The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-15


jumper. He erected a platform at the
waters edge of the debris slope, just
north of the Biddle Stairs, and from
this platform leaped into the river, the
height Of the jump being about ninety
feet. Patch was considered a wonder,
but shortly after his Niagara expert
ence he lost his life in a leap from the
Genesee falls in Rochester.
One of the most daring feats ever
performed at Niagara Falls was that
of Joel Robinson and his two associ-
ates. MacIntyre and Jones. on June 8,
1861, when they vOyaged through the
whirlpool rapids in the steamer Maid
of the Mist. The boat was libeled and
mOrtgaged to such an extent that the
waters Of the Niagara were too warm
for her and Robinson agreed to deliver
her at a Canadian lake port. On the
afternoon of the day mentioned, to the
surprise of all who saw the boat, in
stead of heading over her usual course
up the river, her bow was directed
right into the rapids, with the waves
of which she was soon battling. It was
the first trip of the kind ever made,
but under a full head of steam she
made the trip in safety, the stack be
Robinson was born in Springfield.
Mass. He died in 1865.
If any man deserves the title of
Hero of the Whirlpool Rapids" it is
Carlisle D. Graham, a Philadelphia
cooper. who, despite Webb's death,
Travelled to Niagara, determined to
show the world that he had confidence
that he could go through the rapids
and live as well as being willing to risk
his life in a barrel of his own construc-
ton. Graham made his first trip on
the afternoon of Sunday, July II, 1885,
going way to Lewiston, the trip Oc-
cupying about thirty-fve minutes.
Graham rode in a barrel weighted at
the bottom. The height Of the barrel
was such that he could stand nearly
upright in it, and the top was Of a
larger diameter than the bottom. On
Thursday, Aug. 10, 1886, Graham made
a second trip, going as far as the
whirlpool. In this trip his head pro-
truded through the top of the barrel
throughout the entire trip. He made
a third trip June Is, 1857, and on Aug.
%, 1889, he made a fourth trip. using
a barrel Of much smaller size and go
ing way through to Lewiston. Graham
viii be remembered as never having
a gathering. His nerve
never failed him.
Copying somewhat the idea that Ora
ham had developed so successfully
George Hasiett and William Potts of
Buffalo made trip through the rapids
In barrel said TO be Of their own con-
5tructiOn on Sunday, Aug. s. 1886. The
barrel they used more closely resem-
oled the familiar type Of barrel, hav-
ing no unusual features of form.
Hfvra
had made a trip there appeared at !
Niagara a Boston policeman named W. |
J. Kendall. The date was Aug. p. |
1856. Unannouneed, Kendall went |
through the rapids TO the whirlpool |
projected by only a cork life preserver. |
All previous trips had been announced |
but Kendall slipped through with only |
few spectators, accidentally on the 1
cliffs or bridges, to bear witness. For |
his reason some have felt that the trip /
vas never made. but men Of integrity |
are known who witnessed the perform |
lnee.
In the same barrel that was used bv
3aslett and Potts Miss Sadie Allen |
ind George Haslett made a trip
through the rapids on Nov. %, 1885. I
Miss Allen was the only woman who /
lad ever made the journey through the /
Niagara gorge.
Next, on Aug. %, 1887, Charles Alex
lnder Percy of Niagara Falls made a 1
successful trip through the rapids to /
he whirlpool in a boat Of his own CON |
5truction. This led Robert William /
tlack of Syracuse to travel to Niagara /
o demonstrate the merits of a boat /
le mad built. Percy and Fiack signed !
articles OF agreement for race 4
hrough the rapids, but Flack was first
o show If his craft was seaworthv.
IN the AFTERNOON of July 4, 1855, Flack /
made this trip and ne went down to 4
ieath. Flack's boat was a clinker nat /
ern. In the trip through the ranids 4
t capsized three times, but Flack re- /
NAMED in the boat because he was beI5 1
here by a harness rigging about his
)Ody- II was a frightful spectacle. this /
rip Of Flacks. and was witnessed by
thousands of people. The last time the /
)oat capsized was on the final big wave 1
It the entrance to the whirlpool. High 1
n the air the boat tossed. Ii stood on 1
md for an instant and then il toppled /
'ver on poor Flack. From the point /
where the boat capsized it floated about /
he pool upside down for an hour or |
more until captured on the Canadian
ide. Flack was found hanging dead /
~ the straps he had placed there to /
lid him to save his life.
On July 9, 1900, Peter Nissen. also /
Inown as "BOwser," appeared at the
ais and announced his intention of 60
ng through the rapids. Nissen was a /
and the boat in which he /
made the trip was built after his own /
IDEAS. In length the boat was twenty /
Get. It had a beam Of six feet and a /
lepth Of four feet. 1t was decked /
III over, with the exception Of a small /
cockpit in the center. There were two
iir compartments in the front and in 4
he rear and one on each side Of the
cockpit To the keel of the boat PROD I
r hung an iron keel weighing 1.25O /
,ounds. 1t was after o'clock when /
NlSsen and his boat came out of an
ddy IN tow of a rOwboat. After being |
let adrift he got caught in an eddy
ust above the rapids and had to be /
tarted again. 1t was approaching > /
o'clock before he was in the rapids.
lis craft rode the waves magnificent
y. 1t was a glorious sight, quite in con-
rast with the spectacle presented by
'lack and his little craft. Never once /
lid Nissen's boat capsize, for all il was 4
vave-Washed frequently. After reach
ng the whirlpool Nissen and his boat
loated about until captured, when Mis-
en- landed. Nissen was from Chicago. /
3ARKEEPERS' OPPORTUNITIES