The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-23
PAUL BOYTON.
RETURN OF THE AMERICAN SWIMMER
AND LIFE-SAVER.
An Account Of His Recent European
Trip-Tbe Feats He Accomplished
and the HOnOrs He WOu

Auu shC "VbVEs to VObs
New YORK Dec. 22-Capt. Paul Boyton the
American swimmer and iife-saver, landed in
this city TO- day In the steamer Britannia. Late
in tho afternoon reporter found him, at his
mothers residence. surrounded by members OF
his family. Cant. Boyton. who wore the un-
dress uniform Of French naval officer, WILL
pgly furnished some particulars OF his last
tnur through Europe. which has extended
through the last three years. Capt. Boyton said:
Il left here almost three years ago and since
then have visited England. France, Germany,
Ireland Scotland Norway and Sweden. Bel
gium. Holland. Austria Hungary, Italy, Malta,
Tuns SPAIN Portugal and Switzerddnd ria
say am better known In Europe than In Amer
lea. The French government has adopted my ny
sailors in its use. The English government
has 1t in hand. Tho Italian government is de-
lighted with It: aud as FOR tho Russian govern
ment. all can say Is that the first Turkish gun
boat blown up on the Danube was destroyed by
torpedo guided by Russian sailor dressed In
Since my absence from New York have
had few swimming matches In Europe. /
crossed the English Channel. leaving Cape
twenty four hours traversed the Rhine from
Basic to Cologne. length of 400 miles In Oc-
tober. 1916. swam the Danube from Lintz to
Vienna and BudA Pesth in eighty eight hours
In August, 1876. MY journey on the River Po in
November, 1876, amounted to total distance OF
TAO kilometers. which | swan In 179 hours. On
tho Aries, from Florence to Pisa, in December
| 1876, swan 100 kiometers In sixteen hours;
On the Tiher, from Orte, to Rom
l SWAN from the island of Caprerato Naples. In
January, 1877. in sixteen hours | travetsed
the Straits of Messina. from Schuilya to Chary
Bids full OF terrible counter currents. in five
| hours. / went down the Khone. from Sisal to
| Lyons q distance Of 500 kilometers, In elk
hours. / SWAN from tho Chateau DIFF and the
| White Rocks tho scene Of Dumas Monte
Christie" to tho port Of Marseies. and In June.
1877, l went down the Somme, from Amicus to
swan the Loire. from Orleans to Nantes. q
distance Of 400 ktlometers. IN six days.
crossed tho Straits of Gibraltar, from from
In stormy weather and contrary currents.
in seventeen hours. | swan down the Seine
from Nogent-sur-S Seine to Paris ia seventy five
hours. On the river Orine. in France. during
the great floods. swan 100 k,loneters In nine
hours. My worst trib, was down the river
| Tagus In Spain, from Toledo to Lisbon. a dis
tance OF 1909 kilometers. In eighteen days. The
river runs through rocky canons and high
cliffs and there are innumerable small falls
and rapids. / was considerably bruised and
beaten about but came out all right.
In Madrid gave Q special exhibition In the
Casa de Campo to oblige King Alfonso and tho
! late Queen Mercedes and never met with B
more cordial and kindly reception. The Queen
was kind enough on that occasion to assure me
that above all nations tb sG w
/ was received by the late Queen OF Spain. l
have been decorated in every country | have
visited and when am In full fig rs an English
all over with medals and Crosses There are
forty.two Of them altogether: have the Grand
4
rus the Grand Cross of the Marine Order OF
Spain. the Grand Cross Of the Order Of knights
Hoaptallers of Spain the Grand Medal Of the
| Life Saving Service in France. and the same In
England Spain Austria. Hungary. Belgium.
two medals and cross in Germany, ono In Italy
and two In Portugal. am honorary member
| OF every lfe-saving society In Europe.
! Isn't 1t q little curious that while | saved
seventy ono lives on the Atlantic coast hero that
never got any recompense beyond an oc-
casional thank you or the offer OF q live
dollar bl2 In Europe am treated with re-
spect, and sailors and fishermen along the
coasts look up to me a mot might say, with
reverence. You remember the terri Bile storm In
tho Bay Of Bscay two years ago. when 300 fish
ermen were lost2 ] gave an exhibition for
the benefit Of their families which real
lied considerable sum OF money. and
In return two days afterwards delegation
Of fishermen presented mo with this charm
anchor and wheel with tho inscription, The
sailor Ia ever true made out OF iron, inlaid
with silver and gold. think rs much Of that bit
of iron as / do Of the Grand Cross of knights
Hosptallers. -,
After l spend few months here with my
relatives ! am going back to France to drill the
Frencl marine in the use Of my life-saving suit
and next year If can obtain leave OF absence,
wi go to Russia and will swim down the VOlga
a feat which think no other man can do. In
any event | return to Europe. and should my
engagement with the French government ter
inmate during the ensuing year will sail fol
Russia on my steam yacht America. which Ii
now at Cherbourg.
number Of personal friends Of Capt. Boytor
here claiming his attention the interview termi