New-York tribune., 1886-07-12
THE MAID OF THE MIST AND CAPT WEBB.


THE sTEAMERs SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE THROUGH The
wHIRLPOoI-How WEBB DIED.
Terrible as is the rush of the seethinS tor
rent through great gorge OF tho Niagara River below
the falls there have been found more than once' men
daring reckless enough to make the attempt 10 pass
rapids The first attempt was made by hreo men 10
the side. wheel steamer Maid OF the MIST which for years
carried excursion parties into tho basin at tho foot OF
the falls. Certain financial difficulties In which the
owners of the Maid became voved culfTnated In the
execution upon tho boat and IL was 10 a'ou
the service OF this execution that 1t was doermhou 70
try tho boat through the rapids past the whr
pool OF the clutches Of the law Ihreo mon VOL
unteeed to make the perous voyage Two TOOK cnarge
OF the wheel while ono shut himself into the engine
room to make the trip In darkness The steamer put
pier aud gdcd swiftly down the smooth sur
face OF above the railroad suspension orldse
Then with sudden plunge she was hurled among the
huge breakers that mako the rapids Inc nrse wave
that struck dashed the pilots right and left from the
wheel and shaved the vessel around. They sprahg up
bruised bleeding grasping the wheel again TOOK
the groaniug vessel through the raging waters She was
heavily built with double englnes ana espec"iy ue-
signed for service IN dangerous waters Dut "hen
she came OF the gorge below the whiripooi she
was strained and racked almost to pieces Inc three
who through with her gave up all hope OF lie
at The beginning OF the struggle and said that no money
could tempt them repeat the voyage After tue eA
Dlot OF the Maid Of tho Mist no human being aep'ou
the passage OF the rapids for many years.
Occasional ruin0rs heard or dogs no"'
Ing safely throu on cakes OF only TO be engnfed
finally in the whirlpool but II not until July; 1883,
that another could be found willing TO FISK his ITO
IN tho foonardy and unprohtaoe attempt; snropsbre
In that month Captain Matthew Wehp, OF enropSnite'
England visited Niagara and after studying lhe cnat-
acieriscs the rapids for some weeks anhouhceu is
Intention OF swimming through them Capluh ncpo
noted professional swimmer, long an 0iceI III tuc
merchant marine service While sailor he distinguished
himself by saving people from drowning uhuer
circumstances Particular danger In August 10 80 NC
the English Channel from Dover 10 Nd''s'
distance OF fifty miles I'm twenty-one and thrre g"dl-
hours. Many feats OF aquatic sAlIl anu ch-
durance that he performed made him tho eaulnE pro,
iessonal sw miner of tho world He carefully studied
course U the the Niagara Rapids ior some
time. sending through railroad Tics anu ,oes anu
taking them below the whTlpoot III
a battered condition that would nave ulhmAyeu
a lees determined He was unable 10 raise /" purse
from the raj aud hotels TO encourage nun III nus
foDhardy attempt and therefore, when Oh July ~
he plunged Into river he did so win ne rcaA naI
lie WAS simply making the attempt for MS own per
sOnal satirincton" lie entered the water JUST above
rapids swi mining made his way through
the tossing waves and WAS seenlugy grVnS on
well. when Just as lie entering the "hltIpooi VIC
watching high the blnhs above saw hn .nroM
up hand Immediately SINK. -Four hays a.eI MS
body was recovered and found To De coNrreu Win
bruises. while tue head cut deep eho"en W
have produced instant death Ths fata enulhs P" an
end for some actual attempts 10 brave INC Jury
rapids although from time to time men hvo
claimed they would pass the rapids III DuEe .upor.
balls open boats, has dared make tue a''cP'
tt.f1Ir