Wilmington journal., 1875-09-24
"A LITTLE DUCK.
Miss HeCkVIIh,s Five Mile Swim
From London bridge TO Green
WiGh.

(From the London Standard September q
A young girl named, Agnes Alice
Beck with, daughter of the professor O.
day accomplished the difficult feat o
swimming from London bridge tc
Greenwich. The distance is rather
more than five miles, and the time was
remarkably fast-namely, 1h. I'm. 45s.
Mr.. Beekwith has been the in
structor at Lembeth Baths for
nearly quarter of a century, and for
fourteen years held the proud position
of champion swimmer of England
The heroine of yesterdays proceedings
is but fourteen years old, of slim make
and diminntive Statue. The object
was to decide a wager of EGO to 94O
laid against her by Mr.. Baylis, the
money being deposited with Belts
Life. The event created q great deal
of excitement, and all along the route
the progress of tie swimmer was
watched by excited crowds on the
harris and barges. In addition to
the London Steamboat Company g
Volunteer, private steam launch, and
rowing boat containing her father,
the referee, and some half-dozen 9th.
ers Immediately inter ested in thu re-
sult, a perfect swarm of boats accom-
panied, and indeed impeded, the
swimmer the entire distance. Lon
don bridge was crowded, as were the
vessels and other points whence a
view of the start could be obtained.
Miss Beckwith dived from the row
ing boat at nine minutes to 5, and at
once commenced a rapid side stroke,
which she maintained to the finish.
She was attired in swimming COS,
tune of light rose pink lima, trimmed
| with white braid and lace of the same
color. The water was very smooth
and the tide running about three miles
per hour. Swimming about couple OF
| yards in the rear of the referees boat
Funnel Pier was reached at eleven
minutes past 3. At Horseferry Dock
| (5:22) Il salute was fired and the swim
mer was encouraged with lusty cheers
| The Commercial Dock was quickly left
| behind, and soon after the Hilda, Oh
her return from Margate, crowded
| with eXcursIOn1sts, passed the hOtltla
| Passing MiIlwalI Miss Beckwith cross
ed to the north side and took advan-
| tage ut tho strong tide. At this point
| (ne WIS met by the saloon steamer
| Victoria, whose passengers was voclfer
Gus IN tnelr applause. The Foreign Cat
tie Market at Deptford was breasted
| at II minutes to e, and as Green wict
| Hospital appeared in sight the intelli
gence was conveyed to the swimmer
| b repeated cheers, a salute being also
| fire from the Unicorn. The pier al
Greenwich and the grounds of the shiI
were crowded with people who cheereC
To tie echo when the spirited strain:
Of "See, the Conquering Hero comes
auuouucod the success of tue attempt
Miss Beckwith swan some distance
beyond thes pier, and was taken Oh
| board at 3n. 5Sm. 45s., having accom-
pilaued the distance, as stated above
In. IN. lbs.
She seemed almost as fresh as wher
She started, and TO all appearance wa'
capable of going considerably further
1t Is worthy.of mention that this wai
| Miss Beckwith's first essay of the sort
If we except trial trip on Monday
FROM Battersea to Westminster. Hel
nearest approach to the present fea'
was a swim of two and half miles IL
the Lambeth Baths in three quarters
of an b our.