A TRIP THROUGH NIAGARA WHIRLPOOL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2593, 23 February 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

A TRIP THROUGH NIAGARA WHIRLPOOL.

C. A. Pkicy made a second trip through the Niagara whirlpool on Sebtember Iβ. He made his perilous journey in a boat made of rock elm throughout, and covered with heavy canvass. It is 17ft long, 4ft 9in beam, and about 3ft o'in deep. Tho keel has 64 ribs, which are three-eights of an inch in thickness. In the bottom is a piece of railroad track which runs the entire length of the boat and gives it stiffness and strength. There are four compartments, two of which are O'ft 6in in length, and used for air, and one for ballast, for which 12001bs of sand are used. The other compartment is in tho centre, and is for passengers. The boat is a self-baler as well a self righter, and when in smooth water works with oars. After entering the boat tho watertight compartment was closed, and the trip began. The boat entered the rapids and began tossing about. For several second it disappeared altogether, but came up right way and went on its way. It took just eight minutes to go through the rapids before the whirlpool was reached. Just as Percy was passing Foster Flats, about a mile below the pool, a huge breaker dashed into the door of his air chamber, filling it with water. He was at once compelled to take the centre of the boat, but before he could properly secure himself he was thrown into the rapidn. Ho managed to eateh the boat, to which he clung for half a mile when he was dashed away just where tho rapids were most fierce. He fortunately had on a life preserver, and was ultimately picked up in a exhausted condition.