.
Accordingly very few were among the
spectators. Graham kept the cask in
which he intended to make his trip in n
saloon in this city. About IL o'clock last
night he loaded it in Il wagon, and. ac-
companiea by several friends, started for
the falls. They arrived there at [ O'Clock
this morning and unloaded the cask at a
point on the American side of the falls
and about three hundred rods above the
cantilever bridge. policeman arrested
him on suspicion of being Tonawanda
horse-thief, but his Buffalo friends secur-
ed his release on bail.
When everything was ready Graham
got into the barrel and closed the man
hole at the top. AT this point of the river
the current is very slight. small boat
towed the cask out into the river to a
point where the current would catch it.
and Graham was started on what might
have turned out to be his trip to eternity.
The towing process took only a few min
utes, and then the stream caught the cask
and started it toward the whirlpool. At
first 1t moved slowly down, then faster
and faster, until the mad current dashed
1t on with its full force. The cask bound
ed up and down over the great waves, and
several times turned complete somer-
sault, but the wider portion remained up
permost, although it turned around like a
top. The cask kept pretty well in the
center of the river until 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 barrel manufactured by Ora
ham, is feet long, 33 inches at bilge, -
inches at top, and II inches at bottom. 1t
is built of oak and hooped with twenty
seven iron hoops. Bolted to the bottom is a
piece OF cast-iron, which, with bolts,
weighs 240 pounds. Inside, below the
bilge, to keep it from rolling, is sandbag
weighing 120 pounds, the whole weighing
600 pounds. Inside is also a canvas bag
to hold Graham in such a manner that
he could not strike the sides. In the head
is man-hOle, fastened upon the inside
The barrel was brought from Buffalo this
morning and placed just above the can
tilever bridge, and looked like a buoy
The passage to the whirlpool was made
in eight minutes. 1t was the intention
to land at the whirlpool, and Graham
opened the manhole and put out his hand
but the barrel was too far from the shore
to be reached, and he passed on down
through the Devils Hole rapids to Lewis
ton, making the entire trip of seven miles
in thirty minutes. At Lewiston a boat
caught the barrel, and Graham got into
it. He was somewhat shaken up, but
none the worse for his passage through
the rapids and is ready to take the triT
again.
Graham is native of Philadelphia, 81
years old, cooper by trade and has beer
great traveller. He was in England
when Webb lost his life, and during the
excitement conceived the plan of going
Though the rapids in a barrel, and hiss
since been making experiments.