The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-05-07
CAPTAIN PAUL BOYTON.
HIS SCHOLASTIC LIFE AT ST. FRANCIS coll
LEGE, LoRETTO-INTERESTI INCE
DENTS IN HIS EVENTFUL CAREER.


HIS SCHOLASTIC LIFE AT ST. FRANCIS coli
LEGE, LoRETTo-INTERESTI INCI-
DENTS IN HIS EvENTFUL CAREER.
To a much valued correspondent of more
than ordinary ability we are indebted for
the following interesting account of Capt:
Paul Boyton's school life at St. Francis
College Loretto, where he pursued his stud
les from 1865 10 e6S urder the tuition OF the
able and efficient facTity of that renowned
Institution and cndeareyi himself TO botn
teachers and rarils during his somewhat
protracted stay among them. To this inter-
estiug review of his college life is added a
few incidents in the after career OF Mr. Boy
ton, whose daring exploits in the waters OF
the English Channel and elsewhere, clad IN
q life-saviug dress of his own invention, has
won for him name and fame chat any
one nigh: envy. All in all, the incidents
here presented form another chapter in the
life history OF the gallant Captain of which
he has every reason to be proud:
To the Editor of the Cambria Freeman:
As the name OF Paul Boyton mot Boy7lton. as
81 is sometimes speliedJ mas become famous IT
may be of interest to your readers to learn
something Of what is know n and thought about
him in place whore he spent some three years
and where there was every opportunity "I
refer to the period-trom 1865 to ls6S-wbich he
with his two brothers spcnt IN pursuing ms
studies at ST. Francis College. LOretto. Dur
ing this tirne the three bt0.hcrs zone older than
Paul, the ether younecrJ by their unNariing
good conduct endCGred themselves to the t5rO-
! Ihcrs i'm charge, white their cheerful disposi-
tions and great activity in physicai games and
exercises made them the idols or their school-
mates. The Brothers, now that their former
puril hes won for himself 81 honorable a name.
recall with pleasure a hundred little traits or
character. which are Of no interest TO the gen
! erai public, and which il would be n violation
therefore only aIiurle to them in general way
by saying that the Boyton brothers, during
their pupiage at ST. Francis College, were
model ysinq men in every yrespect-exemplary
but transformations in the per torJiance OF thelr
religious duties: stUdiOus, and gifted with more
than ordinary abilities; and in all the da'iS ~
I tercoursc of their scnOOi-ii.e showing genie
courtesy and refinement, which can Ire eXhip-
tied only by the true Christian gentleman. IN
short, they were general favoTteS in play
ground and classroom.
Michael, the eldest OF the three, had some ID
cal reputation as poet, and was even "a r
lar contributor to the Poet : Corner OF some ,
/ TO mc) unknown Journal Not having seen
any of his effusions am unable to form any
judgment cf his talent in that respect, bur am
ceptor, that, with some of the usual crudeneSs
of the productions of comparative youth,
there was much of the poetic fire. ana that ms
versiicatiOn was smooth and easy. He is now,
| believe. with his brOtber in Europe.
P.ut, whose recent exploits have made his
name famous the world over was, during his
stay mere, remarkable for nothing except the
traits have mentioned above. He was tall, OF
pleasing appearance aud engaging manner ana
I Of robust build. but not by any means stout"
Indeed, his tDtu ensemble, as portrayed py the
good Brothers. was that of IAN Apollo. | was
about to say. but that is after ai on eff"mini e
style Of beauty young man ia the heyday OF
youth and strength. This perfection OF ply
sique. never natt,r life imp paired by evil hab-
its, hut kept in c0ndiiiCn by iIdtcious exercise
in AL manly sports, made him the Pearl Di-
ver' tas he S,,' cr led, OF Cape Nav, where his
daring exploits aud marvellous skill in swim
ming have him high rcuOwu as being, by
his own unaided cXcrtiOrs. the rcscucr, at dit-
ferent times, of some eighty m Ht!letH human
BcilGs from q 1rd'ctp craze. His adventures
there would Of themselves make very reaA-
able article, h,;t shall only select one re&tcf
tx t:.,s,!T while or a visit to the College a few
summers ago. and which Is illustrative of one
phase OF his chancter-a quiet, trenchaut spirit
=.
at Cape May. Pant BGyton saw q man lit is al
most = Iit,i ;lp0u humanity to cal! such thing
4 ,rar) struggling tor life as Cuig the drowning <
Jo, ia thc boiling surf. In moment our fear
,csS hero =. ~ ciraviig the waves, aad soon had
rho c~ri;trre in his pTasp The man his senses
TarHiyZpd 10y fear, chung to and wrthpd about
hjS PR server in such manner that all efforts
70 free. himself were fruittusS; and both must
hav" JC;js.!cd had not Paul, who had not once
Irsf his ,,rascncc of mind succeeded in keeping
ptlpat until other uclp arrived. As II was, both
wCfe drawn ashore ia an exhausted and SEEM
iugly ii"!css condition. The customary means
or rrSuecitati1n were employed with good eff
fcct. however. ana the bystaudcrs soon had the
qualification Ot seeing their brave Young favor
&c. and the man who had almost drowned: hIm.
fully restored 10 consciousness. The latter. es
soon rs he recovered his scattered senses crawl
Cd over 70 Puui. and. after many prOtcetGtiOrs
cr gratitude. drew ont II weli-filed wallet from
whlcn he sractejl-r torn dfty-cent sIiHpIdster'
cTiy sail, "l}oys. have any OF you the change
Tor half f-g-doilur?'' Yes, of COURSE" was the
reply. We'll. hand it over. I want 10 return
TINS gentlemen furty-ninc cents. The balance
viii be enough Cor nc. aud it's about all he's
worth. The crowd saw the point, and you
may venture Il pretty la1gc WAGER that that
MAJ mothers did not feel inclined to grow
vain over The compliments bestowed on hitl by
tilt crowd.
This cool intrcpidity. this resolution which is
ncvrr dauuted or diSnH yCd in any OF the events
OF iisc, great or suiall-tIis firm reliance self
which springs from Scif-lInOwledCe. aul which
alone cG1 ensure SJCCrSS-S"erS 10 be the pre-
Dominating Charact risti" Of Paul HOytOn. He
was never hsaSjful never afflicted with that
CurSt. Of most prcC1CinuS young mon, an over
wcCuiug idea OF ones own worth and impor-
tHncr. The w0r}. he is striving to accomplish
NOW. to terfCct which he has been cx pertinent
ing for years, l. one destined To be OF incalcu-
latIc vailIr 20 the human race; ana though to-
day lI"NaO|y no man is more talked OF tnau
.hiS Y0unE Irish American hero. while aiming
at success and apparently having At length
reached II, he j. The same modest. Upprttend-
ing person that he vas when Il student at ST.
Erducis' College, Lnrctto. {.