The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1875-09-30
A LITTLE DUCK"
Mss Bcokwith Eive-Mile Swim from Lon
don Eri6ge 70 Greenwich

AOA -AIut5t ~ cTSGANIcu
A Young girl named Agnes Alice Beck
with, daughter Of the professor OF swim
ming At lambeth Baths, yesterday accom-
rI,shed The difficult i,at OF swimming from
london bridge I" Greenwich. The distance
Is rather more than Eve miles. and the time
was remarkably iast-namely, In 7m 45s.
Mr.. EockVitL has been connected with the
lambeth Baths for nearly quarter cen
t'ry, and ior fourteen years held the proud
position u champion swimmer Of England.
The heroine Of yesterdays proceedings j.
but Il years Old, 81 slim make and dimin-
utivc stature. Tie object WAS to decide a
wage. O. 600 10 80 laid against her bv
Mr.. Eayiis. the money heing deposited with
Bar In. The event created a great deal
"t excitement, and all along the route the
prugreSS OF the swimmer was watched by
crowds on the wEarts and hargcs. In addi-
ton 10 the London Steamboat COmpany's
huiunieeE, private steam launch, and 4
rowing boat containing her father, the ref
eree, and some halt-duzen others immediate
ly interested in the result, perfect swarm
Of boats accompanied indeed impeded
the swimmer the entire distance. Tendon
bridge was crowded, as were the vessels and
other points whence = view o: the start
could be obtained.
Miss Bcckwith diyed from the rowing
boat al nine minutes L. five. and ut once
commenced I rapid side stroke, which she
maintained 10 the finish. She was attired
in z swimming costume of light rose pink
llama, trimmed with white braid and lace
IT the same color. The water was very
smooth, and the tide running about three
miles PEI hour. Swimming about a couple
OF wards III the rear ui the referees boat,
Tunnel Pier was reached al IL minutes past
Eve. At Ilorseferry Dock t5:22l 4 salute
vas fired, and the swimmer en-
Couraged with lus;y cheers. The
Commercial Dock was quickly left
behind, and soon after, the Hilda, on
ler return from Margate, crowded with ex-
ursioEists, passed the tlotilla. Passing
Sillwall, Miss Beckwith crossed to the north
side and took advantage of the strong tide.
At this point she was met by the saloon
steamer Victoria, whose passengers were
vociferous n their applause. The Foreign
Cattle Market at Deptford was berasted at
twelve minutes TO six, and as Greenwich
Hospital appeared in sight, the intelligence
was conveyed TO the swimmer by repeated |
cheers, salute being also fred by the Uni |
corn. The pier at Greenwich and the |
grounds of the ship were crowded with |
people who cheered TO the echo when the |
pirited strains of ''See the Conquering
Hero Comes" announced the success OF the |
tempt. Miss Beckwith swan some dis
lnce beyond the pier, and was taken on
card at oh. 5Sm. 45s., having accomplish
Il the distance, as stated above in III
n. i5s.
She seemed almost as fresh as when she /
iarted, and to all appearances was capable
going considerably further. 1t isworthy
. mention that this was Miss Beckwith's
.rst essay of that sort, if We except a trial
Monday from Battersea to Westminster.
Ter nearest approach to the present feat
as a swim OF two and half miles in the
.ambeth Baths in three quarters of an
.our.-LondOR Standard.