A TRIP THROUGH NIAGARA WHIRLPOOL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2051, 31 January 1889, Page 3

A TRIP THROUGH NIAGARA WHIRLPOOL

Charles A. P* roy ma 'c a second trip through the Niagara Whirlpool on September 16. He made his perilous journey m a boat made of rook elm throughout, and covered with heavy oanvas. It la 17ft long, 4ft 91a beam, and about 3ft 6;t> deep. The keel baa 64 ribs, wbioh are threo-efghthe of an mob In thlokness. In the bottom 1b a piece of railroad track which rune the entire length of the boat and gives It stilfiees and strength. There are four oompartoaenfe, two of which are 6ft. 6 n. m loDgtb, and used for air, ace one for ballast, for whloh 12001ns of sand are used. The other oompattment is lv the oentre, and Is for passengers. Thi boat Is a self baler as well as a self -rlghter, and when In smooth water works witb oars. After entering the boat the water tight compartment was oloied, and the trip began. The boat entered the rapidt and began toning about. For revere) aeoonda It disappeared altogether, but oame up right way and wont on Its way It took juat eight minutes to go through the rapids before the whirlpool wa reached. Just as Paroy waa passing Foster Flats, about a mile below the pool, a huge breaker dashed lrt the door of hU alr-obamber, fiHine It with water. He was at onoe compelled to take the centre of the boat, but before he oould properlj aeoare himself he was thrown into the rapids. He managed to oa'oh the boat, to which he olung for half a mile, when he was dashed away just where the rapids were most fierce.. Ho fortunately had or. a life-preserver, and was ultimately p'okeo up In an exh»u*t«d condition.