The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-25
IN A RUBBER SUIT.
Another Series Of Paul Boyton's
Floating "reminiscences.
A BOLD, FREE LIFE.
Down the Tiber the Rhone, the Somme,
the Loire and the Amo.
SHARKS AND QUICKSANDS.

The next trip made by Captain Paul Boyton after
those described in the HERALD Of yesterday and the
day before down the Arno in Italy, from Florence
to Pisa This distance of hundred kilometres he
traversed in sixteen hours
..This WAS small trip said Captain Boyton.
"When started from Florence all the people were
out and the banks were lincd almost oil the way
down to Pisa. met with magnificent receptions
everywhere. Starting in the afternoon. when the
river rising rapidly, kept oil the afternoon.
people standing out in the rain to look on. passed
the Villa of Ouida, near Sigma village whose name
the novelist aftcrward gave to of her heroes.
At Montopoli the Mayor came out to kiss me and
nearly fell into the river At twelve O'Clock at night
heard the sound Of music and torches all along
the river and knew it Pontedera The people were
crowding that afraid there would be an acct
dent. and. as got out of the river. made
rush from the bank. The municipal guard came
round to protect me from the crowd. Headed by the
city band we marched up the town. the people lit
orally jumping over one another to get look. One
fellow who, with his mouth wide open.
was talking rather big to guard. had .
torch damned down his throat. The next
morning was marshalled down to the river
again by the guards and the band. At twelve O'Clock
that day got down to Pisa. Here, also. there was
splendid reception and was entertained at big
banquet by the Humane Society. From Pisa re-
turned to Florence again.
ON THE LunGAND.
In the Arno, at Florence, Captain Boyton had very
narrow escape with his life. Somewhat in spirit
of bravado he determined to pass dangerous dan,
across the river called the Pescaja. He no sooner
got into the water than he found he had some.
thing more than he expected 1.-THE rush Of the water
over the DAM" said the Captain, 'turned me plump
over. / came rushing down the stream and in an
instant was over the Pescaja. The moment was
over was grasped rs in vi SO between the fall of
the water and the return wave. could not move
and could hardly breathe. kept there several
minutes and had the dam been placed directly
the stream I should never have come out alive.
But it was slanting, and the action of the
water gradually worked from the centre
to the side. where passed safely through. heard
aterward that gentleman bet 10000 lire that tho
Pescaja would be my grave No one could help me
although there thousands looking on. Tho
bodies Of drowned persons have been taken out at
this place after they have been in for weeks Ger.
tainly thought my last hour had come. 1t was
Christmas eve; my only thought during the fearful
struggle was the sorrow my death would give to
those / love at home" In Florence. after that the
people sang songs about the Captain; no less than
three pieces the theatres referred to his voyages
fictitious histories about him were sold and photo.
graphs for which he never sat were hawked about.
RoME-rHE TIBEn.
Captain Boyton next went to Rome and while
there thought he would take trip down the Tiber.
He went to the head of the river he could
go-to orts. The Mayor drove the Captain from the
town to the station. blowing horn II went into
the river in the afternoon. The night came on ter
ribly cold The river flows through the Campagna
Romano It terribly dark. Every now and again
got cheer from the people. but in minute it was
lost. did nothing but shoot rapidly all night until
about four o'clock in the morning. when suddenly
drove right among flock Of wild geese The
whirring and csckling as they swan something
frightful was as much scared a. they were. out
six O'Clock caught in an awkward manner in the
branches of tree which had been washed out into
the stream. had to hack myself free with knife.
kept running all that day. The river wound about
much that people frequently saw me pass several
times. All the day heard the music OF the hills.
That night scared the life almost out of shepherd
barking and SO clambered out OF the river. The
fellow came and looked at me minute and then
met by the candticri del -Tevere. This Was above
Rome. We kept ON that night and next morning until
we arrived close to Rome was very rapid
For miles before reached the city the people were
coming ont horseback and on foot and saluting
with cheers and ciros. At three O'Clock sailing
into Rome. and II was sight to be remembered. In
one house there was band playing Yankee Doodle
and great American flag was displayed. The recep-
1nueHcr1DaDle.
the people were crowded into every possible space.
barge turned turtle in the river. but all tho
people were saved. landed at Ripetta Grande SO
great the pressure of the throng that the iron
band about the waist OF my dress crushed like
egg she'll The bersagieri did their best TO keep the
people of, but the throng was immense. We were
feted .splendidly-no end of dinners, suppers and
balls" t4a
sCYLrA AND cHARYDD1s
After giving I'm exhibition at Naples Captain Boy
ton began ~ think OF crossing the Straits of Messa
aud daring the dangers OF the famed Scylla and
Bay OF Naples swimming from the Island OF Capri to
Naples There were many spectators on the Chaja,
Mhoa he an exhbto IL The
yard after which the King him the Order of the
Crown of Italy. musical confposition was also
given him by one of the best Italian composers The
only thing In the way OF the crossing was dread OF
sharks. which arc known to infest the Straits. De-
termined to test the matter Captain Boyton went
into the market one fine morning. bought some
meat, went outside with il in boat and began fish
Ing for sharks the Captain of the Pert showing them
on the water for a short time" says the Captain,
land went down. We then threw another piece out
Immediately there wins o terrible tumbng the
water and the meat was snatched and carried away.
SO there really shrrks felt very miserable ut
,np aea o. nia u" my heard w u
betting about One said he would bet thousand
francs could not do 1t. No one but st. francesca.
who went over on his cloak. could cross there.
thought If q saint could do 10 could do II, too. I
went up to the fellow and said, III bet you thou
sand lire to twenty that will do it.
Captain Boyton got several gentlemen and news
paper representative TO accompany him in two boats,
and they all went on board q. -four o'clock in the
morning of the 10th Of March, 1877. They sailed
and got to the coast Of Caabria ut daybreak.
when started. said the Captain, 1.-THE wind
menccd to blow pretty heavy indeed, il was blowing
q sirocco. The lido setting toward Faro, the
entrance of the straits l took big knife
with me; one gentleman had q spear and
another had harpoon; the editor Of the Gdscfo
al Messnd had lot of pistols aud knives. He did not
20, but he put into the boat II look
ing pretty rough now. Just before went into the
water An old gentleman round and said, 4 lost
boy just like you in that water. That was not en-
couragiDg
LAUNCHED
II slid into the water, trying TO remember two
three prayers. braccd myself up and had the knife
ready. swan along ~ quickly as could. We had
boat all the time keeping . lookout. There q
heavy on When got In md-chsnnel took ono
two drinks. lew minutes afterward I
was getting very near Charybdis. / look
ing round Just a. the foremost boat q
big Right under II saw what thought to DO