The New York herald., 1877-09-24
A SWIMMING FIASCO.

FRANK PRINTS TWENTY MILES IwISDLEs TO A
SORRY ExHIBITIoN-FRoM BEDLoEs ISLAND
TO ROBBINS REEF RATHER THAN FROM THE
BATTERY TO SANDY HOOK
It having been announced that Frank Printz. OF
ST. Louis Mo-, would display hts aquatic skill yester-
day afternoon IN swimming from the Battery 10
sandy Hook; a large OF tho residents or
the lower end OF the city gathered on the DOCKS
in the neighborbood OF the starting point 10
witness the commencement of the long journey.
The steamboat Neversink chartered to accompany
the swimmer, and the crowd manifested deter
minaon remain ashore rather than pay the amount
demanded for the excursion, bit OF diplomacy was
resorled TO- printz WIS prepared for ms SWIM. and
with body thoroughly smeared with lard he stood nj
the bow of the sisnpost for nearly halt an
fine muscular appearance created some enthu-
siasm, and oy two O'Clock there were 800 on
the boat Prrntz at this juncture complained
that the boat was waiting LOO long He wanted 10
make OF the ebb tide, and as It was then on
liz last there timo to lose. rms COM
plant hurried the managers O. the anair, ana the
Nsversink steaning 10 point abreast the lower emo
Of Bedoe 8 island she was slowed and Printz sprahg
overheard Long before this point in the excursion
had been reached II began TO be Sa. wnis.
pered board tho Neversink that the SANDY
end that Conoy Island would be substituted for the
Hook as the swimmer had no chance OF doing
the latter distance under the existing circumstances
than he had OF flying. Printz remained in the wafer
just sixty-one minutes, aud instead oi accomplishing
twenty miles, o twelve miles, covered scant two
and tnreeq quar,ers 1t would have been miracle had
he made Coney Island, for the wind was southwest
and against hm and heearrieda lavorng tide only al
hour He gave up the Journey nsAnter when the hood
struck HIM. A supplementary attempt TO please the
where one mile from shore printz jumped overheard
swan the Ueacn, but did not return. He sent for
his clothes and became the lion OF the hour. II being
gwen out at hotels that he had tho distance
THE fIAsco
IL was inst thirteen minutes alter two O'Clock when
Prinlz overheard and began cutting through
the water q dne pace doing thirty strokes 30 the
minute He changed from the English side stroke,
right and left, TO the breast stroke eight times IN the
first five minutes. AZ 2h. 30m. Bedloe's Island was
iairy placed astern, and me scene on the
boats, laden with demonstrative downtown lads,
and tidy steam launches crowded about the
swmmer out IN open worS sne snorl onoppns
seriously trouble Gim Prlntz was strong. AZ
apparent from his WORK, but he wanted TO get ns
head away from the sea, and al times, when broke
over him completely. his lace wore an express
sion OF disgust When gone half an hour
his strokes per minute, but rather increase, as
u few cheers drew from him response OF thrty-two
Forty minutes away found him somewhat red IN the
face constant changes from the side to the breast
certain that If the swimmer made Staten Island he
would be lucky his progress through the water was
very slow, though ho seemed yet strong.
PRINrz GIVES UP.
AT 3h U6m just nity three minutes away, he pulled
up under the stern oil whitehall boat, from which b.
S. La Roza ot Brooklyn had been watching him, and
threading water" took long sip OF port without
touching craft. This feat greatly appluuded.
Then, with q long, graceful swing, he again made
play, but eight minutes more the Hood tide struck
him, aud he quit. Robbins Rect Light was abeam,
thiee-quArters OF mile away, ut this time Jumping
into the Whitehall boat, PrntZ was taken board
the Neversink and quickly rubUcd down. and dressed
Though he assured all that he 'ielt first rate he
cold and evidently considerably exhausted He com
planned of the the food tide aud furthermore
said that he lacked "all enthusiasm in the journey
tho absence OF competitor" He was IN the water 81
minutes and the distance made was loss than two
and threc.quarter miles
A NOISY CROWD
The captain OF the Neversnk and many interested
individuals went crying about the boat that he had
gone five and oncthrd milea This TO satisfy tho
rapidly rising wrath OF the junior members of the
crowd who were howng about "a fraud" and shout
ing .'Ihs Is q skin" For while the statement was
believed; but when some Que told them that the DIS
,ancs gwen %as an error then there was more
imminent, particularly 80 where one youth who had
taken more beer than was good tor him, hit pedler
OF the amber liquor in the face Quieude was resi- ored
by the Nevsrsink steamiDg to Coney Island When
about q mile of shOro and tho hotels IN full Wow,
Prntz again prepared TO 60 into the water and
did taking advantage OF the flood tide he landed
the beach in thrtytnree minutes.
ruE SWIMMER.
Prntz Is magnificent specimen OF physical man.
hood. He stands feet inches in his stockings and
weighs 2l0 pounds, though there Is nothing like
superhuous flesh about him. He Is AZ inches around
his chest aud 10 inches about his upper arms HIS
breast and should muscles hard gun barrel,
aud there seems TO be no reason why ne should not
SWIM all day under favorable circumstances His
style is graceful and he 10 undeniaby good man
IN the water. He boasts OF having made tour and
halt miles hour, but when It 10
considered that swimming four miles within that time
corresponds to running mile In about two minutes,
1t Is unnecessary to say that were pity thai the
performance was not properly verified. Printz 10
thirty years old.
1t had been announced that this swim was to be for
championship p gold medal and that George Wade, of
South brooklyn, would compete Why he lailea to do
50 did not iranspirc.