New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-12

within four minutes of one O'Clock on
Tuesday, he Owed from the head of the
Admiralty pier at Dover, in the full
glare of the midday sun; which for the
moment ehono0ut, and amidst the plaudits
of q crowd which had assembled at the
pier head. The tide was then at the flood,
SO that for the first hour or so he went
straight ahead in the direction of Calais,
swimming about twenty-five strokes to the
minute. The sea at this time was calm and
the atmosphere perfectly clear, though the
sun was obscured and the sky overcast.
This was great advantage to the swimmer.
for on his last aud unsuccessful attempt he
found one of his greatest enemies to be the
glare of the sun in his eyes. He had pro.
vided a vail of gauze on this occasion to
protect him in case of difficulty OF this kind.
but he did not have occasion to use it
throughout the whole OF the voyage. AT
forty minutes past two he partOok of
some beer, which was handed him by
young Baker, who reported him to be re-
freshed by it and to be quite warm. By
three o'clock in the evening he had made
great distance down the channel. The
tide was then just on the dead of the slack,
and it was evident he was leaving the land
fast behind him. The return tide began to
make about four o'clock, and as the swim
mer began to drift in contrary direction
up channel his guide congratulated himself
at the good ofiing Webb had made, and at
the certainty thereby secured of his not
being caught by the suck of the return
current to the Forelands and thus taken
back again. At five o'clock he was over
FIVE miles from land, and objects on shore
began to disappear in the haze of the dis
lance. The sea was still smooth and no
wind was perceptible. Webb took some
beef tea and was still warm in good spirits,
and thoroughly confident of success. By
$50 Dover was lost in the distance. The
party were passed by French steamer,
whose crew did not appear to comprehend
what was going on
About half past six he was joined by one
of the party, who accompanied him for
half mile or so, and who reported the water
to be very much colder than he had antici
pated, though very buoyant. About two
hours after he had some hot, strong coffee,
and at about nine o'clock he called out that
he had been srung by jelly fish Some
brandy was at once taken him, and he
shortly afterward proceeded. saying he was
all right. At eleven o'clock at night a cal
culation was made of his position, when it
was estimated that he was twelve and
half miles from the South Foreland light
house, eight from Cape Grsney, and nine
from Calais. Shortly after two o'clock in
the morning Webb showed some signs of
lohuk RowCAs oue 20 uoy h6hu Su"o oh no
seemed to revive somewhat. having taken
some cod liver oil. He was pushing well
along, and had fair prospect of landing at
Cape Grisney before the tide turned. He.
however, failed to do this, and at six o'clock
in the morning was drifting eastward in
the direction of Calais. At halt-past
six slight breeze sprang up, which
by seven increased to a squat,
causing quite a swell upon the water,
Just at this time there was very strong
appearance of the attempt proving failure.
The breeze aud the adverse tide seemed TO
almost kill the brave mans hopes 1t was
clear, moreover. that the eighteen hours he
had already been immersed was beginning
to tell upon him. A'bost put off from Ca
lais at this time full of men, who heartily
cheered the swimmer, and urged on by
their cheers and the encOursgements of his
friends on board the lugger, he resolved 70
and not to give in until his strengt'
failed him. An ingenious device was hit
upon by the small boat which had come out
from Calais. They went to the windward
Of the swimmer and kept their boat in that
position thus forming a kind of break
water tor him and keeping the water
little calmer. When about mile from
shore Webb showed every sign of
extreme exhaustion, but still managed
to keep on his way. The young man
Baker CALAMITY at the moment when
things were coming to a crisis Owed from
the umpire's boat, and amid ringing cheers
his companion. In sp g of
great effort, each movement slowly ebbipg
out his fast waning strength, Webb man
aged 10 hold his way and still to make pro-
gress, till at length, at forty-one minutes
past ten o'clock, ne touched the sands of
the French coast, rushed out OF the water
and fell headlong, utterly Frustrated and
exhausted, upon the beach, having been in
the water twenty-one hours and 1orty-fve
minutes. 1t is needless to say that assist
ance was Immediately at hand, that he was
wrapped up and taken at once to his hotel
and put to bed. He was for short time
little delirious, but very soon fell off into
sound sleep from which he did not wake
for many hours. When he did, he ap.
peared little the worse for his great exer-
ton. He got up, ate hearty meal, and
will return to Dover this afternoon-ls in.
deed probably on his way at the time am
writing