St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-06-25
Paul Boyton's Triumph.
Ills SWIM ACROSS TIE ENGLISH CHAN
MEL.

MEL.
\ Londnu letter to the New York
Tribune, dated May 2gth. gives an in
tcre>tihg account of Paul Boytnn'S SUE
cr>>tIl attempt To swim ;Irr">~ the En-
gli>h Channel. The correspondent >i\ :
that it wa> generally felt that the ctiica-
rN of Captain BoNton'> liit-S.Niug
dress were fully demonstrated ON the
inst occasion. when. though not liter
ally successful in crossing from shore
t" shore. he practically accomplished
the feat he set ont to do. This second
attempt therefore WIS regarded more
III the light of Il piece of imdomitahe
pluck and energy on the part of Il man
p"SScsSim" no small store of either
quality, than ;i> Il TRIAL either scientific
or practical of Il new invention. The
captain WAS received on either side of
the cham cl III Il manner that hctukcucd
his immense popularity. The French
people were Wild with enthusiasm on
his arrival at B"ul"gnc to begin hi
journey, and ON his departure on u
>h"lt experimental niP ladies present
cd him with bouquets which he seemed
puzzled to know what to do with. The
>tIert> We're lined with people. and the
cheering and general compliments he
received on his way from his hotel To
the pier were such that ANY one who
knows the French character can better
imagine than one can dc>cIihc. The
mcSidcmt~ of all the learned >ocictirS
of France sent messages at encourage
mcnt and sympathy. and anon" Il host
of letters which arrived from England
WAS one from the Prince of Walc>'>
secretary. rr"rcttin" the inability of
the Prince t" witness the attempt.
The Prince Ernest. one of the chan
mel steamers of the Southeastern rail
way. WAS the only vessel that accom-
panied the Captain. The rail company
paid BnyI"n the great compliment Of
providing this vessel. free of charge.
and ais" ot invitin" as their guests
those who had to accompany the rNpr-
dition a> well a> IL number of the hrro'S
friends and others. This steamer left
Folkc>tonc at one o'clock Friday morn
ing. the 2Sth. Capt. BoNtnn having
gone on Il day on two before to Bou-
lugne. In about two hours the French
coast was reached. and he shore showed
the preparations that had been made
for Witnessing the departure of the
hero of the hour. The StaIt was ct-
tcctcd from the shore of Cape Gri$mcZ.
and the journey thithcr from Boulogmr
had been made the previous day 10y
sea. the captain in his litc-SaNim1 dress.
of course. He went to bed very early
and after Il very sound and refreshing
sleep drove to the beach. where he al
rived ut 2:;26 il. M. aud where. rs al
ready stated II large crowd had assem-
blcd to witness his departure. He en-
tered the water at 2:lO, paddle in hand.
CRYING ..Ijre la France." and. it is al
most needless To add, receiving the
dcafrning plauditS of those on shore.
His departure was announced 10y She
! lighting of IL huge pine bonfire on the
cliff. Il flight of rockets. and the dis
charge of cannon. These 81 igmalS were
at once answered by the discharge of
rockets from those on board the Prince
Ernest. The weather at this time was
dark and hazy. The wind. which was
very li.ht blew in occasional puil>
| from the southwest. The SEA was
perfectly calm. and at the time of start
ing the darkness Was very striking.
owing to the moon being ohScured 10y
clouds Directly after his Stalt. how
ever. the clouds so far separated rs to
| give those on board the steamer Il
| glimpse of the shore, and aS soon aS the
mist which arose from the water had
partially cleared. the captain WAS de
>cricd padding cnergrticalll in IL north
ward direction from GriSneZ. AS ht
neared the Steamboat he was received
| with an enthusiastic cheer from thoS,
on board. acknowledgin" it by raising
| his hand. Soon afterward he again
made for the steamer and asked that
his sail. which he had forgotten T.,
| bring from the shore when he en-
barked. might he sent for. remaIkln.
that he could not get on without it
A boat was accordingly lowered ano
dispatched to the shore. and the for
gotten sail and II few other articles left
behind carried of The sail WAS ear.
ried to BoNton. but owing to the fact
that both wind and tide were at thi.
time dead against him. he did not sci
it. but worked his paddle vigorously
Still he made but little headway til
long after daylight. He very frequent.
IL pertoImed his various manruvrcS il
the water. He blew his fog horn. stooo
ND, fnrled and untrlled his sail. t" show
that he WAS in no way tatigued. ant
when the rounds of cheers which greet
ed these movements had died away
paddled off again with great zeSt.
He retained his good spirits through
ont the entire day, making headwaN
with his paddle and sail. He smoked
cigars and drank some tea, and vrr,
frequently exchanged words with thos'
q al al.