A PERILOUS TRIP. THROUGH THE WHIRLPOOL RAPIDS AT NIAGARA

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 411, 16 October 1889, Page 5

A PERILOUS TRIP. THROUGH THE WHIRLPOOL RAPIDS AT NIAGARA

AN ADVENTUROUS MAN'S BRIEF CRUISE IN A BARREL-SHAPED BOAT— HE IS RESCUED SAFE AND SOUND. Niagara Falls (N. Y»), August 25. Carlisle D. Graham made a successiu 1 trip through the whirlpool rapids this afternoon in a barrel-shaped boat. At first the boat travelled easily, but soon was in the grasp of a more rapid current that hastened its journey. It rode beautifully through the rapids, but frequently disappeared from sight, und when it struck a big wave in front of Buttery's elevator it was out of sight so long that many believed it to be lost. The course it took was down the centre of the river. At 4.52 o'clock it entered the Whirlpool, and the thousands of people who had gathered there to witness his Mends receivo the barrel were doomed to disappointment, for instead of being caught in the main current and carried acro«s the pool, as is usually the case, ib hugged the American side and was carried into the quiet water in front of the outlet and forced slowly over nearly to the Canadian side. i For a minute it was a question whether it was to go around the pool or down the river, but the outward-bound current was too strong, and at 4.54 p.m. Graham passed out of the pool and down through the fearful water opposite Foster's Flats, which is the spot most foared by all of the rapids' navigators. All these dangers Graham today passed in safety, and at 5.5 p.m. Seymour Fleming and John Lonsdale, of Lewiston, picked him up near the old Lewiston bridge. Graham was in the barrel only 25 minutes altogether,and allowing for the time ho was floating in smooth water he made the four miles of angry rapids in ten minutes, averaging 25 miles an hour. When Graham had sufficiently recovered from the shock he told his story of the adventure. " This is the roughest experience," he said, '• that I ever want to have. I made the trip in ton minutos, but it seemed an age, and I did not know any minute but what I would be dashed to death on the hidden rocks which abound in the gorge. 1 grazed a rock occasionally and my body is badly bruised from being overturned so often. It was a terrible trip."