Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-09-21

| TNELNE HOURS.
The following account of Mr. Cavill's pas
sage across the channel is given by one of th'
marty who accompanied him "Cavill wa
first rubbed over with pOrpoiSe oil, ovei
which was placed a silk Jacket and an India
rubber Jacket over all. He walked into the
sea half a mile on the Calais side OF Cape
Grisnez, at halfpast three on Monday after
noon and started with powerful side stroke
accompanied by two boats, in one of which
were two Of the French fishermen, DR.. Cun-
ningham and Mr. Stuart Earnshaw, and in
the other NJ. Robbie, keeper of the light
house, and a party of visitors from Hintcents.
Cavill went out direct for the Folkstone,
with the ebh tide about five hours to run,
and reckoned that he would he drifted in this
time out as far as the ridge, and then that
the food time, of which he would have the
whole, would take him on the coast about
the South FOreland. His calculation was
correct, except that either the tide was much
stronger than he had expected, or else the
wind which was in favor at the end, must
have favored him very much. 10 the first
hour three and half miles were accomplish
ed, and then Cayill put on a splendid squirt
of hand-oyer hand swimming. At half-past
five the lugger, which had had to make a
hong detour on account of 4 sandbank, over
took the swimmer, and coffee was given to
him. The water was then G5 degrees, and
I was arranged that, the temperature of the
atmosphere being very low, it would be well
| TO give the swimmer stimulants almost every
half hour. At a quarter past six We gave
him beef tea The sea was then washing
over him at every stroke, and he was only
swimming chest stroke. lie said If the
sea goes on like this, haven't the slightest
chance of doing it At seven O'Clock he
took cocoa the sea was then calm. At a
quarter past eight he had cocoa, milk and
egg mixed together The tide had changed.
and shortly afterwards the master of the lug
ger, Jacques Magnet, said We were half
way. Cayill said he was sure to DO it, and
We all cheered. Just then a storm broke,
thunder and lightning and heavy rain. 1t
nine clock he took cocoa, milk and egg,
which was the staple stimulant administered
all the way. The storm was now clearing
away. lie complained OF cold, and at five
minutes past ten had the same stimulant as
before. He said he was going on all right.
We next saw Dover town lights, and cheer
ed. The temperature of the water was SO
utSittN- ~ mai past ttil tut "lilu iTeSutn-
ed, and there was a slight swell, the sky
olerably clear, the moon shining, and the
stars ont. At forty-fve minutes past ten We
gave him beef tea. He seemed very exhaust
ed. About eight miles from Dover, going
to the northwest. with the tide almost es
fast as the boat could row, we in the lugger
tacking round the boat, keeping as near as
possible, in case'of need. At half past eleven
We passed the Calais steamers ; We burned
torch, as they appeared to he coming across
rs, and also to show them the swimmer. At
twelve large ship passed on our windward
side. At fifteen minutes past twelve the
Doctor said Cayill was us had as be could be,
and asked for brandy to give to the swimmer
and for supply in case Of need. The sea
was calm now, and Cavill was swimming a
side stroke. AT a quarter to one he had
brandy and curacao, mixed with hot water.
Cayill was then very weak. The South
Foreland lights appeared quite close. At
quarter past one We gave him cocoa and
mix, with little curacao. The wind was
going down. but the sea was rough. At this
moment the doctor came on board in a state
of nervous prostration, and went below al
most insensible. At TWENTY-FIVE minutes to
three We gave the swimmer his last stimu
lant-milk and curacao hot. We were now
fast approaching the land, and got out the
torch and flared it about in the hope Of get
ting signal from the shore. Soon the fish.
ermen became anxious and began to take
soundings. went below to arouse the doc
tor, to be ready for an emergency. and soon
eight feet OF water was announced, and the
order was given to cast anchor. A sigma
q L. a.
ger, and on her coming up, the men all de-
elared the coast 10 be full Of rocks. The
sea was now breaking over, and all the crew
were called on board to take in the sails.
Cayill, in the meantime, was supporting him
self in the water, with one hand on the
small boat. The fishermen positively refused
TO go any nearer, and asked what reason
seeing We were quite close to the shore
there was to expose the lives Of others. They
said no boat could live in such sea. We
then all held a consultation, as Ca,ill would
not come ont Of the water At first it was
decided We should take the boat ourselves,
but this the sailors refused to allow, and we
then all agreed that, considering the tide
was running strong on TO the shore, the pos
sibility of reaching it was not to be doubted;
but, not knowing the coast, the chances of
reaching the vessel again were very precari-
Gus. and We could not allow Cavill, in the
exhausted state he then was. TO go on shore
unaccompanied. Alta quarter to four we
took him ont of the water and young Earn
shaw was so exhausted by the waves having
broken over him as he sat in the stern of the
dingy during the quarter Of an hour when
We were deliberating what We shoul do, that
when he reached the deck, he fell down
thoroughly exhausted. Caylll was laid down
on the deck, carefully covered up, hot bricks
put around him and stimulants applied.
Strange TO say, he did not feel so exhausted
he had expected. The tide and wind had
served him admirably this and the fast way
of swimming allowed him to accomplish the
undertaking in little over twelve hours.
We waited at our anchorage till daylight,
and then discovered We were some fifty yards
from where we took him into the boat. -
London Times