The Atlanta constitution., 1900-07-16
SHOOTS NIAGARA RAPIDS.
NISEN, OF CHICAGO, DID THE
PERILOUS FEAT.
After Reaching Shore He Told Thrill
ling Story of His Experiences
in the Water.

Niagara Falls. N. Y, July 9.-Peter Ms
sen. of Ch;oSco, or Mr.. Bowser. as he
STYLES himself. went through the whirlpool
rapids of the Niagara this afternoon in
the presence of about 1000 persons. In
his craft, the Fool Killer. The boat was
towed to a iock about a mile above tile
rapids and secured. The point was diiii-
cult to reach by officials from either the
American or Canadian shores who might
have been disposed to interfere with the
much-advertised adventure. Shortly az
ter 3 o'clock Mr.. Bowser was seen on his
boat a little later James La Bland
pulled Up the rowboat and towed the Fool
Killer. with Bowser aboard. into the cur
rent. AT 1851 o'clock the start down the
stream was actually commenced. but the
tickle eddies kept the Fool Killer drifung
about until 450 when sne got into the
Whirlpool current and started for the
fIal plunge Passing under the Cantl-
lever bridge, the boat took on the speed
of an express train. Bowser threw his
oar far from him and waved his cap. Inc
crowd saw the craft rise on the crest of
a smooth wave and then dive into the
leaping spray ana disappear. The strange
craft turned over and over IKE d TOY,
rolling and plunSlnS until IL passed
bend in the river, and the most perilouS
part OF tn. Jot rney had been passed. Inc
buoyant craft kept on the crest OF the
waves until submerged again on the verge
of the whirlpool. Shooting into the wnitl-
Iool th,. Fool Killer swung around and
went down like iishing bob. but arose
again quickly. For the next htty-hVe
n..nutes Bowser and his boat clrc.ed
around in the whirlpool. Shortly before
o clock the Fool Killer was Carried out
TO the edge OF the rapids and a line was
thrown ~ ISOwstr 10 men Oh shore VINO
hauled him in. His first question was:
How was that for Eoweer?
The Fool Killer is twenty feet long and
four feet deep and is made of two-inch
pine with four air-tight compartments
The keel " ,ishs l,2J0 pounds.
Il. NJ. Bowser' is the falls-shooting
alias assumed by Peter Nissen, who re-
sides at No. 57S Francisco street, Chica-
20. Nlsscn is "A Dane, thrty-seVen years
If age. His boat was finished in Chicago
last May requiring thirteen months Tor
its completion. After a trial trip on l-ake
Michigan. it was shipped to Niagara + ais
on June &ih.
'Bowser warmed him self at a fire built
on the shore and put on dry clothing ana
appeared to be Il little the worse Tor ms
rlad ride.
Had | known just how bad the whirl-
pool rapids are | would never nave at
tempted tfat trip he said. AFTER hau
passed tnEOuHn lDc ilISl DtS wave itt'A-
lied that my hat had been washed OIL
Then some more waves came over me,
and / did not know where | was. l ana
10; know what was going IN un-ll ! came
Cut i'm the whirlpool. During that brief
time il seemed that a hundred hammers
were pounding my head and NY boat. l
never turned over, but We were on our
side or end several times. and each time
| Thought | was n goner. If 1t had not
been for the shoulder straps which put
on the last minute 1 would have been
4 II
rotbir.g except the fearful sensation or
being overwhelmed with blows from every
siCe / was mighty cold and tired when
[ came out at the whirlpool. Three or
four times my breath was nearly gone
ard then the water would open ana
would get a breath of air. could not
use my steering apparatus. When got
control of the boat and | simply clung
on and tried to keep my breath in any
bCdV."