The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-21

Errp.oapryARY SWIMMING FEAT. - The
London Daily Ne,os OF july On has tne 'ol'
Inwinp. "a remarkable exhibition OIL nata'
tory power and skill took place ID tne
Thames on Saturday afternoon. "nen up
tain Webb undertook to perform tne uhp'T,
cedented feat of swimming from b''ck Nan
10 G~ayeseud, distance OF twenty n'les.
Mr.. Webb i sturdy. well-proporuoneu
EnoI;shm1n. twen,y.seren years oio, s'anu'
fre feet eight inches, and weighs 9out 'ou1
teen stone. Master OF merehah',nnh
dino between Liverpool and Ireland, ne nas
not hitherto appeared 10 the capacity OF pro-
iessional or amateur swimmer. DIV nt
has from early life accustomed n'tn>th
10 the water, and has sueceeueu ~
ACCOMPLISHING more than one notaoif eAp''".
Ch;et among these was gallant display OF
boro;s nj from on board the Russia, one OF tbe
Cunaru line of steamers. when IN u,u' A''"'
tic on her way from New YORK 10 L'seipoo,'
in April, 1878. While the ship was go,uS a.
full speed through heavy sea, aSa'us. 'ai, -
yale of wind, a sailor tel oVefo'ao' L,
Webb, then serving as able sPalhan' J"in'r,eo
| after him immediately, but the sai,ot uau u's'
| appeared never TO rise agifD, abu LUZ ora'e
| man who had plunged IN was soon ieit ,ai
behind, out OF sight, oune'lnS WIN
was uncertain, until the ship puf about, ana
a boat. which had been promptly lowered,
succeeded in picking him up. For this cour-
ayeoIls action Mr.. Webb was rewarded by a
sub, cripiion of El00 raised by The pas-en-
oer.. the silver medals of the Liverpool and
ROYAL Humane societies, aud the StaDhope
gold medal, given 10y the latter Society Tor
me be.t "c.>e" OF the year. This medal was
presented O him by the Duke Of Edinburgh
| a. chairman O: the one. huDdred-n annlVer'
.ary dinner Of the Society at the Free
Mason>' Tavern in May, 1873. The present
f.,t WAS und. rtaken tor small wager
Of G2U to El0. accepted by the ad-
yepturous yoyager. 6r. BeckwIth, teacher
| o. swimming, and a small party OF
friends, went dow per steamer Falcon
to BI,ckwall. and followed Captain Weoo
on his course. He plunged into the MD
| cYannel OF the Thames III do o'ciotk. on
the first OF 4 slow eDp on calm and rather
dull afternoon. Feeling conf lent that be
! could sustain nim.ell az uuSt the coldne>s
| Of the water, and knowing also that SWIM.
Mug was TO him as walking to an ordinary
man. MIR. Webb took MS work gently.
Striking well out with his hands. AND
| resting on his chest. he drove h'm.e!f
steadily along with smart strokes by the
.eet. At fist it. would seem that the
power of 20 small an ohjpc' as one man in
a vast expanse of water would be altogether
mad uuate to cover twenty miles but when
10 little more tnan an hour and BALI nearly
ope.nalf the distance had been accom- 'll>hed,
and Captain WebD was still vigorous MS ever,
the chances became decidedly in his favor.
On renewing at this sage three successive
sips of brardv and waller, be declared him.
SET TO be stIIi quite fresh, and to all appear
auces showed no Signs OF falling OIL. \
thunderstorm of heavy rain passed
over without interfering with the
s'eady PROGRESS Of the swimmer.
who, lying curtly on the chest, took
40 occasional change to the side Tor bliei
period. Inc expedition was not generally
known, but at varioss stages OF The course.
and especially in passing the training ShipS,
| ne gallant swimmer was warmly cherrfh.
| At R,>hervIIe and GrayeSeGd quite II :
tllla uf bcaS gathered around the still active
| aud vigorous form OF the swimmer, ami at
1:iS of Graveseud town pier Captain Webb
was taken on board bis Attendant boat amid
general pIaudlts. the twenty miles was
done in fur hours and tity.turee minutes, on
tide running about four miles an hour.
Captain WebD was pale and seemed some
w4at chilled by his long immersion, but, H.
cording 10 his own out>pokca and manly
words, was all right Tue feat is uI-
dOlUrtdlv ore of the most extraordinary OF
the kind ever accomplished. IL Is said that
swim across the Cnannel will be next at
'emp,ed. Captain Webb is Il native Of
Shropshire, aud the son OF Il surgeon in that
COUNTY,