The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-21
THE SWIMMING MATCH.

PHILApEIPn1A, July 20, 1878.
The great swimming match Tor inc oD"inp'on-
ship and 81 900 side. between J. De 1ohnson' lne
champion OF Great Britain, and inomas OOye' Oh
Chester. Pa, Is to take place on Thursday next
the GOD Inst. The contest viii, without doubt. be
AN tnterestinO one and, as far as can be judged
nv the conduct OF the men IN training,
n close and exciting struggle. Both men have
been living for four weeks past at Gloucester
Point. on the Jersey shore, a few miles below this
city. Johnson making his headquarters at the
Buena Vista House, near the steamboat landing,
and his plucky antagonist training from more
retired public house. further down the beach ana
known as the Centennial Park Hotel Gloucester
Point is q cheap place OF resort resembling
cross between Coney Island ana DonnybrOok Fair,
and every afternoon the beach is crowded by
motley throngs IRON. the city,
on pleasure bent
But of a frugal mind,
the pleasure being derived mostly from beer gar
aens with rough benches and dscordant music,
srapeze and acroDatc performances on the beach
Dy circus men whose tights and tlnsel look very
coarse by daylight.
TIE ENGLISH CHAMPION,
Johnson, whose breast is covered with medals won
In the old country, in many hard battle VITA the
waves. gives a public exhibition oil his proves
every other day. lie gets into boat with his as
uistant and rows himself up the river when the
tide is running down. He takes long pull
against the current and, when two or three miles
away. jumps overheard, wearing oreechcotn,
and swlms back with the tide. He swims easily
and gracefully VARYING his position from the
usual one on his breast by frequently turning TO
either side and to his back, propeI1ng
himself while In this attitude by
peculiar TRUSTING upward and backward
OF mis- hands He sHims under water, turns
perfectly at home. He takes long walks daily and
runs IN tine woods with his trainer, uses the clubs
anu takes other exercise. This is his daily course
training, and, as ar as appearances CO. ne Is in
prime condition. He seems perfectly confident OF
winning this race, as he Das many others, ana IS
taxing matters very easily. JOhnsOn's record,
his manner OF swimming ana MS magnificent
YORK since his contest at Long Branch to need
MS ADVERSARY, coYLE
Thomas Coyle, OF Chester, Pa, who is TO con-
test the champions right to that title IN this
country, has never before swum race and 10 an
nis temerlty IN challenging the Engllshman, while
sdmlring his pluck. 1ney shake their heads
Dminously al the idea OF his Winning and quietly
put their money on Johnson Nevertheless, the
iavorite may be beaten, as before has happened in
IDortIng annals. visit to the audaclous con-
testant makes it reasonably certain, wnen
he looks you straight In The face and says,
quietly, az mean to win this race If cam" that
tnere Is determination IN his eye, and that be VIII
DO MS best. Thomas COyle Is an lrlshman by
birth, thirty-1ve years oil age but has lved long
He was Jour years in the Unfed states Navy DUR
ing the war, ana learned TO SWIM IN the service.
He hives at Chester. and works IN one o. the great
snip YARDS OF JOnn Roach. He Is about feet ia
inches in height weighs ordinarily 100 pounds,
has an angular lace ana large, brawDy hands (as
rugged as the cables they have handed), high,
protruding cheek bones sandy hair ana chin
whiskers ana remarkable eyes. TneY are deep
set AND blue. Tnelr clear whites and quick move
ment show man in perfect physical condition.
They are earnestlookIng eyes, that seem 10 nave
great deptl, and as they nasn on you you lnvolun-
tarlly WAX HIS shoulders are not remarkable
for breadth, but MS chest Is as round as barrel,
and itproTudes IN 'front.' like bad httlng shirt.
His nesh Is as clear and smooth as an infants, and
HIS arms, back and loins are corded with
muscles, with not pound OF fat for
paodng. He mas been training ABOUT four weeks
Under he advice OF DR.. Caroezer OF Claymount,
bel, and has brought himself down to las
pounds. He Is his own trainer, but Is assisted by
Mar. Brooks, Oh the hotel and otner trends. His
rrainIng has consisted solely OF swimming and
dieting himself Every DAY ne goes in the water.
He mas been swimming twice, morning ana alter
noon, out now goes IN only once, so as to avoid
overtraining and exhaustion. he eats rare beef
and drinks the water strained of scotch oatmeal.
This IL his whole course Of training, except to
avoid liquors. -
Mr. Coyle's most striking quality is modesty.
"what do you measure herep asked the inquirer,
squeezing his arm.
al don't know, SIR"
''what Is your grth across the chestf" pointing,
with admiration.
This was marvellous ANY man WITH ordinary
vanity, VITA a chest IKE tbat wouid nave been
day at least. But Mr.. Coyle didn't know. And he
didn't know how far he could swim nor how much
he could Int, and he had rare dislike TO talk Of
himself at AL
He swims every day. with the tide, from three to
eigat miles, One day last week he swan from
the Port Richmond coal Wharves Ia this city, 70
Gloucester Point, distance OF eight miles, IN
one hour and twenty-three minutes. On Satur-
day last he made the distance from harket ; rect
wharf, Philadelphia, 70 Gloucester. Eve miles, In
one hour and SIX minutes. He has not speeded
himself, he says, ana on Saturday, as he foated,
he carried on conversation win those IN his
boat, which was following nun, and favored the
company Win Irish songs.
OUT WITH cOYLE
'Go out with me-" said he 70 the HERALD cor
respondent, and the writer stepped with him into
n r0wboat. dressed with the American nag and
Coyles private colOrs. The party was to be rowed
up the river Tor about two and nan miles against
the tide, when Coyle was 10 strip completely aAd
jump overheard 10 swim back.
"Ihis Is the worst water ever saw SAID Coyle.
'This whole river SEEMS 10 be fed by springs and
the water Is IA places very cold As | swim
along | can feel Jets OF icy ater striking my
body. TIE temperature Is constantly changing
as You swim along ann II is very apt 10 produce
cramps / could be ali DAY IN salt water but l
think nve hours Of TINS continuously would XIII
any man. IL IS DOT mat the water Is 30 cod, but
that the temperature ts not unlform-it is con-
stsntly changlng-and this Is the most trying
tnlng possible 70 swimmer. 1 wouldn't stay IN
"won'tt take several hours 10 swim the thlr.
teen miles from Chester 10 THIS place on Thurs
ION, nor said he, smiling; "besides, +, may not
be ecessary for either OF US to swim ali the way
for II one gives out the other can claim the race
without going over the whole coursen
''DO you ever suffer from cTampW the reporter
asked.
''Very seldom. There is little danger II one IL
cautious and does not go IN too soon alter eating
or IN persDiratlOn."
''What 40 you do 70 prevent I'll"
al wear TINS garter that you see around my
leg or tie on an eelskin. In the race shall wear
an eeskin. II you are taken with cramp, just
rub the part and you VIII Immediately recover.
i was taken the other day below this knee.
scTaped my leg vita my otter foot as swan and
II lett me-"
IN TIE WATER.
with "goodby' Coyle sprang into the water and
struck out toward the Point with strong strokes.
He swlms very nigh, aud with ais face turned
alternately rom one side TO the otncr lie seems
60 stand In the water al aIkle OF iorty-fVe de-
grees and springs forward at every stroke so tnat
his back Is visible nall way 10 mis- lOins
aud At each motion the muscles OF his back and
shoulders knotted and rolled like CORDS. lie said
that nc was "takinR 10 easy" bat the writer VINO
happened TO be pulling the boat behind hin,
found that pretty steady pulling was necessary