The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-03-04
Novel Voyage on the Thames.

The London Daily Ne,cs says: Captain
Boyton, the young American, whose
wonderful life-preserving dress was re-
Gently described as being successfully ex-
hibited in the Serpentine, astonished
some thousands of persons on Saturday,
January 20, by floating from Wrapping
to Vauxhall in his waterproof suit. It
may be safely said that never before was
Old Father Thames so defied and set at
naught by mortal its depths had no ter.
rors to the man who fearlessly committed
himself to them, and its yellow tide no
power to resist his advance or check his
progress. The spectacle of person
calmly lying at ease, and buoyant as a
sea-bird upon the surface of the river, or,
by way of change, standing arm-pit
deep in it, with many fathoms beneath
his feet, and moving hither and thither
at will, naturally attracted the attention
of all the sailors on board the ships, and
aL the spectators on the bridges, and to
these Captain Boyton gave, in addition
to novel entertainment, valuable les
son in life-preservation. By most sim
pie continuance sea-going people may
now take a new lease of life. The stars
and stripes futtering at the feet of the
foater, on Saturday, called attention to
the true nature of the long, black object
that kept the center of the silent high
way, while the perfect success of the ex-
pertinent must have put new ideas into
many pondering minds as to what is pos
sible where hitherto impossibilities only
have been admitted.
Captain Boyton started with a flood
tide from Mapping Old Stairs, not the
modern broad flight of steps used by
those latter-day wherries, but the narrow
old-fashioned blocks of stone which still
remain to show where the jolly young
waterman of the past was wont to take
the fine city ladies on board. All the
begrimed lighters moored thereabouts
were crowded with workmen, Just ar
rived from the yards and shops on the
other side, and the bangees and water
men, young and old, looked on open.
mouthed at the gentleman who, incasing
himself in an armor of India-rubber,
walked into and along the river without
touching the bottom; who could not
sink lower than his breast had he tried
ever so hard to do it, and who, by the
aid of light, double-bladed canoe
paddle, set off on his journey, followed
by feet of boats, arc loudly cheered by
the amazed and delighted spectators.
The principal of imitation, which is the
A B @ of the invention, and all necessary
details, have been already described in
connection with the trials in Hyde Park.
The Thames, however, ruffled by smart
wind against heavy tide, was a much
severer test than the streamless Ser
pentine, yet nothing could be more COM
plete than the success OF the trip.
Rough or smooth, it matters not to the
American Guardsman, and the spectator
is soon possessed of absolute confidence
in the safety of the invention. Blowing
his foghorn or whistle, using his ak
smoking his cigar, and waving his ban
ner, his voyage was quite triumphal
water progress, and the uogageur seemed
to take a special delight in threading hi:
way among shipping and boats, taking
the arches where the current was most
dangerous.
Once or twice he purposely allowed
himself to foul barge or the buttress o.
a bridge, in one instance shooting like ar
arrow under the stern, and between two
boats towing behind. Easy it was to SEE
that, clad in one of these SUITS mar
may venture where a boat could never
60, and perform services of the highest
advantage to humanity. The wonder
expressed in the faces of the sailor
staring over the bulwarks of the crowded
shipping in the Pool, or on board tht
river steamers, and barges drifting west
ward, was not the least comical ant
interesting feature of the journey, ant
the omnibus and cabmen pulled up OF
every bridge until the bold adventures
l'had passed.