Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-07-12
A FOOL AND HIS FOLLY.


Niagara Rapids Claims Another Victim 4
the Person of Robert w. Flackp Who At
tempted to Pass Through Them In HI
Life-Roat ssPhantom" "A Widow ant
Five Children Lament His Folly.
NIAGARA FALLS. n. Y, July Rob err
". Flack. of Syracuse, N. Y. lost his life
4lere yesterday in an attempt 20 g
through the Niagara Rapids in his life.
boat, 'sThe Phantom" Flack had perfec
confidence in his boat, which was ffteeI
feet long, four and three-fourths wide II
the center and thirty-four inches deep,
and pointed at both ends. One third OF
the boat was decked over with half-incE
white pine. The opening in the center
was eight feet long by three feet wide.
There were seats for five persons. The
craft weighed 100 pounds, and Flacs
claimed she would right herself in any
sea. His object in making the trip was
to show this and get his boat introduced
by the different governmental hfe-saving
services.
Flack made his appearance dres sed in 0
blue flannel sleeveless suit, and wore
white handkerchief about his neck which
he said had been sent him by lady OF
Oneida, who wanted it returned to her as
a relic.
Suaii uldkS - stop Oh tWtuty Hlnutos
at the whirlpool" said he, $50 as to al
low the reporters to get there. / had
rather give 81 900 than to make the stop,
but / will do it. l shall then get in and
make the trip through Fosters flats,
where no river navigator has ever been.
I hope will turn over twenty summer
saults, SO that no one will ever dare &c
make the trip after me. l have perfect
confidence in the boat, and think have
pluck enough for any thing myself"
He entered his boat at three O'Clock,
and two minutes later was seen tossing in
the first rapids at Woodford's new ele-
vator, near the cantalever bridge. His
boat took the middle of the river. and he
could be seen working his steering APP
paratus. He went out of sight two or
three times, but at Buffers elevator he
was whirling. and entered the first plunge
with the stern of his boat ahead. Over he
went and took plunge of twenty feet
into the air at the same time. His boat
never righted, and it plunged and shot
from rock to rock in u way that left but
little doubt in the minds of the spectators
but what he was dead man. His sister,
brother-in-law and son ran about on the
bank 800 feet above wringing their hands.
At 3:05 he struck the whirlpool, but
took course which held his craft instead
Of allowing it to shoot into the DEVILS
Rapids below.
At 4:1O Charles A. Percy, who last Sep
TENDER shot the rapids in his boat, swan
out and towed the Phantom ashore. Fully
one hundred men had climbed down to
the waters edge, and they turned the
boat over. Flack's body was still strap
ped to the seat and his face was blue,
showing that he had been drowned. A
rope wound about the steering wheel told
the story. He had been unable to right
the boat and the wheels had been clogged.
The body was taken up to Suspen sion
bridge and shipped to Syracuse.
Flack leaves widow and FIVE children.
He had been in the English army and had
visited India and Egypt. He was a sailor,
but made a living as a carpenter. He was
born in Bristol, England, thirty nine
years ago. He came to America when he
was twenty three years old, and for
twelve years lived at Toronto, Ont. For
the past four years he had resided at
Syracuse. The boat was built entirely by
himself, and he expected it to yield him
fortune. He said he expected to reach
Lewiston thirty minutes after the start.
The attempt was witnessed by about co.
600 people from all over Western New
York. who looked down from the bridges
and the precipitous banks.