Captain Matthew Webb. the first person to swim the English Channel from Dover to Calais, lost his life at Niagara Falls whilst attempting to swim the Niagara River rapids and whirlpool. This tragedy is documented in poems by 3 of the worst poets writing in English and 3 poets laurate, and includes both a poem and a prose description of encounters with Captain Webb's ghost.
Poems and other sources cited:
Almon Trask Allis. Uncle Alvin at Niagara https://niagarapoetry.ca/2018/01/13/alvin/
John Betjeman. A Shropshire Lad (on album Banana Blush) https://niagarapoetry.ca/2021/07/27/betjeman/
Donald Lashelle. The River Niagara https://niagarapoetry.ca/2018/01/08/lashelle/
James McIntyre. Niagara’s Charms and Death of Webb https://niagarapoetry.ca/2021/06/20/charms/
William Arthur Deacon. The Four Jameses (book)
James Gay. Lines on the Death of Captain Webb https://niagarapoetry.ca/2021/06/20/charms/
Crawford Kilian. Canada’s Five Worst Poets: Are You Number Six? https://thetyee.ca/ArtsAndCulture/2012/03/24/Five-Worst-Poets/
Chris Hunt. McGonagall Online. https://www.mcgonagall-online.org.uk/
James McGonagall. The Death of Captain Webb https://niagarapoetry.ca/2025/03/02/mcgonagall/
Michelle Ann Kratts, in her Kratts Korner column on the Oakwood Cemetery website https://www.oakwoodniagara.org/
Niagara Falls Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay
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