The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-12
The Value or Paul Eoynton's Experd-
mont


The failure Of Paul Boynton to reach Bou-
logne by five or eight miles Is OF no particular
Importance The fact that he swan across the
English Channel, nearly fifty miles in fifteen
hours, constitutes virtual success. The task
he undertook to perform differed from horse
race, or walking hundred miles in twenty
four hours or hitting the bulls eye of tar
get IN rife shooting. Formally, he proposed
to swim from Dover to Boulogne in day, and
in this he failed but in reality he proposed
to demonstrate that with the aid Of the new
swimming dress a man can sustain himself
for long time in the water and travel long
distances with comparatively little fatigue
In this attempt he was entirely successful
Our special cable dispatches say that he was
taken on board of the steamer against his own
wish, and because the pilot refused to
take the responsibility of guiding him
to Boulogne in boisterous sea
and in the darkness of night We are also
informed that in the opinion of his doctor,
Mr.. Boynton might have remained six hours
longer in the water, and that after swim Of
fifteen hours he was not tired, his clothes were
dry, tho temperature of his body was lowered
but one degree, and his pulse was only eighty.
Clearly the failure to reach Boulogne was not
due to exhaustion on his part, particularly as
the pilot took the wrong course, and we look
upon the performance as being just as sue
cessful as if he had literally fulfilled his
purpose. AS he intends to repeat the expert
ment even the actual passage from shore to
shore is likely to be achieved, and we shall
not have even the shadow of failure to regret
Two things must be considered in estimat-
ing the value of this feat-the endurance of
the mon and the assistance rendered by his
dress. Paul Boynton is famous as q swimmer,
and his physical powers have had more
than ordinary training. 1t is likely
rival his performance in crossing the Channel
in fifteen hours, for no doubt he used his
paddle most of the time. and in order to
make speed put forth muscular effort that
would have wearied on average man. We
must not expect, therefore, the new life
Boynton's remarkable performance. But it
must be remembered that without its aid
Boynton would have been incapable of ac-
complishing one-ffth of his task, and the
usefulness of the costume has thus had the
most satisfactory proof. Il has been shown
that in such dress any one can be sup
ported on the surface OF the water for an in
definite period, and that person Of average
strength can propel himself more readily
thar by the usual methods Of swimming.
The life-saving apparatus should, therefore,
diminish the dangers Of ocean travel. The
old cork jackets and "life-preservers" were
seldom OF use, but now the traveller can CON-
NIT himself to the waves with the buoyant
power Of the fish, with provisions for cruise
in his knapsack, signals for night or day, his
library if he likes to read while bathing,
sail to set when the wind blows toward port
and an axe and knife to give battle TO the
swordfsl and sharks. We cannot all be Paul
Boynton's, but we can ego down to tie sea
in ships" with the comfortable conviction that
this invention has diminished the danger Of
drowning at least fifty per cent Thus
Mr. Boynton has not only proved his own en-
durance and skill, but has rendered society q
valuable service. We are glad that an Amer
can has accomplished this feat DISCOVERIES,
as rule, plant the flag Of their countries on
mountain peaks, but Mr.. Boynton has un-
furled the Stars and Stripes upon the bosom
of the restless sea.