The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-08-18
ExCETENIEN.r ON THE
THAMES.
Remarkable Aquatic Per-
fOrnRAnceS of a HSlG1clky
English Girl.


Remarkable Aquatic Per-
fOrnannces of n EDlucky
English Girl.
From the London Telegraph.
The steamer volunteer, belonging
to the London Steamboat Company,
left Westminster Pier for Chelsea
yesterday afternoon, with Miss
Beckwith and a company of 200 Ia
dies and gentlemen on board.
When the steamer reached Chelsea
Old Bridge thousands of persons
had gathered on The embarkment to
see the start of Miss Beckwith on
ten-miIe swim In the Thames
from the Old Bridge at Chelsea to
Greenwich Pier. Without any un-
due delay the young girl (for she is
not yet fifteen years of age) made
aer appearance, attired in profess
sional swimming costume, on deck.
The company on the steamer cheer
ed again and aagin; so did the
many hundred spectators on the
bridge and the many thousands on
the embarkment. The demonstra-
ton was renewed when she jump
ed into a waterman's boat, which
pushed out into mid stream. Stand
ing on stern, she waved her hand to
the spectators and then plunged in
to the river. The exact time was
3 90. There was q fair breeze,
which made the water rather lumpy,
but the force of the ebb tide was all
in her favor.
With gentle breast stroke the
young swimmer, with every en-
couragment from the curious pub
lie, proceeded ON her arduous feat
A pilot, in small boat, in which
were her father and brother, the
latter ready to jump to the aid of
sister in the event of any emer-
gency, led the way. She swan close
60 its stern, and kept that position
more or less during the whole of
her task. About ten minutes after
starting she placed q STRAW hat on
her head, but SO soon as the sun
became obscured by clouds she
threw it to her father, and never
had occasion to use it again. A
crowd, composed of many hun
dreds, had followed her from Chel-
sea along the embankment, and at
Battersea Suspension Bridge it be-
came greatly augmented by larger
crowds, though the elimination in
the number of spectators was reach
ed at Westminster Bridge. Vaux-
hall Bridge was reached in thirty
four minutes. When she had pass
ed under it she several times pass
ed her body through hoop, a feat
which elected special cheer. at
Westminster the sightOfan immense
populace on the bridge was of itself
remarkable. But in addition the
Albert embarkment seemed to be
equally crowded, and, on passing
under the bridge, the Victoria En-
barkment, as far as the eye could
reach, was densely throngeI. Miss
Beckwith must, however, have been
scarcely visible, owing to a small
shoal of watermen's boats, which
crushed into one another with de-
lightful Indifference in the frantic
efforts of their occupants to get a
glimpse of the swimmer. In sew
enty minutes she had reached Black
friars Bridge, and from this point
co the end of the course spectators
appeared on masts, crowded wharf
Windows, and occupied every avail
able position.
So far the young swimmer had
displayed not the least fatigue. On
the contrary, the natural eXuber-
ance of her spirits aud confidence
of manner had not in the least
abated, while there were no change
in the healthy rose hue of her coun-
tenance. She proceeded with the
ease of skilled swimmer, while
| the distance had not impaired the
remarkable grace of her style. Lon
don Bridge, crowded, or course,
was passed in an hour and twenty
two minutes.
The boats after this became more
| unruly than ever, and on several
| occasions Miss Beckwith was near
ly struck on the head by their bows.
The occupants of two of them be-
gan 10 quarrel, and fought with
their oar; to the terror of two wo-
men in one of the boats. whose
screams could be heard on shore.
smashed, and if his craft had not
had substantial breadth of beam the
swimming feat might have been &C.
| companied with q fatal disaster.
London Bridge passed, the absence
of great crowds of people robbed
the occasion ola good deal of its in
terest.
Opposite Greenwich Pier, Miss
Beck with, at five minutes to six,
was taken on board the Volunteer,
having swan the ten miles in two
hours Snd forty-six minutes. Dur
ing the time she was in the water
she declined all efforts of refresh
ments, and when she appeared on
board the steamboat she was ap-
parently as fresh and sprightly as
when first she came out of cabin at
| Chelsea.