CAPTAIN WEBB’S FATAL SWIM.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1134, 14 August 1883, Page 1

CAPTAIN WEBB’S FATAL SWIM.

In an interview with one of the staff of the New York Herald, last month, Captain Webb discussed the perilous feat which has ended so tragically, ■ and expressed himself quite confident of succeeding, ‘ Yes,’ he said, ‘ I’m going to swim the whirlpool rapids, and I will say that it is the angriest bit of water in the world. I came' over from England two weeks ago to make the trial, and I went to the rapids lak' week and made a critical examination; They are rough, ! tell you, jind . the Whirlpool is a grand jone, but I tMnik I am strong enough and skilled ’enough to get through alive. The people at - Niagara Falls tells me that I will be simply committing suicide. You ought to hear the blood-curdling stories that were retailed for my benefit. A year or two ago a boy who was paddling around in the shore water was drawn into the rapids and had his head cut off. A girl fell into it last summer from the Suspension bridge, and when her body was picked up, at the other end of the rapids, it was bereft of all clothing but a pair of stockings. In twenty-three years they say that eighty persons have lost their lives in the rapids.’ ‘ But wbat is your object in attempting such a feat V ‘Ten thousand dollars.’ ‘ How do you propose to pass through the rapids?’

‘l’ll explain my plan. The current, they say, is thirty-nine miles an hour, and the river is ninety-five feet deep. It is wide just below the fulls and narrow at the rapids. I am only afraid of two awful ledges of pointed rocks, wh'ch jut out from the shores to the whirlpool. The water fairly shrieks and hisses as it boils over them. Now, I want to avoid the sides, and yet I dare not go into the middle, for there lies the vortex, and that means death. I will go out into the middle of the river in a small boat, just about the Suspension bridge. The only clothing I shall wear will be the silk trunks I had on when I swam the English Channel. At the time appointed I will leap into the river and float into the rapids. Of course I will make no attempt to go forward, for the fearful speed of the water will carry me through, When the water gets very bad I will go under the surface, and remain beneath until I am compelled to come up for breath. That will be pretty often, I’ll wager. When I strike the whirlpool I will strike out with all ray strength, and try to keep away from the suckhole in the centre. I will begin with the breast strokes and then use overhand strokes. My life will then depend upon my muscle and my breath, with a little touch of science behind them. It may take me two or three hours to get out of the whirlpool, which is about a quarter of a mile long. When Ido get through I will try to land on the Canadian side, but if the current is too swift, as I think it is, I will keep on down to Lewiston on the American side.’

The Herald adds ‘ The feat will probably be performed on the 21st July. The various railway companies which run to the Niagara Falls have subscribed 10,000 dollars for Captain Webb, and it is expected 100,000 persons will witness the undertaking. Preparations are being made to have special excursions from every town and city within reach of the railways.’ ___________