The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-01-13
Boyton's Trip Down the River Rhine,

OArr. FAUL bOYTON, OF swimming
notoriety, has recently returned to New
York, and The Herald gives the following
account of his experiences in the river
Rhine.
After giving several exhibitions near
Berlin the swimmer vent TO Stettin, where
he gave an exhibition for the benefit
OF the Shipwrecked Mariners Society.
Then he went next to Basic, in Switzcr-
land, with the intention of taking a long
run on the Rhine. At this point it was
expected a boat could be procured for &C
companying friends, but the current there
was found SO rapid that it would be un-
safe TO venture in a boat. So the guests
went to Strasbourg by rail. The Captain,
however, started from Baslea at five O'Clock
one October morning, though the river
was rushing on at a tremendous rate. AT
the time there was a freshet running and
the Captain thinks that for a time he must
have gone at the rate of twelve knots an
hour. About nine a. M. a peculiar thick
fog came on and the swimmer had to keep
on at full speed, utterly unable TO see
where he was going. Coming suddenly
near a high bank where some men were
working, he rose up and sounded on a
horn he carried. This was intended for
q friendly salute, but the workmen were
terrified, and dropping their implements
they rushed up the bank to get away from
the strange looking monster in the water.
At loon the swimmer found himself
whirling round and round about in a
regular whirlpool. BY working steadily
into the outer circles he contrived, after
half a dozen revolutions, to work into
smooth water and so moved on. As
s~istance was coming in the form OF a boat
sent out by some Prussian officers who
were experimenting the construction of a
pontoon bridge near by, and so the Cap
tain effected his escape. One of the chief
difficulties Of this novel trip on the Rhine
was the shooting of these pontoon bridges,
which are made up of boats standing
about five feet apart. To avoid collision
with these required no little skill, as the
current occasionally carried on the swim
mel at a furious rate of speed. Whenever
Capt. Boyton in the first part of his
travels spied a man in a boat and ap-
preached him with the view of question
ing him as 10 his distance from one place
or another the occupant of the boat in
variably fed incon1inently, as if his
questioner were a sprite from the
neighborhood OF the Black Forest,
or even the old gentleman il person,
out Tor exercise. All the first day until
about eight P. m. Capt. Boyton kept on
the river, making S%trasbourg at that
time, after a fifteen hours immersion.
Here a slight accident occurred. Near
the railroad bridge, which spans the
Rhine at Strasbourg, is a pontoon bridge,
which the swimmer on account of the
darkness did no notice until contact with
one of the boats sent him under water. A
the time he struck the Captain was in the
act Of blowing his horn 10 announce his
arrival; but his notes were cut short by
the collision, which resulted in driving
HIM completely under the boat. He soon
came 10 the surface, however, compare
lively unhurt, and sounded the horn
again. 1t was quite dark at the time, but
when the Captain reached the shore a
large number had gathered in expectation
of his arrival. He was admirably re.
ceiycd at S~trasbourg, being Toasted and
dined freely. Here a flatboat was pur-
chased and the guests embarked to &C
company the swimmer. On a Friday af-
%ternoon, at three o'clock, Capt. Boyton
entered the water again and remained un-
til half-past three O'Clock a. m the follow
ing Sunday, making a run of 161 miles to
Mayence. This was a more f~atiguing ex.
perience, the Captain says, than the cross
ing of the channel. At Mannheim and
Worms the swimmer was received with
distinction. Cannon were fired as he
passed, and the Mayor of Worms came
down to the river side to greet him and
open a bottle Of Licbfraumilch; American
flags were hoisted upon many public and
private buildings and waved from boats
along the river. A great many kilograms
Of congratulation were received also. Sc
ran the story to the finish at Cologne. A
tiattering reception was everywhere &C
corded.
Since this Rhine trip Capt. Boyton has
been visiting at different points in Bel
GUM, Holland and Germany, showing
the dress, etc, in which his exhibitions
are given. The last exhibition he gave
was at Amsterdam. On this occasion two
men were employed to break the ice. This
was about Dec. 2, and the swimmer re-
manned two hours in the freezing water.
After this time he concluded to run home
and take a few months rest prior to his re-
turn in Februar y.
After hearing part of the Captains story
of his adventures the writer inquired what
was his opinion of his tire atment abroad.
He replied:
well, ! have been treated with great
kindness everywhere, but the press and
the peopleof England especially gave me
a very hearty reception. In the water l
was in the habit Of exhibiting at times the
flags of all nations; but when / ran up
the American flag almost everywhere it
was received with ringing cheers. From
Turkey think | shall go through the
Suez Canal TO Bombay, thence to Austria.
liza, from there to Siam, China and Japan,
and return home by way of San Fran
cisco"