The New York herald., 1875-08-25
WEBB'S FORMER ATTEMPT.

DOVER, August loio
The impulse which has been given to swimming in
this country by Captain Boyons successful passage of
the Channel is shown in the universal interest mani
afested in the attempt of Captain Webb swim from
Dover to Calais without any dress, except bathing
drawers, This revived interest indicates rather
rival OF an old fever than the breaking OF a
interest
The experiment was not novel one for Johnson,
who defeated Coylo on the Delaware River short time
Fince, attempted the thing and failed An opinion
obtains here that what Johnson failed at others had
better not attempt and 1t to be justified by
Captain Webb's failure
The performance of Captain Paul Boyton, owing to
the means he employed in crossing could hardly be
garded in the light Of triumph for the The
OF Lord Byron in swimming from Sestos Abydos
has been frequently referred TO OF late but it to
be a fair comparison when remembers that the
entiro distance allowing for the tide did exceed six
miles Captain Webb according to the best estimates
l am able 10 obtain, swan fully twelve and three
quarter miles last night before he left the water and
when saw him on board the boat he did not appear to
be greatly fatigucd The Channel certainly
rough rougher than the waters of the Helespont
were the day when Byron verified the old story Of
Lcanders nocturnal visits to Hero. Viewed in this
right therefore, tho failure of Captain Webb leaves him
with no slight degree OF glory
gard to Captain Webb. The announcement Of his
undertaking made in a modest way, and, instead of
brass band and steamer filed with jolly party, he
was accompanied by luggcr and q rowboat The for
mcr was uncomfortable that but enthusiasts
could be hired TO make the trip her. and the latter
was manned by two strong men, who followed the
swimmer for the purpose of succoring him in of
cramp. 1t was well known that Captain Webb had
swan from Blackwell to Gravesend, twenty miles down
stream in four hours; also that lie had subsequently
ecipsed this by going in the water from Dover
lo Ramsgate, eighteen mile swim, in nine hours.
There nothing very unreasonable, therefore, in
Captain Webbs conclusion that he could by
= little special training, get himself in a
condition to the Channel Tho actual
'air line distance of twenty-one miles to bo
expected by the swimmer but by careful selection of
the proper moment for starting it hoped to land
almost opposite the point of departure As have al
ready teegraphed you he entered the water about
FIVE o'clock and kept swimming CALAMITY through
wind, rain mist and darkness until 11h 4Sm., when he
climbed into tho boat with the remark No living
can swim in such umpy sea-" And all who were
there believed him, for the wind had risen after the
rain ceased and blowing quito strong against the
tide At any rate, he accomplished more than half the
distance and had the weather been favorable no
would doubtless, have made his promises to go to
France good. 1t must be remembered that it not
until his second attempt that Captain Boyton sue
ceeded in crossing the Channel
THE START
About four O'Clock last evening a small body Of gen.
temen, mostly members of the various rowing and
swimming clubs of London, walked down 10 the Ad-
miralty pier During the afternoon they had been
watching the sky with considerable anxiety, and had
taken counsel with several of the oldest weather
prophets of the port. But old and worthy negro
once said to me about lightning when upbraded him
for his cowardice during thunderstorm :-''You isn't
always wha' it's gwine strike as uncartn
wha' mght;' was given TO understand about the
weather in the English Channel 'I would not bet a
shilling the weather three hours ahead said an old
skipper to me, in the afternoon. But as the
evening began TO fall, and as tho weather
had been about unravorabe it could
scry well be- Captain Webb thought he perceived a
coming change which, it argued naturally enough
might be for the better and certainly couldn't be
the worse 1t decided by Captain Webb and his
referees that the tide favorable and reasonable
prospect of good weather, the attempt had better be
made at once Night coming on and thunder
shower had just passed. but Webb did not shrink from
the cold dismal water
IN TnE WATER
Without word Captain Webb repaired to shed
near by, where no was stripped and after being
nointed with dolphin oil close his pores TO the cold
ne stepped 70 the end of the per and at All 5Sm 30s
took a splendid "header" into the sea. The select
few who were to accompany him had meanwhile
been rowed OFT to the small sail boat which to
prccede him, and the rowboat which was TO follow him
t one and the same moment shot from behind the
pier 1t was cold, cheorcss proceeding characteris-
tic Of nothing but the determination OF one man to
quietly perform q sefimposcd task of great hardship
The rung loudly with cheers the swimmer rose to
the surface and struck out boldly toward the open sea-
They stood and watched him in the thickenng gloom
until they could see him longcr-a perfect picture
for Kingscy's words
Swimming out into the south,
Out Into the south, the down.
WIN those on the lugger the time soon began drag
rne rev boats from the shore which had followed the
swimmer for Tho rst quarter Of an hour BEGAN 70 drop