The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-28
IN A RUBBER SUIT.
ii N .8k- "a. .A-N F~ ~ .4t
Captain Boyton's Experiences on the
Voyage to Lisbon.
THE SHAFTS or GIBRALTAR CROSSED
The Moorish Soldiers frightened by a
Strange Appanton.

Strange Appantion.
"At Caceres was rendered banquet. which was at
tended by the Governor and his star. The whole
train had come across the mountains, and tho Gov
ernor had brought with him his engineer. who de-
scribed the river best no could He said there
place most terrible where would arrive that
evening. BY this time my hands getting very
bad. The joints swollen and the nails black.
and sometimes had great difficulty in opening my
hand. .t
1T may strange" explained the Captain here.
why should run along three days and three nights
without getting out. but had good reason for re-
manning in, for il You got ont in that country you
are exposed to the danger of being attacked by
wolves But there is stil greater danger in lying
the rocks and falling asleep, from the chill which
would after the exertion of the day You must
keep working until you get warmth and comfort
The only sleep took when stretched on
the water, but then nervous and received but
little benefit from my slumbers.
From Cavaras the river runs dashing and foaming
down for perhaps league. and then drops into a
kind of lake, smooth and slow. For three leagues
SO it has hardly current Then there is another
narrow and swift place. The Governor spoke French
and was splendid man. He bade ME goodby from
the mountain side For miles down the people
followed me along the banks, cheering and encourag
ing 1t was picturesque sight to see them with
their colored garments up above me- now made a
for this Salto del Gtano about which had been
warned. went rapidly along and hardly saw any
one After leaving the Governor-and before arriving
at the salto-I saw hunter. He stood on a ledge Of
rock above me. and did not like to see
the fellow with gun. / thought
Sho1,1l without his me-
At last however, he and immediately his
gun went down. shouted out and then he thought
I was drowning man. He did not fire. He came
down the rocks. but passed him and kept running
along until came into peculiar part Of the river.
1t was broken into thousand little cur
rents. There were rocks oil about. and the
water was swirling in between them r
thought this was the Salto del Gitano. i came
ont of this danger all right and then passed MILL
then made rush. running almost down hill. and
came upon big table land of rock. The
then going down. After running before the rock the
current stops and you feel almost like going back.
1t was perfectly dead-smooth. Suddenly saw an
eddy big the top of glass. In an instant was
caught in it and doubled up. felt myself being
whricd round and sucked down. but l CHANGED
inadvertently to cut the whir of the water with my
paddle and immediately shot it and out Of
danger. The next moment in the mouth OF, the
canyon. The riuer danced along and went flying be-
tween the rocks. knew 1t about fifteen leagues
run. The first fall went over all right Then the
stream commenced running down in the most pccu-
liar currents, by which tossed repeatedly from
one side OF the river to the other by
some unseen action and thrown against the
rocks. kept on, going through one or two
deafened with its l the waters in front
OF me rushing together in big waves and then Jump
courage and grasped at rock TO save myself but lost
hold. was drawn down ind whirled and thrown
about, and how came out don't know came
time il straight sailing then there another
waterfall. and in a few minutes was in canyon.
Soon afterward passed the Bridge OF Alcanta. 1t
is formed OF single arch, which spans the river D0
feet above the surface OF the water. From there
ran for some time with Spain on one bank and Por
tugal the other. The country is perfectly wild.
and conld see hundreds of wild boars the noun
tain side. One would see now and again
Spanish sentinels stationed 1t is
most bleak country. was hungry and weak,
and quite worn out. but l braced myself up.
RECEIVED By THE PORTUGUESE
kept running down, when suddenly looking over
the point q rock saw the Portuguese nag There
tain in the Portuguese navy came down and said he
had been sent by the Portuguese overnment to receive
me. minute afterward I in the boat having
drink They turned and went down with me. was
. all right now that got some one to talk with.
kept ON with him until night Then we cainbcred
and lit fire, which nearly smoked us blind. We
started again with early daylight The second day
There shook hands with number OF
the Spanish suarlia civil, who wished MS .
'.rtras' both sides. The next night had to le
alongside the river. slept in the cabin and the
the shore. The next day got smoothly.
There we're no more falls or rapids Then VIZ came
TO the first town in Portusal-yila yelha.
There received Portuguese welcome
l Was 'na They '' fred Of mo- end Of de.onatins
rockets. Then passed one town after another.
At one the American flag for the first time.
I was getting perfectly worn out and dead
beat before got to Lisbon. The doctor said must
get out of the river. My pulse at twenty eight.
and nine nights to come down from Toledo; nine
nights did not stop in the water. II brought me
down terribly; my bones were pretty nearly coming
out through my overcost. The reception l got in
Lisbon was something wonderful. received moth
ing like il anywhere else.
CROSSING TEK STRAITS or GIBRALTAR.
On March 20, 1875. Captain Boyton crossed the
Straits OF Gibraltar. This Was. perhaps, the most
dangerous OF his ventures and was accomplished I'M
der circumstances which added greatly to the diff
Guilty OF the undertaking The straits, about twenty
nv miles in width at their narrowest part. are ut
times boisterous and unsettled passage, prey To
contrary winds and currents which battle the skill
of the most experienced navigatorr. There
twenty years crossed the straits from the rock to
Tanaicrs three or four times week. and who yet
acknowledge their utter ignorance of the probable
direction Of currents at any given time. Boyton.
therefore. found great difficulty In obtaining reliable
information. lilo nevertheless decided to attempt
the feat and cudesvored 10 reach the African coast
in the neichborhood OF the old spanish stronghold,
Cents. As usual. ~ soon as hs determination was
made known. cheerful information ot all kinds
hoNing IN on every side: the undertaking said
by all to he utter iinpossibity, attempt TO bu
made by non. but q mailman. SHARKS plentiful,
whrlpools abundant, the tides trcacherous, and even
all these obstacles to be successfully conquered,
there remained the chance of falling into hands
OF the piltcig Moorish tribes on the opposite coast
Nothing da,ntcd Boyton made all the necessary
preparations, in which he received valuable assist
from the United states Consul in Gibraltar Mr..
H. J. sprague fcliicho was cliarto rcd manned by
three oi the most daring seznien Of the port.
and ammunition we're embarked and everything
prepared Tor the start. Especially in view OF posei
bio encounter with sharks, several of whom
had been sighted few days previously
IA the immediate vicinity the captain had two large
sword blades ri,eted the exreties Of his paddle,
which thus presented most formidable ap rance
II formed efficient offensive and defensive arm
easily handled and likely 60 repcl any attempts at