New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-16
THROUGH THE RAPIDS.
A SWIMMER BRAVES THE NIAGARA GORGE
IN A CORK JACKET.
WALTER G. CAMPBELL, OF YOUNGSTOWN, N. z,
HAS AN EXPERIENCE WHICH HE DOES
NOT WISH TO REPEAT.
fBy TELEGRAPH TO yHE rkBUyRl


Niagara Falls, Sept. l5-Walter q. CampbelL
of Youngstown, n. y, made trip to-day through
the rapids of the Niagara Gorge below the falls
His achievement was witnessed by thousands OF
people this afternoon. Early this morning he
went down the bank and remained in hiding
until the afternoon fearing arrest. No officers
interfered with his plan, and about p m. he
donncd his cork suit preparatory to the voyage
This suit is nothing more than two lie-preservers
in one canvas covering. There are sixteen pieces
of cork five inches wide fourteen inches long
and one inch thick This was bound about his
waist beneath the armpitS and padded well with
cotton next TO his body. Straps passed over
the shoulders and legs He had decided TO make
the trip in a way it has never before been done
All previous navigatOrs have been tOwed tn
midstircam, and then set free, but Campbells
plan was different.
At $3.50 p. m. he pulled out from the old
Maid of the Mist landing in clinlle- boat with
a cocker spaniel dog a companion, around
which was also fastened life-preServer The
dock from which the start made is about
500 yards above the rapids He pulled steady,
unhnching stroke and there no evidence OF
weakening At 1926 p. m. he shipped his oars
in midstream above the rapids and, using one as
a paddle, steered the boat in the current, while
sight. Like an arrow the current carried the
boat into the mountainous waves The FIRST
second and third breakers were passed without
capsizng, Campbell crouching in the bottom and
holding fast to the sides. All were astonished
1t WAS evident that he was a thorough boatman
As the boat and its daring occupant were
carried high upon the huge wave in front OF
Buttery's elevator, Campbell and the dog were
both thrown ont and were left battle with
the death-dealing waters unprotected by the boat.
which sped on ahead It was an awful moment
for the spectators who lined the bridge and bank
by the thousands. Death seemed the inevitable
result. Occasionally gimpses of him were had.
as every now and then he was tossed in sight.
but the treatment of the waves was terrible and
they fairly seemed to vie with one another 10
knock the daring fellows life out. At 1882 he
was seen to enter the pool The current carried
him richt ACROSS the centre toward the north
shore. where he tried to land, but the current
was too strong, and he was carried around the
pool to a point near the elevator.
If was plain that he was still alive. hut q
new danger presented itself here. For weeks the
water has been low in the river, and large quantl-
ties Of drifwood, logs, timber, trees roots etc',
have gathered in the pool. Right IN the MIDST Oh
these the current carried HIM, ana IL seemed I'M
possible for him to escape alive More lore
than once huge timbers were raised apoNeo m hS
head and he was forced TO Dodge thelr ldlI' % GnDo
free strong strokes carried him TO shore, where
eager hands aided him to land. Stlmuants were
administered and he was hurried to his hotei,
where he was cared 1or .t;,,. 4,
In spcalxing of the trip, he said that nothing IN
the world would tempt him TO make the trlp again
He had had enough The dog landed at the W uri-
pool all right The boat was seen mCa.Ing ,I Sp0bs bs
twcntv-one wears old on October 8. Ills helsht
is five feet seven inches.