Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1910-09-19
Made Trip Through
Whirlpool Rapids
CAPT. KLAUS LARSEN MADE SUC
CESSFUL VOYAGE.
IN A SMALL MOTOR BOAT
Boat and Voyaeer Battered in the
SWirlins Drift-at Mercy Of Waters
When Engine Stopped Working.

Niagara Falls, n. Y, Sept 1S.-Capt
Klaus Larsen, in his little motor boat,
the Ferro, made a successful trip 1~+n
today from the foot of the cataract
through the Whirlpool rapids to with
IN mile of Lewiston, a distance of
II miles. He started from the
Maid of the Mist dock at AS and ran
on rock near the American shore at
$50.
Authorities Threatened to Interfere.
Despite the battering in the whirl-
pool rapids, Larsen went through
safely, but his boat was leaking badly
al the finish and throughout the trip
Larsen had intended to start at 23O
o'clock, but he was delayed by en-
CINE trouble. Besides, the authorities
threatened to interfere on the ground
of attempted suicide.
Little Boat Lost to Sight
The Ferro swung under the canti-
lever bridge, the engine running at
top speed, and was caught in the
swift drift leading to Whirlpool rap
ids. Larsen held to the middle of the
channel and in less than three min
utes had made the great pool. In the
trip through the rapids the little boat
was lost to sight most of the time. but
at Great Wave it was shot twenty feet
out of the water. The boat landed
right and continued to the pool.
Larsen kept to the outer edge of
the pool and passed out and down
without accident. Just as he left the
pool the engine stopped working and
Larsen was at the mercy of waters
hardly less violent than those above.
The little boat swung around stern
first and then turned completely over
Larsen came up badly battered and
with his leg injured.
Playthine of the Mighty River.
From now on Larsen was the ~'---
thing of the mighty river. unable to
hold the course, while the boat swung
from one side to the other After get
ting from the Devils Hole, the Ferro
swung towards the rocks on the Am
erican side of the river, rolled over
one bounder and went fast between
two others. There Larsen STAYED for
working desperately to release the
craft. Getting free. he was hit by q
conlber and sent careening toward the
middle. At the bend with the Lewis
ton bridge in sight, the boat drifted
toward the American shore again and
was then caught in the shore eddy
The Ferro grounded again, this time
near enough to shore to be caught by
Roy Rockwell of this city, who waded
inlo the water and caught a rope
thrown by Larsen. Larsen wanted to
continue the trip, but, having accom-
plsned the worst part OF the journey,
he was persuaded to board a trolley
to Lewiston, setting the boat adrift.
~ VIII Do 1t Aaain!"
The trip was worse than I thought
it would be- said Larsen, but I am
not hurt and l will do it again some
time with another boat My leg was
jammed when she tipped over, but
that's all The engine worked fine
through the rapids, and I could have
made the trip in half an hour if
had not stopped after leaving the
Whirlpool
At the end of the trip the Ferro wqs
leaking SO badly the water stojd six
inches deep. Larsen said he Gid not
strike any rocks until after leaving Ehe
whirlpool.
Other Trips Through the Rapids.
Except the old Maid of the Mist,
sent through in 1864 to avoid seizure.
Larsen's is the only engine propelled
craft to have gone through the rapids.
Peter Nissen. Chicago. 1900. and S. A.
Percy. 1887 and 1901, are the orIv men
who took boats through and lived.