Huntsville gazette., 1886-12-04
TEMPTING FATE.

PerilOus Voyage of the Niagara Whirl-
pool Ras;As in safety, Encased in Bar.
rel. sar4 Es 4r--
NIAGARA FALLS, Nov 29-One more
chapter to the romantic history of Niagara
river was added yesterday afternoon by
the feat of George Hazlitt and Miss Sadie
Allen, both of this city, who made the trip
of Niagara whirlpool and rapids in bar
rel. This was the first time lady has
ever attempted the feat, and curiosity was
aroused to the hig.. Nst pitch. Hazlitt
went through the rapids and whirlpool on
the Sth of last August with Wiliam Potts.
~ "a .teea- shs ~ sst.s II
order to avenge themselves bn. Graham,
the pioneer in the enterprise who
had sighted them, Hazlitt :. and
Potts decided to have a woman go through
to take away his glory. Thanksgiving eve
Miss Sadie Allen, Potts sister-in-lawi was
visited, the matter proposed to her, and SHE
said at once she would go, so it was ar
ranged Potts and Hazlitt went to Chip
pewa, and towed up the barrel. Yester-
day morning Miss Allen went to the Falls
and stopped at Michael Hearn's hotel on
Falls street. She said to your, correspond
ent:
'Yes, have fully made up my mind to
make the trip, and / think can truthfnlly
say that am not afraid. The boys asked
me to go and l am sure theyrwould not
take me where | would be injured ]
might, for what | know, be just as well
killed now as any time, but of course |
don't think l will be. The papers. saEI am
eighteen years old, but l might just as well
tell you that | am twenty, as | have no
wish to- conceal it, The, stery that
h,e -ln x. ~,
is, Of course, lie. / never had a
husband and don't expect to- have l AM
an orphan, and aside from my sister, who
is with me, and two brothers. who are en-
gineers on the railroad, / have no friends
on earth. My father, John Allen, died
seven years ago, and my mother passed
away three years ago lastJune. Myfather
was railroad man. employed by the New
York Central at East Buffalo, and always
kept me in good style. He was Il
of one of the Buffalo Masonic
lodges-a and God bless them, they have done
enough for me since. His 4ife was insured
in the Masonic Life Association of w cstern
New York but owing to his long sickness
we We're unable to keep up the;dues and
the policy expired a few days before his
death The Masons paid the funeral eX-
penses and: have continually helped me
since. Three months ago I:was sept for 10
take care Of Mrs. John Scu1ly, who lives
at 1913 Seneca street, Buffalo, ard have
been with them SINCE
THE START.
The couple in their barrel started OF
their perilous voyage at half past two
O'Clock, from the old Maid Of the Mist land.
ing, on the Canada side. Miss Allen. .whcr
she appeared at the ferry. ready;t6 enter
upon the perilous Journey, ,rwore neat
walking dress. Taking "off Her hat ana
Jacket and throwing a shawl aver her
head, she stepped lightly into the barrel
through the man-liole. tucking her gar
ments closely about herand lallghingly re-
Come, George, jump in; I'm all
fxed.' Soon after Hazlftt stepped into the
craft, fastening himself in the opposite
end to that occupied by Miss Allen
AT 2:55 the rev suspensions bridge was
passed People on the banks waved their
handl1erchiefs, and Hazlitt waved his
hand in reply.to the greeting. ItMas just
,:59 when the turn in the river was passed
At the old Maid of the Mist landing where
lhe rapids begin Here. the battle began
The barrel rolled and dived, being out Of
sight half the time. People e~wlio were in
position to see thought it was
gone haf-a-dozen times. 1t was loaded
With five hundred pounds Of sand, and was
yery loggy in the water. At three
o'clock the whirlpool was reached, and IN
he brave little craft went The roaring
ii lows covered it with foam tand mist,
md every time it was lost sight Of people
thought it had surely struck the big rock
IN which Captain Webb's head Was split.
The barrel went down once seemingly for
rood, but when it righted again it was
een moving down the stream ont Of the
naelstrom. 1t continued for five hundred
DDS probably, and then turned back jast
IS fast and came into Thempson's 5 eddy, on
he Canadian shore.
This is only separated rom the whirl-
'ool by great rock, which shut off the
-iew of the spectators on the bluff. They
hought the boat had gone down to Lewis
on and some OF the party went there with
arriages to bring them back At last
frank L. Lawson, who keeps the gate at
he Colts elevator. espied7 the party and
anne running along the shore OF. the whirl-
,ool. They had then been there three
uarters Of an hour. Others came
own. but there was no such thing
5 making noise which would at
ract their attention. Wren the bar
el came near the shore again he
hrew club and struck the barrel. Haz
lit str ck out his head, caugf1t rope that
vas presently thrown him. and.the barrel
vas safely landed at :45 O'Clock. HazliJt
,ot ort. but the young lady had to be car
led TO the elevator, where her friends
we're waiting. She was driven back to
Hotel as quickly as possible, and
t six o'clock was able to sit up. She was
o i'll she could not go TO Buffalo last even
ag, but probably will to-day, She said
he was terribly bruised and that the ride
lade her sick at her stomach.
Miss Sadie Alien, heroine OF, Niagara, is
pretty girl that would make some honest
oung man good wife. She has dark
rogvn hair and eyes, g1Od features, rosy
omplexion and q mouth which. when che
miles, is positively beautiful She is as
modest as she. is -comeiy. and has made
his attempt. seemingly, in blind conf
ence in the Judgment of her brother-in-
aW and his friends.
The Conyngbam Shaft Mine Disaster.
WLKEsBsRRE, Pa. NOV. 2S,-The excite.
lent at the Conyngham shaft having sub
ided an examination was Inadeyesterday
0 ascertain the extent of the damage