The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-18
ExCITEM EYT ON THE THAMES.


nom ne London Ieh0fdpn
The steamer Volunteer, belonging to the
L1nd IN Steamboat COMPANY, left Westminster
Pier for Chelsea Yesterday AFTERNOON win MISS
lierkwith and COMPANY OF ZVo linlcs anu gen,
tlemen un board Wnen tho sielincr reached
Chelsea Old Bridge thousands OF persons had
gathered on the enDaukment To see the start OF
IN mesoJrom the Old bridge a. Chelsea to
Greenwich Per. without any undue delay tho
m de her appearance. attircd in professional
swimming costume. on deck. 4, company on
the Gamer checred again and again. so did
many hundred spectators on the bridge, and
the many thousands on the enhancement. The
demOnstratipD was renewed when she Jumped
INTO a wa crman's boat, which pushed out into
mip-strc IN. Standing on the stem she waved
her hand to the spectators and then PLUNGED
into tue iiver: The ex ict time wa. nine minutes
made the water rather lumpy, tut tue force Of
the ebb tide was all In her favor
with "A gentle breast str IKE. the young swim.
mer, with every encouragement nom the curious
pubic, proceeded on her arduous feat. "A pilot,
~ small BOAT In which were her father and
DIoth.r, the latter ready to juno to the aid OF
his sister In the event Of any emergency, led the
wgv. She swan close to Its stern, anu kept that
position more or less during the whole of her
placed "A straw hat on her heid, but 80 soon as
the sun became obscured 10y clouds, she threw II
to her father, and never had occasion to use II
again. A crowd. composed OF many hundreds,
had followed her from Chelsea along he EN-.
bankment, and at Bttersea Suspension Bridge
II became greatly augmented by larger crowds,
though the elimination In .hf number OF spec
thtors was reached AT We. tWinstcr Bri0Re.
Vsuxhall Bride, was reached In thirty
four minutes. when she had passed under
II she several times passed her body through
a hoop-a feat which eliri ed special
cheer. At Westminster the sight OF an immense
pOpulace on the bridge W OF itself remBrkaOle.
But In addition the Albert Etnb INK ment SCENE u
to be equally cIOwdeu. and on ptssirg under
the bridge, the Victoria Embalkment. rs far as
the eye could reach, was densely ihrODged. Miss
BeCkwith must, however, have been scarcely Wis
iblc, owing to a small shoal OF W itermens boats,
which crushed into one another with delightful
Indifference In the frantic efforts OF their occu-
minutes she had reaohed Blackfrars Bridge,
and from this point to the end OF the course
spectators appeared on masts, crowded wharf
windows, and occupied every available position.
SO far the young swimmer had displayed not
the least fatigue. On the contrary, the natural
exuoerance OF her spirits aud confidence Of
change In the healthy rose hue OF her
countenauce. She proceeded with the ease Of a
skilled swimmer, while the distlnce hid not I'm
paired the remarkable grace OF her style. Lon
don Bridge, crowded, OF course, was passed In
an hour anu y inutes.
The boats after this became more unruly than
ever. and on several occasions Miss Beck~ith
was nearly struck on the head by their bows.
The occupants OF two OF them beg IN To quar-
rel. and fought with their oars to the terror Of
two women in one OF the boats, whose screams
could he heard on shore. One OF the com batants
had hts oar smashed, and II his craft had not
had substantial breath OF beam, the swim I'm n9
feat might nave been accompanied with a fatal
disaster. London Bridge passed, ths absence Of
great crowds Of people roobed the occasion Of a
good deal Of Its Interest.
Opposite Greenwich Pier, Miss Beckwith, at
Ave minutes to six, was taken on board the Vol
unteeT, having swan the ten miles In two hours
and forty-six minutes. Daring the time she was
In tue water sue declined ali offers OF refresh
ment, and when she appeared ON board the
spriehtly as wnen nrst she came out OF her cabin
AT Chelsea.