In July of 1883 a well known English swimmer named Captain Matthew Webb tried to conquer the Niagara River by swimming through the lower rapids from the Canadian to the American shore. Webb entered the water and began swimming with relative ease using the breast stroke. He managed to keep a straight course through the strong current. He made the trip through the lower rapids in less than two minutes however once at the mouth of the Whirlpool his troubles began. Captain Webb was sucked down into the vortex of the Great Whirlpool and was not seen for four days until his body was found near Lewiston. He is buried at the Oakwood cemetery in Niagara Falls New York, along with Annie Edson Taylor and other famous daredevils of their time.