Carlisle Graham

Carlisle D. Graham (December 1850 – May 3, 1909) was an American athlete, famous for surviving several journeys through the rapids at Niagara Falls in a barrel and by swimming, at risk to his life.

In 1886, inspired by the late Captain Matthew Webb, he decided to follow in Webb's footsteps by navigating Niagara Falls and its whirlpool in a barrel cask. Despite warnings of likely death, Graham accomplished his goal on July 11 that year, witnessed by a large crowd. His next attempt, in August of the same year, resulted in the permanent loss of hearing in one ear after a wave struck his head. He did not go over the Horseshoe Falls, which was accomplished by Annie Edson Taylor in 1901 using the same barrel. Graham's challenges extended beyond Niagara Falls and in 1890, engaged in a challenge with British champion diver Tommy Burns in England to dive from Runcorn Railway Bridge.

Graham was married to Barbara and had a daughter. He died in May 1909 at the age of 58, leaving a legacy as the first person to navigate the whirlpool rapids in a barrel and survive. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Niagara Falls, alongside Annie Edson Taylor.

Early life Graham was born in Wilmington, Delaware

First survival over the falls A week later in September 1889, Graham achieved the ambition of his lifetime, going over the falls and surviving. His wife had been reluctant to consent to his voyage unless his barrel was sent over the falls first, which was done and it managed the trip safely in approximately 35 minutes. Despite this, his wife continued to object, though she was assured it would not be until several days later when Graham would attempt the feat himself. Graham made preparations in case he did not survive the trip, offering his gold watch and $40 cash to Constable Hern with the instruction that the officer should give the items to Graham's family if he did not complete the journey alive. On describing his attempt, Graham said, "I may be tempting God's providence to try to go over the falls, but it is the ambition of my life to do this. I am satisfied to die if it is necessary. Goodbye, boys." When his barrel was retrieved from the water, it had to be broken as Graham had locked the barrel from the inside with an iron fastener and did not have the strength at that point to release it. He had been in the barrel for around 50 minutes and suffered skinned arms, bruised knees and a blow to the head, although his injuries were not considered serious, except for the blow to the head. His speech was incoherent due to the "racking he had received" and complained of considerable pains in his back and head.

He was afterwards cared for by his wife and remarked to a reporter, "I determined to make the trip this morning because I was satisfied that I could do it safely." He was not able to tell the point he went over the falls, describing that the "awful shaking up I got stupefied me. I felt happy. I felt like a man who has passed into the painless portion of a death by drowning." He declared that he would not attempt the same feat again, as doing it once was enough, noting that he had prepared for the moment for ten years of his life.

Competition in England On 15 June 1890, a challenge between him and British champion diver Tommy Burns involved them to each to dive off Runcorn Bridge in England, swim then run . To evade police, Burns dressed as an old woman and Graham as a laborer. Burns beat Graham on the swim by 10 minutes and subsequently won the race. Following his jump off Runcorn Bridge on June 19, 1890, he took several similar jumps thereafter. from the time the barrel floated from the rapids and in to the whirlpool. Upon being released from the barrel, Graham was partially suffocated and had to be fanned for 30 minutes due to exhaustion, noting that the lack of air was the primary cause of discomfort during his journey. Having completed the journey with just slight bruising around the knees and elbows, he received $300 for his feat, with the money paid by businessmen who profited from the crowd that were attracted to witness his voyage. Graham announced in August 1902 that he would "try to do what Captain Webb failed to do on July 24, 1883", which would be to swim Niagara's whirlpool rapids, although it was reported that his friends would attempt to dissuade him from doing so. Wearing a life preserver around his body and a ring around his neck, In what would be his last trip through the Niagara rapids,

In December 1907, Captain Carlisle Graham, then referred to as the "Hero of Niagara", announced his intention on swimming from Niagara Falls to Montreal in Canada, which is a distance of around with his Fox Terrier "Beauty". He described how he would use what he described as the "American underhand stroke", believing that it paid to be "thoroughly American" by following out that principle when he swam.

Personal He was married to wife Barbara (née Haft) sometime around 1890 and had a daughter Mildred, who was born in 1882, who herself married in 1908.

In December 1907, Graham was working as a cooper in Point Breeze, Philadelphia and by that time was a widower at the age of 57. He was described as being "tall, well built and active" while not looking like a man of fifty-seven years. He had been visiting Winnipeg. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Niagara Falls, New York, and the inscription on his headstone reads "Carlisle D Graham. First to go through the whirlpool rapids in a barrel and live. July 11, 1886". Annie Edson Taylor, who died many years later, was buried next to him.