The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-03-01
on THE WATER.
HOURS-CA BOYTON
SUCCEEDS.

At $50 p. m. Wednesday evening,
Capt. Paul Boyton, accompanied by
the river editor of the Democrat, en-
barked from the head of Lafayette
street on the steamer Bismarck, and
landed at the town of Bayou Goula
at sunrise Thursday morning.
CAPTAIN BoYToN
is a young man twenty-seven years
of age, and was partially raised in
this city, but has spent the greater
part of his life on the Jersey coast,
in the service of the Atlantic Life
Saving Association, and during that
time he, without aid of boat or armor,
saved seyenty-one lives. The num-
Der that he has saved with the aid of
both the above mentioned appliances
we will not state, for fear that our
readers might think that we were
rather stretching the thing.
THE START.
At precisely 5 o'clock the life-boat
(which was taken up by the Bismarck
and placed by Capt. Boyton in charge
OF this reporter) was launched, and
at precisely 100 miles frem New Or
leans the Captain took water, land a
little whisky too) and plunged into
the river, which seethed and foamed
around him as though angry that
mortal man would dare, unaided and
alone, to attempt to buffet it's current
and cesspools.
| THE ARMoR
worn by Capt. Boyton is composed of
a tunic with sleeves and gloves COM
plete and pair of pantaloons, with
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 at the waist with
a steel band covered by the tunic,
thus making it matter Of impossi-
bility for water to get in.
There are five air chambers in the
suit, two in the pants and three in
the tunic, which hold a sufficient
quantity to give bouyancy to the
wearer.
When in the water Capt. Boyton
carries double bladed paddle eight
feet two inches in length, also a
mast six feet in length with a boom
three feet long and a gait eighteen
inches in length, which carries TWEEN
ty-two square feet Of canvas. This
he uses whenever he meets with a
favorable wind, the mast being kept
in position by being placed in "a
socket attached to a copper shoe,
which is worn on the Captains right
foot.
UNDER WAY.
At S:l5 p. N. Thursday night,
Capt. Boyton arrived opposite Don
aldsonvilIe, and we then put on board
the St. John report, hoping to have
it in our evening edition of yesterday
but the Captain proved too fast for
the steamer, as our reporter got to
town just one hour ahead of her.
From Donaldsonville down, to
within fifty miles of the city, nothing
of interest transpired. Just before
reaching the Bonnet Care Creyasse
we were overtaken by a 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 extri-
cate ourselves for over two hours.
Just below Bonnet Care, Captain
Boyton played one of his practical
Jokes. Swimming rapidly for drift
log, and asking US to keep in>his rear
he gave evidence of being in distress,
and clutched furiously at every par
ticle of drift that floated by him
Whilst enjoying himselfin this man.
ner, two negroes, who were gathering
| drift wood on the right bank, started
out to his rescue, and, on coming
near him, he inflated his costume te
its fullest extent, and, raising almost
bodily from the water, he almost
frightened the wits out of his would
be preservers, who fed to the shore
crying out the "deb'l was swimmin
down de riber."
At p. M, the Captain feeling {
} little dry-no joke-requested us te
run ahead of him to Carroltou anC
procure a few drops Of the extract Of
corn. We did so, and after a shor
conversation with Capt. Bob Strong
Dan Owen and about a hundred 9th