Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-07-23
The Swimming Match.

| CONTEST BETWEEN coYLE AND JoHNsoN--ooYLl
GIVES OUT BEFORE REACHING aLoucEhTER-THi
| DISTANCE EVIDENTLY TOO d1Ehr FOR HIM.
The Delaware river, from Philadelphia tt
Chester, presented very animated appearance
yesterday morning tho river being covered will
almost every kind of craft that would float, nj
filled with human beings on theit way to Ches
ter to witness tho starting and to accompany
the grand swimming contest between JOHNSON
and Coyle, for purse Of $1,000 and the Chant
pionship of the world.
The weather. water and tile were in every
way suitable 10 the contestants. Light clouds
hid the sun from view, tho winds came very
gently from the south, causing but slight rip
pie ON the water and the tide was young food
At Chester the river ill front OF the city was
thckly dotted with skiffs, tugs, propeers, steam
boats and sail boats. The whsrves, and every
available spot on shore where n WOW Of the river
could be had were covered with their quota OF
human beings
Coyle arrived at Chester OH tho previous eve
ming, aud johnson coming down on the Whilden
In the morning, the two men met oil, board the
tug Amanda PoioeN, and with their ini'Jes mud
hackers selected a referee and settled other pro-
liminares.
The men were then taken into the middle of
the river, aud at 1.46 dropped overheard. A few
minutes previous to the men taking water the
American steamship Illinois passed down, OIL
her way to Liverpool, and was very enthusiastic
ally greeted with cheers. whistles and bells from
the hundreds of boats lying In the stream all of
which were as enthusiastically returned IRON
the departing steamer.
Upon reaching the water, johnson took the
lead, but it wss for a moment only, Coyle with
his vigorous strokes soon leaving his competitor
in the rear, and in five minutes was 20 yards
ahead. Coyle kept to the channel in the
middle of the river, while johnson made for
the western side. On reaching Tinicum Is
land Coyle followed the ship channel on the
east side, johnson keeping his porition on the
western side.
When johnson disappeared hehind the Island
Coyla was 200 yards ahead. COYle passed the
head of the island eighteen minutes or a full
mile ahead of his competitor Johnsons peculiar
stvle of making headway was particularly notice.
able in this race; his body was completely i'm
mersed all the timo, except Nt stated periods,
when he would rase his head above the surface
of the water for the purpose OF breathing.
At 10 Coyle passed the buoy miles from
Chester, having swan that distance in 2l3
hours. He was now gradually widening the
distance between himself aid johnson, and
there was every Indication that he Yves
forward to Gloucester AMI Philadelphia
with the news but q fow minutes later
when little above Red Bank and about ten
miles from Chester and four from the goal ~
Gloucester, he suddenly collapsed, threw up his
hand and was Immediately drawn aboard a
wherry, so utterly exhausted az to be nearly IN
animate. Johnson came up and passed the
place whore his antagonist had ''wtod' about
10 minutes later, and after swimming nearly one
mile and half further, with his never-falllDg,
sturdy stroke, at minutes So seconds having
won under the conditions of the race, took u
boat for home, apparently still fresh
Coyle WAS in very exhausted condition, and
his probable death was reported. His pulse, it
IL said was but 23 to the minute. Later reports
say he was recovering, all right.