The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-07-23
II JfCenty Eiles7 jStCi8a.

On Saturday afternoon Captain Webb,
master of the Emerald, of Liverpool, ac-
complished the feat of swimming twenty
miles down the Thames. The captain was
a seaman on board the Cuna:d screw
steamer Russia on her voyage from New
York in April, 1873, when, i'll mid-ocean, a
man fell overheard. The weather was
very cold and the wind blowing half a
gale. Webb leaped overheard, fortunately
Ioosing his boots as he dived, and kept
himself afioat for thirty five minutes, while
he made ineffectual efforts 10 save the un-
fortunate sailor, who, it was thought, had
been struck by the propeller. The steamer
was running sixteen knots an hOu- at the
time and she had to turn and lower boat,
which searched for some time before Webb
was found. For this brave act the passen-
gers subscribed 600 and be was subse-
quently presented with the silver medals of
the Liverpool Humane Society and the
Royal Humane Society. At the Tooth an
niversary of the Royal Humane Society,
when the Duke of Edinburgh presided at
the dinner at Freemasons' Hall in May,
1874, Captain Webb was selected as the
recipient of the first StanhOpe gold medal.
Having confidence in his own powers the
captain has several times published chal-
lenge in Bells Life to swim longer dis
lance than anybody else, but his challenge
has never been accepted. On Saturday,
having backed himself at 2 to l for e20
that he would swim twenty miles, a small
party embarked on the Falcon steamer at
Westminster pier and proceeded to Black
wall, where at 2.25 T. VI. Captain Webb
took to the water. 1t was about high
water, so that little assistance was obtained
from the current for the first few miles.
The captains style of swimming is a slow,
steady stroke of the arms a vigorous action
of the legs, and the head is kept down, so
that the water flows over the mouth at
every stroke. He was accompanied by
Professor Beckwith, who from a small boat
directed him in a course along the middle
of the channel, and a small fotila of boats
at various points brought curious visitors
to watch the swimmer. Vessels leaving
the port of London gave him a clear course,
so that he was little disturbed by pass
ing craft. The wind was steady and the
weather fair until shortly after passing
Woolwich, when a heavy shower followed
several peals of thunder. Occasionally
Captain Webb took some brandy and water,
but no other refreshment. The distance
from Blackwall to Gravesend is seventeen
and threc-quarter nautical miles-over
twenty English miles--ano the first half
was accomplished in an hour and half.
When asked how he was getting on Captain
Webb replied that he was all right, but
very hungry. He continued the same slow,
steady stroke to the end, not once resting
10y floating or changing his position, except
that now and then he took few strokes
on his right side. The entire journey was
accomplished in Al. 53m., and at 7.1S p. NJ.
the Captain was lifted out Of the water
into the boat opposite the Town Pier.
Gravesend, amid the hearty cheers of the
assembled crowd. Captain Webb is a
native of Shropshire, is twenty-seven years
of age, a broad shouldered man Of medium
height, and weighs fourteen stone. lie
went to sea when twelve years cld.-Lon-
don Telegraph.