The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-09-03
Carlisle D. Graham Goes Over
Niagara Falls And
BoBS UP SAFELY AND SEVERELY.
Description Of his Barrel-COming Down the
Upper Rapids-The Descent-The Rescue
His Ambition Satisfied.

The man was Carlisle D. Graham, the
young cooper, who, with his barrel shaped
craft, has been before the public Tor some
time past. The trip was made about Z
o'clock Yesterday morning in the presence
of half a hundred spectators. In the morn
ing Graham silently stole across the new
suspension bridge to Clifton. Half an hour
later Constable Andrew Horn drove over IN
a wagon with the barrel. The barrel had
to be carried across a graveyard in order TO
avoid the house of the Canadian constable.
Graham wore pair of black tights. He
gave his clothes to Constable Horn, and
handed him his watch and small sum OF
money.
Graham seemed firm enough, but COnsta
BILE Horn weakened little. u felt, said
Horn afterwards, lust az sheriff would
who was going to hang man. didn't
like II A btu Two constables finally got
the hero safely locked in his ark and
towed him out to the centre of the stream,
almost opposite the Chippewa's mouth.
The Horseshoe rapids were not far be.ow,
and it was hardly a safe place. A nifty
foot rope. to be used as a drag, was let go
about & AS. The constables then rowed
ashore, and escaped from Canada with all
possible speed. At 7:05 the barrel was
Sl2HlGQ SEEGdLl II IulllCA OhNA SS'SAS 81
times, and it's red top and drab bottom
made a dazzling Kaleidoscope combination
which convinced the on-lookers that It's
occupant was having lively experience
Just then word came from Chippewa that
Graham had an awful crash in the surf
where the rapids begin, and that this
rough treatment had been followed up
The boat took a smooth course to the Horse
shoe fall. Soon after it came in sight
Ana+a1 nociiu 1OyUn tn the brink
Ii went over with the great volume OF
water at Z 10. ''That's the end of Graham, y
said a man as the barrel failed to appear in
the foaming water below, but in less than
two minutes the red top was seen. The
barrel was sucked under every alternate
moment until finally it swished OF into the
Bass rock eddy. Graham had posted
friends along the river to rescue him in
case he needed it, for open boats could not
venture up this far in the river Two OF
them waitedun the barrel swirled around
in che eddy close to the shore when one
SWAN out and captured the drag rope. The
barrel was pulled over into the rocks,
Graham was pulled out and whisky flask
, thrust into his mouth. He was driven IN a
carriage to the hotel. Granam was unable
to get up last night. His wife in some
manner became apprised of his intention
and came to the falls just as Graham was
debating a telegram announcing his safe
trip over the falls.
Graham has long been experimenting
with the idea of going over the falls. He
built and patented a torpedo life boat which
he named The World and sent it over the
Horseshoe on an experimental trip. He
W.n to 90 into il himself, but his wife
aud friends insisted on a preliminary test.
The craft was dashed to pieces June 30,
ana only few splinters came out IN the
lower river. Since then Graham has sent
several barrels over. These cost much
money, but the cost was willingly fur
nished by William Devoe, who has managed
several theatrical troupes. Graham got
experience. The Niagara torrent kept bar
rels. The only one that escaped being
dashed TO pieces was engulfed in an eddy.
Graham became very Respondent at these
repeated failures and said the next time he
would go over in a barrel whether he came
ont alive or not. ''rll die with it if it goes
to pieces" said he to Mr.. Devoe, but he did
not have to. He went to Buffalo and bought
an old cask of Chinese locust wood, which
he tore TO pieces to convert into the
barrel used in yesterday mornings trip.
He made it sound and snug but smaller
than the others in size. 1t is ~ feetlong,
weighs $50 pounds, is % inches in diameter
at the top 29 in the center and 10 at the
bottom. Fifteen pinch iron hoops give
drmness TO it, and manhole in the top IA
by 10 inches permits OF entrance to 1t. The
bottom on the outside has thirty five pounds
of iron fastened firmly as ballast and sand
ballast is carried on the inside for the sake
of safety Said Mrs. Graham on her knees,
"Do not try to kill yourself. You know
= from past experiences that the barrel will
only be dashed to pieces and you will die
IN it.m When Graham announced his inten-
ton of going over the falls, his little
daughter chung to his arms and pleaded
60 Tho
who had four times braved death at Mag
ara, almost relented. He said he would
postpone the trip indefinitely and came
down to the falls very sad man. He spent
all his money in experiments and was 10th
TO give up just when he was sure of sue
cess, so he decided to go ahead without tel
ling his family.
Your correspondent interviewed Graham
last night. 1T has taken me three years.
said Graham ito accomplish the ambition
of my life. I could not be happier than
am now, though I have had misgivings all
along that might get killedin this attempt.
MY repeated failures with tie barrels
experimental on discouraged me and
would willingly have committed suicide if
it were not for my wife and children"
''What then induced you to make the
tripgn
dBecause it is a feat that has never been
accomplished before,' said Graham.
tsBrOdie was here and threatened to go
over the falls in his rubber suit. / do not
believe would have gone so
soon, but 1 did not want any
one to get the start OF me.
| was half senseless most of the trip
When they let go of me off of Chippewa, l
crouched DOWN. the bottom of the barrel,
secured the straps and prepared myself for
such an experience as [ had gone through
in the RAPIDS. l was fooled badly; the
rapids are not anything like it. The first
dose I got was drop that seemed like
thirty feet down into nothing. didn't ex
pectit, and my head went against the side
Of the barrel with an awful thump. was
turned upside down several times, and
finally / became so benumbed that l didn't
realize my position. Talk about going
through the rapidsl 1t is nothing to going
over the falls; but don't want any more
of it; this is enough. l shall tritie with fate
no more.
''sMy sensations are hard TO describe.
really can't say that I knew the precise
moment went over the falls"
"Then you do not know when you went
over the falls?n
az couldn't tell from inside of the barrel.
The greatest shock got was the first one
at the start Ifelt a dozen afterwards. and
when reached Bass rock, heard shouts
through the air hole. 1 could hear what
was said, but / didn't seem to be able to
answer. ] should have died had the barrel
gone on down to Lewiston, but there was
little chance OF that, for had so well ar
ranged for people to be present to res
cue me.
sBlack Jack Turney told me this after
noon that went over the falls feet first.
He saw the barrel and says it came down
with the red top up. Since then. several