The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-26
ON THE WATER.
One Hundred Miles In Twenty.four
Hours Capt. BoytOn Succeeds.

Capt. Paul Boyton, accompanied by tho
river editor Of the DEMOCRAT, embarked
from the head Of Lafayette street on tho
steamer Bismarck, and landed Mt tho
town Of Bayou Goula at sunrise Thurs
day morning.
CAPTAIN BoyToN
is u young man twenty seven years OF
age, and Was partially raised In this
city, but has spent the greater part of
his life on tho Jersey coast in the ser
vice Of the Atlantic Life Saving Associa-
tion, and during the time he, without
aid Of boat or armor, saved seventy-one
lives. The number that he has saved
with the aid Of both the above men
toned appliances we will not state. for
fear that our readers might think that
we were rather stretching the thing.
THE START.
At precisely o'clock the life boat
(Which was taken up by the Bismarck
and placed by Capt. Boyton in charge Of
this rcporteD was launched, and Mt pre-
cisoly 100 miles from New Orleans the
Captain took water, land little whisky
too and plunged into the broad swollen
river, which seethed and foamed around
him as though angry that mortal man
would dare, unaidod and alone, to at
tempt to buffet It's current and cess.
pools.
THE ARMoR
worn by Capt. Boyton Is composed Of
u tunic with sleeves and gloves com
l.i ~ t.,t, A
boots attached, thus making his body
waterproof from his head down to
the tunic, scowl which completely
covers the head, leaving only the eyes.
mouth and nose OF the wearer exposed.
The armor Is made OF the best quality
OF vulcanized rubber. The pantaloons
lap NJ the waist with % steel band coy
cred by the tunic, thus making II INIT
ter OF impossibility for water to get In.
There are five air chambers In tho suit.
two in the pants and three In the tupic.
which hold sufficient quantity to give
bouyancy to the wcaIer.
When In tho water Capt. Boyton cur
ries u double bladed paddle eight feet
two inches In length, also mast six
feet In length with boom three feet
long and q gait eighteen inches In length,
which carries twenty-five square feet of
canvas. This he uses whenever he meets
with u favorable wind. tho mast being
kept In position by being placed in u
socket attached to q copper shoe, which
Ia worn on the Captains right foot.
UNDER WAY.
At AS p. IN. Thursday night, Capt.
Boyton arrived opposite DoDalisonville,
and VIC then put on board the St. John
u report, hoping to have it In our even
ing edition OF yesterday, but the cap
tain proved too fast for tho steamer, ~
our reporter got to town just one hour
ahead Of her.
From Donaldsonville down, to within
nifty miles Of the city, nothing OF inter
est transpired. Just before reaching
the Bonnet Carre Crcvasse we were over
taken by slight fog, which caused this
reporter to steer his boat into an eddy,
from which neither the captain nor his
second in command chats us) could cx-
tricate ourselves for over two hours.
-.
played one of his practical jokes. Swim
ming rapidly for u drift log, and asking
US to kecpin his rear, he gave evidence
of being In distress, and clutched fufi-
ously ut every particle Of drift that
noatcd by him. Whilst enjoying him
self In this manner, two negroes, who
were gathering drift wood on the right
bank, started out TO his rescue, md, on
coming near him, he inflated his cos
tune to It's fullest extent, and raising
almost bodily from the water, he al-
most frightened the wits out Of his
preservers, who fled to the
shore, crying out that the "debl was
swimmin' down dc riber."
At3p. m. the Captain, feeling a little
dry-no joke requested us torun ahead
Of him to Carrollton and procure few
drops OF the extract OF corn. We did
30, and after short conversation with
Capt Bob Strong, Dan Ow en- and about
u hundred others joined us in accompa-
nying the great swimmer TO the city,
We left Carrollton ut 3 80 p. ra., ar
rived opposite the elevator at 4 rs, and at
5 10 p. m. just twenty four hours out
Capt. Boyton stepped On the wharf NJ
the Harbor Police Station as fresh az %
new blown rose, and this reporter was
helped ashore by Capt. Bob Strong, and
we can't say how long 1t will take us to
recover from it. .I..I
On reaching the head Of Canal street.
the Captain was greeted by salute
from the Natchez and cheers from over
5000 persons who had assembled To wit
ness his arrival.
To-day Capt. Boyton will give an ex-
hibition on Lake Pontchartrain at p.
m. On Sunday he will give two exhibi-
tions, one at p. M, and the other at
p. n., also one on Monday at 3p. IN.
Fifty miles above town the captain
made squirt, and in AZ minutes made
the distance Of five miles; making G2
strokes TO the minute with his paddle.
For the benefit Of the incredulous VIC
will state that not for q single second on
the trip did Capt. Boyton leave the
water, and what food and drink he par
took Of, was handed to him over the side
OF the boat by the writer.