The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-06-23 00:00:00

Sporting inaligena.

CHAMPIONSHIP CRALLINUE COT SWIMMING )(Alai-
n is • matter of surprise no lam than of reproach that
Englishmen, though carrying on the largest maritime
Pude in the world, should, as swimmers, be far behind
other nations of Europe. For many years the art of
natation has been taught as • part of the military drill
of several of the Continental nations: If necessary for
soldiers, surely swimming mast be infinitely more so for 11
sailors. For the British navy, however, no attempt is I
made systmeatically to teach the men to swim, and it is
probable that not miXfourth of our men-of-war's men,
merchant maniciti, or coasting population, could save
themselves from the most trilling peril without ex-
tremolo help. With our inlaod population the case is
even still worse, and the accidents which are every day
recorded am painful commentaries on the coasequenees
of neglecting what out to be a part of every boy's educe- ,
Um. The melancholy pocarrenoe at Cam p, where
the young collegian. Path, was drowned in a rivulet
that a good horse would clear at • bound, should
suggest the poetics to the heads of colleges as to '
whether they might not take the initiative in • good
cause by prohibiting those under their charge from
risking their lives in the dangerous cockleshells that are
need on the Cam and Isis until they have graduated in
an art that a competent leather cian impart in half a
dolma lessons. Probehly very fie* of our readers are
aware that a society exists in London whale sole object
Is to extend the knowledge of the art of swimming. The
London Swimming Club already number, many
members whose proficiency is such that the feat of
which Lord Byron complacently says, "Leander, Mr.
Akenhead, and I did," namely, cromingithe rapid but
narrow (*mld eof the Dardanelles, wo be looked
upon as a comparatively easy tech. In ertheranee of
their object the members meet at the baths at Pimlico,
Endell-street, Long-uses, and Ashley-crescent, City-
road, weekly for instruction, both mutually and by a
profemor. Small prima are competed for monthly, and
finally a handaome silver challenge cup has been pro-
vided as an additional inducement On Monday this
cop we. competed for by two young men, one
It B. Mather, of Manchester, a member of the London
fihri • Club, the other H. Gardner, of London, a
non-member. The equine was from the Doves, a house
just above Hammersmith Bridge, to the Putney
Aqueduct Bridge, • distance of fully two miles. Two
steamers took up the friends of the oompetitors, and a
large number of spectators, both in boats, and on the
banks of the river, assembled to witness the conteet
The men started from • barge moored off the Doves,
having previously 'tripped to the swimming drawers.
Both were fine athletic young omit though Mather
appeared to have the advantage in size and in the
important partitular of capacity of chest On the
signal being given, both dived nearly at the same
moment, the advantage of quickness being with
Gardner; on coming to the "admit, however, Mather
had forged ahead of his antagonist_ A ry-contested
and exciting race followed, of which, the any, very
little could be seen from the steamers, horn the flotilla
cif small boats clustering closely around the competitors.
The trifling advantage, however, obtained at the outset
by Mather he appeared to retain until, on reaching
Hamnienanith Bridge, be eeemed to be going head
first at the pier-head of the bridge, and had to make •
shoot, so that on paring under the arch they were
strictly levet Soon afterwards Gardner put on a fine
spurt, and led his opponent by about three yards, but
Mather again closed up the pp, and on pawing by the
Soap Works, were once more level. 'llme 6 minutes 5
seconds. They thus continued swimming head and
heed, until nearing the Crab Tree, when Mather eased
himself a little by swimming on his breaat (both com-
petitors up to this time having been swimming on their
side, with their faces tumeol towards each other),
and Gardner once more led him by about two yards.
In the 'next few strokes, however, Mather again drew
up level with him; aad so the race continued, each
having an alternate lead, until they reached the
London Bowing Club boat-house, where Mather, who
seemed to be swimming the easiest of the two, IMO
about two yards in front. On reaching Simmons's •
landau gig fouled both men, and placed Gardiner four
yards further in the rear. He, however, struggled
gamely on, but could not catch his opponent, who won
by about four yards. Time 32 minutes 43 seconds.

DOM, 0110111 OF W UM= A UST TOWN/ —For
seas time past men have been employed in altering
Welles* Abbey, the mat of the Duke of Portland, and
on Saturday c storm of a serious character visited that
plass. At about six minutes pant me o'clock (woo)
when the storm vas as its height, a thunderbolt de-
scended upon the tower, striking it with mob force
that the four-dial clock was erropletely demolishek
and old Welbeck's tower split down, the report of
thunder and the fall of the old pile alarming the work-
men and inhabitants to rich • degree that they
the whole building use coming to the i=
Sir Charles Loma, the main& ammo, bad •
narrow escape on Monday. He wee 'klieg out, tied
when near Mayfair, his horse fell, and rolled 'pea him.
On being assisted he was foand to have lxrod his
arm, bet he has sustained no dangerous lelwrY•
Many anguiries have been mode respoeM•Ctlel hire-
dimes and method of prenarlag the esieirstai strlials- I
puddlal!,aohincm.ageewhhdas promiseetly
ut. the deri served up ia Mr. Merrier@ department
of the late Exhlbitioa. The prows of projeration is
ahaple, if the right materials are selected. nem deli.
Mom luxuries can goody be made 10 janfestion from
Domes MAIZENA, to which the Jason of Clam 3
awarded the only prim medal la its am', with she
superlative reeonunendatim " imearlimply ameilent far
food ,•'• which Mame so room to doubt whisk is the
beet Cora Flour. Per invalids and ithildree it is lamin-
able, end le li*kly recommended by the lad
path. beet liiMtme, meet palatable, and meet
food. It may be 4MMed of every r="
bat we should be taken that no other Cues Is sag
I itialed.—raiss.