Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-25
From Europe to Africa.
CAPTAIN BOYTON SWIMMING ACRpaS

STRAITS OF GIBRALTAR.
Captain Paul Boyton, who made himself a
English channel in his life-saving suit. has re-
Gently crossed the Straits of Gibraltar, start
ing az Cafipa at 7;SO am. on the 9th March,
aud landing at Tangier at l2:55 pm. OF the
same day, having been in the water sixteen
hours aud five minutes. The correspondent
of the Kansas City Times accompanied Capt
Boyton, with Others ,h in saiiboat and took
notes during the trip across. The morning
when the start was made was very cold, and
the water was by no means smooth. The cap
tain, Enclosed in his apparatus, armed with his
usual paddle, having a formidable sword
blade attached to each end, and a Sheathed
dagger fastened to his waist as weapons of de-
fence against any attack of sharks, jumped
into the sea amidst the enthusiastic cheering
OF the crowd and the encouraging remarks of
his friends. His first act was to swim towards
rock close by Tarifa lighthouse. said to be
touched with his hand, at the same time bid
ding farewell to Spain. 1t was then that he
got fairly under way, steering southwest.
weather calm, with smooth sea he being in
excellent spirits and fully confident of success s.
in his enterprise. The southwest course was
taken, as he expected to meet with the current
easily towards Centa, his point of destination !:
this calculation, however, proved to be falla
ciOus- for the current turned out to be setting
from quite the opposite direction and was.
ward.
The correspondents note book shows that
the Captain, after having been in the water
only ten minutes. sang a song, and in twenty
minutes more dispersed a sh0al of porpoi SeS
by firing pistol at Them and then took a sail
IRON ?l the boat to help him make time. The
back and padded away merrily, meanwhile
smoking cigar to beguile the time away.
Between this time and 10:40 Boyton ate some
bread and cheese and drank some brandy, and
then hOlSted sail again and Steered for NJ ata
bata Point. At 12:l0 he passed the British
steamer Glencarn and was cheered by the pas
sengers and crew: AT o'clock such high sea
was rolling, that ;Boyton was begged to give
up the undertaking, but he persisted and
steered away for the African coast, though the
wind was blowing directly against him. At
$50 1t had become quite dark, and, the current
setting in, he was driven, as we'll as the boat
more and more from the African shore. In
regard to this the notes say:
The DOlSter0uS wind and sea, IN con junction
with the rapid current and heavy Overfalls
caused BOyton to drift away from the boat,
so that we soon quite lost sight of him. After
by distant hail. which proved guide to his
whereabouts, and by proceeding In a proper
direction we came up to him, but not without
a great risk and very hard work. On reach
ing him the crew became very violent in their
language and conduct, and insisted on his get
ting on board, as they declared we were all
drifting fast into the Atlantic Ocean. Boy
ton, however, was firm in his resolve on con
tinuing his attempt to reach the African coast.
Seeing which, three of the crew leaned over
VIC Uodt . Sluc anu luetFOr ed 10 drag Boy
ton on board by main force. This movement
caused Boyton. to become very excited in his
turn, and pointing the sword blade on the end
OF his paddle at them, he threatened to plunge
1t into any man who dared to touch him The
crew thereupOn took their oars again, finding
that their efforts to convince Boyton of the
danger that ne and those on board were in
were utterly futile. Boyton began to sing,
With the Gbject, II possible. OF encouraging the
mt and dissipating their apprehensit
In a little while BOyton was lost again, and
again found, and this time he really desired
assistance, for shark was swimming i'm
large circles around him. A dynamite cart,
ridge was handed him from the boat and hay
ing lighted it he threw it at the shark, and
after the explosion saw nothing more OF his
lnquisitive visitor. At II: 80 he had got into
the waters of Tangier bay, and hosting sail
crossed the reef and landed at 12:55 p. m
Some Moors were attracted to the place of
ianding.by Capt. BoytOn's cries to the boat.
but they were frightened by the captains odd
appearance and ran off as rapidly Dis possible.
ne then swan to the boat, and his armor
being taken off his clothes were found only to
be damp, but he was very much exhausted
when the feat was really over. Col. Matthews
the American consul general at Tangier, met
the party and treated them with the greatest
hpSujt aIitV q