Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-07-15
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A philadelphia Successfully Passes
ThrOumh Che Whfrfu0of.

Through ,he whlripooI.
BUFFALO, N. X, July livery few OF
the thousands Of persons who visited
Niagara Falls to-day had any idea that
another adventurous man would attempt
TO swim the whirlpool rapids, in which
Captain Webb lost his life. For some
time past O. ID. Graham has been making
preparations for the attempt. But few
persons, II any, really believed that his
courage would hold out long enough for
him TO make IL. Such, however, was not
the case, and about O'Clock this after
noon Graham started ON his perilous
voyage, which he successfully accom-
plished. Graham had told reporter all
about his plans, and stated that he would
carry them out at the time he did, but re-
quested that the time be not given in pub
fishing an article ON the subject for fear
that the authorities would prevent him in
his plans.
Accordingly very few were aware of the
fact, and the banks of the river, which
would have contained several thousand
more persons than watched Capt. Webb
in his suicidal attempt, contained but O
few hundred, and most of those were at
tracted there only by the curiosity and
Graham's intentions were watching diff
ferent points of the river. Graham kept
| the eask in which he intended TO make
the trip in saloon in this city. About
IL O'Clock last night he loaded 1t on q
wagon, and accompanied by several
friends, started for the falls. They ar
rived there about o'clock this morning
and unloaded the cask at point ON the
American side of the river below the falls,
and about 800 rods above the Cantilever
bridge. A policeman noticed him, after
he had unloaded his barrel, arranging
matters around his horse and wagon.
Graham looked somewhat anxiously
around at every approaching person, being
afraid Of arrest. The officer took him for
one Of the Tonawanda horse thieves and
promptly arrested him ON suspicion. His
Buffalo friends, however, managed TO get
him clear with the promise that he would
appear before the justice of the peace on
Monday morning at 10 o'clock.
When everything was in readiness,
Graham got into the barrel and closed the
man hole at the top from within. At this
point of the river the current is very
slight. A small boat towed the tank ont
into the river to point where the current
would catch it, and then Graham was
started on what might have turned out TO
be his trip TO eternity. The towing pro-
cess took only few minutes, and then
the stream caught the cask and started Il
on towards the rapids and whirlpool. At
first II moved slowly along, then faster
| and faster, until the mad current dashed
it on with its full force. The cask
bounded up and down on the great waves
and several times turned complete
somersault, but generally speaking the
/ wider portion remained uppermost,
although il twirled around like top.
The eask kept pretty well in the centre
/ of tho river until il reached the whirl-
| pool, 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 cask ioated on towards Lewiston
right side up, and all danger was passed.
It was picked up at Lewiston, about
five miles below the starting point, and
| Graham crawled out of the barrel I'M
injured, with the exception Of slight
bruise on one arm, which he received
when passing through the whirlpool. He
remarked when struck the eddies IL
was one continued round Of jerks, but
am not hurt q bit.
| @. d. Graham is IA native of Pbiladel-
phia, 80 years old, and cooper by trade,
He in a poor man, compelled TO work
every day for his living. About two
months ago he came TO Buffalo obtaining
employment in cooper shop here. He
has Travelled pretty extensively, and fora
long time had some scheme OF this sort on
the brain. Being n cooper. barrel natur-
ally suggested itself 20 him as the best
means with which 10 swim the rapids
All his possessions were put into the
barrel, which he constructed himself,
The barrel is made Of inch and u
quarter oak slaves wide At the top and
narrow at the bottom, and shaped like a
buoy. A sand ballast WINS so fixed as TO
keep the side of the barrel which Graham
faced uppermost. Graham hung, or rather
stood, in sort of hammock made like u
suit of clothing, and held on 10 two iron
handles liked al the sides. lie could live
| for u lens; il3li 40 " II w,ii-oui M
ing any fresh ai., .1id oy the time ine All
was eXhaused, he was beyond the whlri
pool and could pull out the plug from
the little airhole, about three quarters OF
an inch in diameter, and get all the freRl
air he required.
Graham did not make cent by the
operation. lie received no pay and bore
all the expense himself, being glad of the
privilege of being allowed TO make the
great attempt.