Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-04-26

SWIMMING ACROSS THE BRITISH CHAN
MIA GALLANT STRUGGLE AGAISs'
WINDS AND TlnFS

SWIMMING ACROSS THE BRITISH CHAN
MIA GALLANT STRUGGLE AGAINST
WINDS AND TIDES.
The following account Of Capt. Paul Boy
tons gallant attempt 20 swim across the
British channel, from Dover 20 Boulogne. on
the 10th OF April, Is from the London Times
of the 18th inst:
Embsrking at ten minutes past 3. those
who were to accompany Capt Boyton CON-
ma nded full view OF his start, which was
effected from the west side OF the Admiralty
pier at Dover. Paddle in hand a fog horn
suspended round his neck, a brandy flask in
hls waist pocket, a bowie knife of formula
bic proportions at his side and carrying iu-
SIDE his dress packet OF letters pleasantly
called 'the Boyton mail for the contiaent"
Capt Boyton descended the steps OF the land
irg stage. and, after initiating his costume by
means of the tubes attached to IT, wafei into
the water between the pier and tug BY the
GllnmeriTg rays of the lantern In a boat
lowed by the press tug. he was perceived TO
be floating on his hack. quietly and easily
padding himself seaward, and then diSap-
pesred into the darkness. He remained out
or sight for several minutes. and then his
brother lgnited some port fires and held them
IN the bow OF the steamer. BY this means
BoytOn could be seen steadily at work but
ne shouted out instructions that the lights
were Ia he discontinued, as the sparks from
them burnt him. On getting past the pier
head Capt. Boyton was caught by the tide
and carried swiftly to the eastward. the
steamer drifting with him. The brilliant
electric lights OF the South Portland
were soon seen, and NJ ten minutes To
four o'clock Captain BOyton, by means
OF mis- paddle, was king good head
way for the middle OF the channel
The Instructions given him were that he
should do his utmost 10 avoid getting inside
the Goodwin Sands. the lightShip at the
south end Of which was now in view. As the
morning dawned a breeze began TO rise, and
at half PAST four, when abreast OF the Fore
land light, nearest Dover, a small sail, about
The size OF a large handkerchief. was hoistad
on miniature mast, and fixed in a socket
10 the sole OF the foot OF the paddler, who
controlled II by means OF lanyards attached
10 his costume. Under this modest spread OF
canvas Captain BoytOn made astonishing
progress, and displayed great skill in en-
ploying his paddle both as a means of pro-
pulsiOn and as Tudder. His physical powers
were evidently unimpaired, for at 500. when
the stars and stripes were run up on the
steamer, he waved his hand and cheered; and
al G O'Clock, at which hour the French pilot
in charge thought he had made two miles
more eastward than had been either antici-
pated or hoped for, he came alongside and
asked for a cigar. which was AZ once lighted
and handed down To him. At halfpast seven
boat left the tug and gave Boyton his first
refreShment since his departure. His tenn
peTature was at the same time taken by Dr.
Diver, by means or chymical thermometer
placed in the mouth. and was found tn be
97.7. as compared with S7.9 Just before he LEFT
the Lord Warden hotel.
Proceeding merrily on his vorage, Captain
EOyton was soon at Narne. and blew a loud
blast on his horn when he observed a feet of
fishing smacks approaching somewhat too
broken up into waves, and the steamer was
so far from him that he could be scarcely
distinguished from them; but he did not
cease padding until 9o'clock, when he hailed
water. His sail was removed from one foot
To the other, and in reply TO the DOCTORS in
quiries, he complained of being sleepy. He
had by this time reached the Narne Ridge,
portion of the English Channel, between Do
yer and Boulogne, where the tide is divided
by the sand and the rocks into two currents,
or xr-laf ah no 10
westerly direction, would carry the Amer
lean in the direction of Dungeness. on the
English side. and the other 10 The coast be-
tween Caps GritneZ and Boulogne. An i'm
portant element in the calculation of the
French pilot was that this ridge should be
reached at a time when Capt. Boy ton would
be sure 10 catch the French current, but
when he got there, probably through the loss
OF twenty minutes in starting, the surface of
the sea was broken up into big and rough
waves, which bufieted him about until IL
seemed as If il would be impossible for him
TO contend against them for another five
minutes. The wind was gradually growing
stronger, so Capt. BoytOn took down his sail
for quarter of an hour and had what he
called rest in the water. holding on to the
side OF the boat. He was, the pilot said. about
twelve miles from Dover, the cliffs Of which
port could no longer be seen.
At II O'Clock the rain ceased. the sky be-
came brighter. and the spirits of all began
To rise. Boyton had some cherry brandy,
and at ] O'Clock came alongside of the
steamer for a cigar. At 500 the raveler
again paTtook OF a stimulant, aud was as
bright and lively as could be wished for al
O'Clock, when the steamer from Boulogne
TO Folkestone passed him, those on board
giving him an encouraging cheer, aud the
steamer dipping her flag, a compliment re-
turned from the ting, where the American
flag was lowered. From this hour until 30
the captain kept at work. ceaslessly moving
his paddle from right TO LETT, although no one
on board could give him any positive
answer TO his question as to how far he was
from land. In fact, it looked very much as
II The French pilot, the captain of the tug
and another professional seaman on board
could not agree on this point. There was
no sign of land, the wind was increasing i'm
violence. and everything seemed TO promise
a very nasty night. The pilot was there
upon asked to state whether there was any
chance OF Boyton reaching land that night
ana MS reply was that after daylight he
would no longer be responsible for Captain
Boyton's safety. Even now Captain Boyton
cou.rt not be prevailed upon 10 give in and
il was not until he was told that no one
knew for certain where he was, and that the
apparently oyer-chaEging and most contrary
currents might carry him further than ever
from land, then he yielded. He then. at 6l5
p. m, went on board, and was rewarded with
cheer which showed that his submission to
the advice OF all on the tug was properly APP
preclated Scarcely a drop OF water had
penetrated his dress. although he had been in
the water, as we have already stated, within
a few minutes of fifteen hours. He was in
excellent spirits, and his temperature was
only one degree below Its normal condition.
Indeed, the medical authority was of the
opinion that his physical condition was
such that he could have remained i'm the
water and continued bis exertions for
another six hours"
SUICIDE OF MILLIoNAIRE.-Commo
dore Alanson p. st. John, the veteran steam
h.1N rfxarl