Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-02-18
Novel voyage on the Thames.

The London DAILY News says: Capt.
Boyton, the young American, whose
wonderful hfe-preserving dress we re-
Gently described as being successfully
exhibited in the Serpentine, astonishing
some thousands Of persons on Saturday,
January Goth, by floating from Mapping
to Vauxhall in his waterproof suit. 1t
may be safely said that never before was
Old Father Thames so deied and set at
naught by mortal; its depths had no
terrors to the man who fearlessly com.
mitted himself Il them, and its yellow
tide no power to resist his advance or
check his progress. The spectacle of a
person calmly lying at ease, and buoyant
as a seabird 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
shiDs, and all the spectators on the
bridges, and 10 these Captain Boyton
give. in addition to q novel entertain
ment, a valuable lesson in life preserVa-
ton. By u most simple continuance
seagoing people may now take a new
lease OF life. The stars and stripes aut-
tering at the feet Of the hoater on Satur-
day, called attention to the true nature
Of tbs long, black object that kept the
center Of the silent highway, while the
perfect success Of the experiment must
have put new ideas into many bordering
minds as to what is possible where hith-
erto impossibilities only have been ad-
mitted.
Captain Boynton started with q food
tide from Mapping Old Stairs-Aot the
modern broad flight Of steps used by
these latter day Wineries, but the narrow
old fashioned blocks of stone which still
remain Il shoR where the jolly young
waterman OF the past was wont to take
the fine city ladies' on board. All the
begrimed lighters moored Whereabouts
we're crowded with workmen, just arrived
from the city yards and shops on the
other side, and the barges and watermen,
young and old, looked on open mouthed
at the gentleman who, encasing 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 aver so hard to
do il, and who, by the aid Of a light
double bladed canoe paddle, set off on
his journey, followed by a feet Of boats,
and loudly cheered by the amazed and
delighted spectators. The principle Of
initiation, which is the A B c Of the in
vention, and all necessary details, have
been already described in the Daily
News, in connection with the trials In
Hyde Park. The Thames, however,
rufied by a smart wind against a heavy
tide, was a much severer test than
the streamless Serpentine, yet moth.
ing could be more complete than
the snecess Of the trip. Rough OF
smooth, it matters nothing to the
American Guardsman, and the spectator
is o possessed Of absolute confidence
in the safety Of the invention. Blowing
his foghorn, or whistle, using bis ak
smoking his cigar, and waving bis ban.
ner, his voyage was quite a triumpha'
water progress, and the voyageur seemed
to take q special delight IN threading hi.
way among shipping and boats, taking
the arches where the current was mos
dangerous. Once or twice he purposely
allowed himself to foul a barge or The
b%uttress Of a bridge, in one instanc,
shooting like an arrow under the stern
and between two boats towing behind
Easy it was TO see that. clad i'm one n
these spits, Q nan may Eenture where {
boat could never 30, aud perform ser
vices Of the highest advantage TO human
ity. The wonder, expressed in the face
Of the sailors staring oyer the bulgs.L,
OF the crowded shipping in the Pool. q
on board the river steamers, and BARGE
drifting westward, vas not the leas
comi0al and interesting feature of thu
journey, and the omnibus and cab mel
pulled up on every bridge until the bol,
adyenturer had passed"