The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-07-24
"sHooTINo NIAGARA.

fore, Thackeray had died suddenly.
SHOOTING NIAGARA"
@. d. Graham, native of Philadelphia,
33 years OF age, succeeded in making the
descent of Niagara Falls and passing
through the celebrated whirlpool Sun
day, July 10 He was impriso ned in cask
and sent over the falls. The cask struck
strong current and passed over the falls
and through the whirlpool in which Cap
tain Webb lost his life, rapidly, and Ora
ham was relieved five miles below I'M
hurt, save few bruises.
The Maid of the Mist and Capt. Webb.
Terrible as is the rush of the seetbing
torrent through the great gorge of the
Niagara river below the falls there have
been found, more than once, men daring
or reckless enough to make the attempt
to pass the rapids. The first attempt was
made by three men in the side-wheel
steamer Maid of the Mist, which for years
carried excursion parties into the basin
at the foot of the falls. Certain financial
difficulties in which the owners of the
Maid became involved, eliminated in the
issue of an execution upon the boat, and
it was to avoid the service of this execu-
ton that it was determined to run the
boat through the rapids. past the whirl-
pool, and out of the clutches of the law.
Three men volunteered to make the per-
| ilous voyage Two took charge of the
wheel, while one shut himself into the
engine room to make the trip in darkness.
The steamer put off from her pier and
glided swiftly down che smooth surface
of the stream above the railroad suspen-
sion bridge. Then with sudden plunge
she was hurled among the huge breakers
that make up the rapids. The first wave
that struck her dashed the pilots right
and left from the wheel and slowed the
vessel around. They sprang up bruised
and bleeding, and grasping the wheel
again took the groaning vessel through
the raging waters. She was heavily built,
with double engines, and especially de-
but when she came out of the gorge be-
low the whirlpool, she was strained and
racked almost to pieces. The three men
who went with her gave up all hope OF
life at the beginning Of the struggle, and
said that no money could tempt them to
repeat the voyage. After the exploit of
the Maid of the Mist, no human being
attempted the passage of the rapids for
many years. Occasional rumors were
heard of dogs floating safely through on
cakes of ice, only to be engulfed finally
in the whirlpool, but it was not until July,
1883, that another man could be found
willing to risk his lie III the foolhardy
and Improbable attempt.
In that month Captain Matthew Webb,
of Shropshire, England, visited Niagara,
and after studying the characteristics of
the rapids for some weeks, announced
his Intention Of swimming through them.
Captain Webb was a noted professional
swimmer, long an officer in the merchant
marine service. While a sailor he dis
tinguished himself by saving several peo-
pie from drowning, under circumstances
of particular danger. In August, 1875.
he swan across the English Channel
from Dover to Calais, distance of fifty
miles, in twenty-one and three quarter
hours. Many other feats OF aquatic skill
and endurance that he performed made
him the leading professional swimmer of
the world. He carefully studied the
course of the water in the Niagara Rap
ids for some time, sending through rail-
road ties and logs and taking them ont
ton that would have dismayed less de-
termined man. He was unable to raise a
purse from the railroads and hotels to
encourage him In his foolhardy attempt,
and therefore, when on July "a, 1883, he
plunged into the river, he did so with the
remark that he was simply making the
attempt for his own personal satisfac-
ton" He entered the water just above
the old suspension bridge and was borne
swiftly ON to the rapids. Swimming de-
terminealy he made his way through the
tossing waves and was seemingly getting
on we'll, when just as he was entering the
whirlpool, the watching crowds high in
the bluffs above, saw him throw up one
hand and Immediately sink. Four days
later his body was recovered and was
found to be covered with bruises, while
on the head was a cut deep enough to
have produced instant death. This fatal
ending put an end for some time to act
ual attempts to brave the fury of the rap
ids, and although from time to time men
have claimed that they would pass the
rapids in huge rubber balls, or in open
boats, none has dared to make the at
tempt until yesterday.-NelV York T1i6-
Nne.
Trees of the United Stotes.- OF the
more than four hundred species of trees
found in the United States. there are
said to be sixteen species whose perfect
ly dry wood will sink in water. The