The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1875-11-03
WHIT 4 swIMMER CAV DO.


The recent swimming fears, which have at
tracted SO much attention in Europe and
America, have caused the publication of many
facts and incidents connected with the subject
of mans capacities in the water. The gener-
al fact which seems to be established is, that
by training and practice men may be enabled
to find themselves almost as much at home in
the water as on the land. Among the facts
which have been stated, we notice that in the
German naval service, candidates for the En-
gineer corps are required to swim, clothed
and ACQUIRED, nearly mile before they are
passed as competent, and this is certainly
very wise provision.
Among the incidents recalled is the adven-
ture of Yarmouth (England) boatman, in
October, 1885. With nine other persons, he
was capsized in a yawl, by sudden storm,
six miles from shore. The accident took
place in the evening, between five and six o.
clock, and one man only, Samuel Br, ck es-
capped He, happily, secured a horse-collar
stuffed with straw, which had been used as a
"fender" His first effort was to swim ont of
the reach of his drowning companions, to
iouc Vi WittH ~ WIS pOsSlUit ltT ulnl 10 Tttl-
der any assistance. With the aid of the col
lar, he got off his shoes, his neck-cloth and
his wide and heavy trowsers, and then dis
carded the horse-collar, which, though it aid
ed him by its buoyancy, impcded his SWIM
ming.
He saw the last of his companions sink
and his only hope was to reach the land, six
miles distant, by swimming. 1t was NOON
light evening,--but the sky became overcast
by clouds, and he could no longer shape his
course. To add to the horror Of the night a
fearful thunder storm burst over him. This
cleared away at length and the light of the
moon befriended him. He could shape his
course by the lighthouses with which he was
familiar, and reached a floating buoy, which
was exactly opposite his own home, though
four miles distant from the land He thought
of holding on by this but feared that the
cold night air and the chill of the water would
disable him and cause his death. Again he
struck out for land, but new trial awaited
him. large gray gull made dash at him,
installing him for floating corpse and 9TH
ers of the foul birds came at the cry Of the
first. These enemies he frightened away by
splashing in the water with his hands and
feet.
He had now been nearly six hours in the
water, and, as he neared the shore, he found
the surf SO violent that to get through it was
hazardous undertaking. even if lie
should land, there were cliffs to climb and a
long distance to walk, and he feared he would
perish with the cold. So he turned again, and
swan for a vessel that he knew lay at anchor
in the Croton Roads, off Yarmouth. He
hailed the vessel, and was rescued at half-past
one o'clock, having been over seven hours in
tie water. The distance he traversed must
have been fully fifteen miles. And this was
done, not only without the attendance and en-
couragement Of friends in boats ensuring
safety, but under the most awful circumstance
es of sorrow, peril and suffering that can be
imagined. He had no other support than the
excitement of a struggle for life. This is I'M
doubtedly the most powerful stimulant that
can be felt. But it often urges man to fruit
less and useless exertions, wasting his strength
and Fastening his death. For presence of
mind, strength of nerve and patience in effort
against fearful odds, to this Yarmouth boat
man must be conceded the palm over all Holt
day competitors. And his chief merit lay in
Possession andendurance .--Phila. Ledger