St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-05
Boatman Sam Smith Swims
to the Brink Of Niagara's
whirlpool.
Except for an Accident He
Would Have Entered the
MaelstpOn1.
Three Kentuekians Killed and
Eighteen Injured by an
Express Train.
AFive-Year-OId Hoosier Bios
SONS Out as g
Firebug.

NIAGARA FALLS, July 4.-Samuel
Smith, the Lewiston, N. Y, boatman
who was to go through the whirlpool
rapids in a row-boat with John l..
Soules, of North Muskegon, Mich,
f1unked and would not undertake the
foolhardy feat. Soules, not to disap-
point the large crowds that had congre-
gated along the banks of both sides OF
the river and on the Suspension bridge,
announced that he would go through
alone. The boat which he had con-
cealed up the river and Intended to go
as far as possible in. some one had cut
from it's moorings and let go through
the rapids during the night. Not
daunted by this, he made start to
swim the rapids with only his swimming
suit on, consisting of WOODEN
shirt and trunks and cork
vest. At the sound of three
shots from rifle fired by his
manager, William Leary, of Suspension
Bridge, Soules at 3:lS p. m. entered the
water about Seventy-five feet on the
falls side of the cantilever bridge. on
the Canadian side. At $3.50 he was seen
coming around the abutments of the
cantilever bridge. The force of the vol
ume of water forcing itself through the
gorge causes an up current along the
shore, and is known as the Canadian
current"
Soules Struggled Hard
against the breakers that seemed to
want to wash him on the large rocks
that line the shore all the way down the
river. When he escaped from the grasp
of the current he treaded the water all
the way down to the railway suspension
bridge. He raised his hands once or
twice above his head, waving them to
the spectators, who seemed to be para
lived at the nerve of man who was
tempting Providence. When the swift
current caught hold of SouleS it swept
him under the bridge like flash. Be-
low the railway suspension bridge there
are two large rocks. At times one of
these is covered with water when large
breakers dash overit, while the other
towers far above all breakers. The cur
rent carried SouleS up against the first
rock and the spectators gave vent to a
simultaneous yell of horror, expecting
to see the swimmers brains dashed
out. But, luckily, just as he came in
contact with the rock large breaker
caught him up and he Scraped over the
obstruction. On he went with the cur
when most of the spectators covered
their faces, so that they could not see
the foolhardy man killed, but luck
favored him again. The current swung
him around to the side of the rock, and
he out put his hands and showed him.
self clear of the rock. Then large
breaker caused him to turn somer-
sault, submerged him for a few seconds,
and then kept him stationary in the
eddy. The spectators yelled Hes
killed." but in few seconds he was
seen to
Swim Out of the Eddy,
and he went past the Grand Trunk pump
house, sometimes submerged and some
times swimming. When near the whirl-
pool rapids incline railway large wave
washed him into all eddy near the
shore, and with the assistance of sew
eral spectators he scrambled out on the
rocks. When he was brought up on
the steps leading to the incline railway
he was greatly exhausted. He had a
deep hole In his left knee, near the
knee cap, and a cut on his left foot. The
first thing he said when he got out of
the water was that his knee hurt him so
much that he thought he would get
ashore when the opportunity presented
itself. He received the injuries when
he was dashed against the last rock.
His manager asked him how he was,
and he replied, 81 am all right" and
asked if he would continue his trip
through the whirlpool, as he didn't wish
to disappoint the spectators that were
stationed there watching for him.
Leary said: No. not with that leg"
which was bleeding protusely. After
receiving some stimulants he attempted
to walk up the steps to the incline rail
way cars, but was unable to lean on his
injured leg. He was assisted to car,
and upon reaching the top of the in
cline he was driven across to Leary's
establishment at Suspension bridge. 1t
was fortunate for Soules that he was
washed ashore, for had he gone through
to the whirlpool he surely would have
been killed. The place where he got
out is about one hundred feet above the
spot where Webb is supposed to have
been killed. Soules was never over
thirty feet from shore during his trip
through the rapids. He says he will go
through again when his knee is all