page_title: William "Red" Hill Sr.
section_title: Challenging the Niagara rapids
hierarchical_section_title: William "Red" Hill Sr. / Challenging the Niagara rapids
caption_attribution_description: English: Rapids at Niagara Falls
context_page_description: William "Red" Hill Sr. was a Canadian daredevil and rescuer, born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, in 1888. In 1896 he received his first medal for bravery when he rescued his sister from their burning house which was followed by a life-saving medal in 1912, achieving the status as a local hero.
  A bootlegger on occasion during the Prohibition, Hill went on to receive a total of four medals in addition to being credited with saving 28 lives and the recovery of 177 accident and suicide victims from the Niagara River just below the Falls.
  Hill's reputation grew as a renowned Canadian daredevil in 1930 with a five-hour journey in a 6-foot-long steel barrel which began just below the falls at the Maid of the Mist boat landing and through the treacherous Niagara lower rapids ending up several miles down stream at Queenston, Ontario.
context_section_description: Red Hill's second trip through the Niagara rapids came on May 30, 1931, this time choosing a steel barrel 6 feet (1.8 m) long and 3 feet (0.91 m) in diameter. The opening was a 14-by-18-inch (360 mm × 460 mm) manhole, covered by sliding steel and sealed with rubber gaskets. There were air holes on each side, which were plugged with cork and could be removed. The contraption weighed over 600 pounds (270 kg) and was painted red with gold lettering that read "William Red Hill, Master Hero of Niagara" inscribed on both sides.
  An estimated 25,000 spectators watched Hill attempt to conquer the rapids which got off to a slow start as the barrel bobbed and bucked in the raging river for an hour and forty minutes before arriving in the lower rapids. In less than 90 seconds he had entered the mighty Niagara Whirlpool with its extremely strong currents and become trapped as his barrel violently spun in circles for more than three hours. At one point he had opened the steel hatch and tried to paddle against the current to free himself, but to no avail. It was only through the efforts of his son William "Red" Hill Jr., who swam out to the floundering barrel with a rope attached to his waist, that the senior Hill survived.
  The next day the 42-year-old Hill went back to the whirlpool, retrieved his contraption and continued the final leg of his journey to Queenston, Ontario where he emerged triumphant, with only a few minor cuts and bruises.
caption: Niagara River Rapids
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