The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-23
Paul Bcyten's Experiences on the
Waters of Europe.
FIVE YEARS OF ADVENTURE.
His Reception in Ireland Och,
He's the Divil ~



with a commission from the Republic to buy sup
plies OF the life saving dresses in which lie performs
such marvellous feats These are made in no coun-
try but the United States During the voyage across
the Captain delivered a lecture on board
for the benefit of the sailors orphans, and
his peculiar dress was purchased by the
passengers and presented to Captain Perry, OF
the Britannia, the purchase money going to the same
charitable object. Captain Boyton viii remain in
this city-which is his home-during the winter
months. recuperating for Continental cam
paign next year he shall have drilled the French
life saving crews into good form With the excep-
ton of brief visit three years ago he has been
abroad FIVE years. In these matter ofact days wheh
almost every field has been exploited the novel story
of his adventures upon the waters Of the Old World
reads like a Before embarking for America
he was found by London representative OF the
HERALD at "Romanos S.. where, over coffee and cigars,
the plucky swimmer told the story Of his adventures
and the correspondent records them in series OF
letters, the first of which is appended.
LosDoS Dec. ii, 1875
Captain Boyton has been on this side of the At
lantic since October, 1874. at times exhibiting his
moral show Artemus Ward would call it. and at
others drifting padding down the rivers OF
Europe in order to satisfy apparently innate love
of daring and adventure. Twice he swan across the
Basic to Cologne, down the Danube from Linz to
Pcsth, down the entire lengths of the Pc. the Tber
and the Arno from the Isle of Capri to Naples
the Straits of Messina by the famous whirlpool of
Scylla and Charybd then down the Rhone, the
Somme the Loire the Tasus; the Straits of Glib
ratar down the Guadalquiver the Garonne and the
Seine; and think would swim the Atlantic
home in his peculiar method if favorable breezes
could be insured him.
Captain Boyton has spent large part of his
time during his sojourn in Europe upon the
water. and of this the most interesting the
surface of rivers which had before been
known to living creature, fish and fowl.
The Captain s journey down the Tagus from Toledo
to Lisbon told to his friends. is most interesting
and thrilling narrative of personal adventure and
ploration. In the OF that voyage he says he
got among river soltudes that had before been
invaded by man, and his bugle notes echoed by
weird primeva rocks that sent back for the first time
the reyerberations of human speech. Crossing the
Straits of Messna have fight with shark the
Tagus a long continued battle with rapids and water
falls in the Straits of Gibraltar a struggle with the
currents, and in the Pc death fight with the fever
Of fire." Sometimes the Captain. during his journey.
dressed in his peculiar costume, which gives him
kind of sealiAe appearance, received with royal
honors by majesties and princes innumerable, by
cities and corporation with grand fetes and popular
re1oicings. On the other hand his appearance in
had not penetrated. sometimes caused CONSERVATION,
the Captain being greeted either a Norman a river
gnome the devil himself in person.
The Captains first adventure this side Of the
took place of the coast of Ireland. In October
1874, he went board the steamer Queen, at New
York, intending to jump on when some two hun
dred and fifty miles out and swim back to the shore
in order to prove the efficacy of his dress means
of saving life ct "But the captain of the vessel
10 use the swimmers words. would not let me
80 overheard when got out that far, but said he
IN
coast OF Ireland II arranged, and the captain
kept his word when the day came he with the |
doctor. took me down into his cabin and said look
here and lac showed me the barometer 1T is lower
than nave seen it Tor thirteen years.
Il said i don't If II fails at the bottom;
will co. The doctor said, Well come and have a |
drink before you GO declined. for, said f. 4 in
tend 10 90 il, and / shall want my head about me-,
and, sure enough, did that night. shook hands |
with the captain, the doctor and all the passen-
gers and got the side. 1t was then about nine
O'Clock al night. The captain had stopped the
just to let me get overheard. AZ soon As was down
heard the burr of the and the ship gone
in minute, looming in front of me like big
house.
II pulled myself together and brsced up for a
rough night l knew was going to get it, There
was not light to be seen anywhere Lying down
fiat the water could not anything. not a
star could not see the compass for lost my light
apparatus. and il was pitch dark. The wind was
southwestward There was heavy | kept |
drifting along not knowing whether to paddle
not As soon ~ could get the course went for it,
After battling with the for "a couple OF hours
saw light as / rose high wave. The kept
getting rougher, big would come running |
down upon and wash right over me aud then one
would raise me mp its top. Then two three
would run against each other and TO jump
one upon another with a noise like thunder There
would be at times ton OF water me and would
wriggle right up through IT. 1 thought, II this |
takes me on the rocks it will smash me. My feel
ings were not cnyiahle. thought OF every mean
trick had done in my lifetime and imagined that
every minute would be my last. After while saw
something like dark cloud This discovered was
the line of the cliffs on the coast i along para-
lei with the shore, watching for break IN the cliffs
determined 70 make for land at the FIRST opening. 10
ward morning saw Just narrow slit III the rocks
and knew that my only chance so / bore down |
upon It and carried right into little creek.
ARRIVAL
AS soon az reached land clanbered mp the rocks
and struck my signal lights not knowing whether
was on the mainland Or on an island. looked all
along the cliffs for signs Of lite but found At
length was burning my last signal light which is
very white one, happened TO look down right |
under me and the glare Of the light the waves |
showed them roaring and boiling way that terrified
This was about six O'Clock in the morning. ! |
struck inland and a road and finally reached
little village. The stone tiles with which the houses
rooted were being torn OH and strewed around
by the wind A. the end " the street saw light |
burning aud bore toward 1t. It the coastguard
station. had taken the suit on and carrying |
my paddle and big case. The eoasguards looked |
II me IN astonishlnent. Where 40 you come |
from 2 they asked From New York, answered. |
Where wa. the nip wrecked z they inquired. ] |
told them had swum ashore. My God no IL the |
devil : they exclaimed and al, and next day |
the report spread all the village that had
swum all the way from New York o. ireland. he.
Cad, he u no Christian the general verdict OF
Tue ihhabitahth on the utle village OF BALTIMORE.
a RIDE on 4 JAuNrfNG can.
Next morning Captain Boyton DESTROYS ~ get |
ting 10 Cork, AZ least 70 telegraph Office in order
81 inform the captain of the Queen Of his safe land
ing worthy driver " isunting found |
aud brought into the Captains presence He |
scratched MS head eyed Him suspciously. but |
finally agreed 10 take him to Skibheroru for the
Or eight shillngs The vehicle drawn up. A |
without much harness WIS Ia the shafts, and |
Andy, tho driver, said she the best III the
south ~ ireland, aud lie gave her a prod with |
short stick with nail 1T the end 10 |
show her PAGES. "IOu know said the captain, |
"a jauutiug is a vehicle which accomino- |
dates thrcc or four persons two on each side, sitting
back u back There being 10 front scat the driver
has ~ sit on one side. Well, he got M side
nnd on the other, ana away went. IL ter |
rbly cold morning; the wind was keen the edge
of knife saw the fellow frightened, and IL |
did not tend 70 reassure him when the people cried
out drove on, God save ye Andyl' Then |