New-York tribune., 1878-09-28
DIR. FOWLER'S EXPLOIT.

DIR. FOWLER'S EXPLOH.
CROSSING THE CHANNEL ON A FOOT-SKIFF.
THE INVENTORS CABRERA DENTIST, FREE
SHOOTER AND RIFLFMAN-DEsCRIPTION OF THE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF THE FEAT.
IFROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
LA ROCHELLE, Aug. 2S.-The cable has, no doubt
already announced the wonderful feat of crossing
the British Channel podoscaph" accom-
plished a few days ago by Dr. Fowler, of Bordeaux
The doctor is an American, and a former New
Yorker and as it was my good fortune to pass yes
terday with him here in La Rochelle. am enabled
to give You few of the details of his re-
markable achievement. l had previously met
him at Bordeaux, where he has made
fortune by practice as dentist. and
where he is known and liked by everybody
He has an interesting and somewhat romantic his
tory, though he never alludes to it himself, except
in reply to questions. Thirty years or so ago he
sailed from New-York for Europe, with a large
amount of information in his head, his diploma as
dentist in his pocket, and 1t is to be inferred, only
a slender sum in his purse. Arriving III Paris dur
ing the memorable tumults of February, 1915
which resulted in Louis Philppc's dethronement, he
found the streets thronged with yelling mobs, and
eager for novelty and adventure, he hurried along
with the crowd. until he found himself with hum
%
carpets in the Tuileries eating his crust of dry
bread. aud drinking his poor wine with the rest OF
them This was the doctors initiation into French
life After short stay in Paris he iOumeyed south
ward to Bordeaux. where, with characteristic Yam
kce pluck, he put out his professional shingle and
awaited patrons They came, few at first then
more American dentistry is everywhere the most
popular in France-untl, by and by, our friend
found himself growing richer and richer and to-day
there are few men in France native or foreign bet
ter known for wealth or liberalty than he.
DIR. Fowler's love of adventure and especially
by sea, is one of his most noticeable traits. Like
Governor Pickens Of South Carolina, he seems to
have been "barn insensbe to fear" During the
Franco-German war he a member of a self
equipped company of free-shooters, composed OF
forty wealthy gentlemen, who called themselves
"The Forty" rendered their services to the En-
peror. and were sent into the Yosges where they
did good service like Joe Johnston at Vicksburg,
in "harassing the enemys rear" To use the doc
tors own expression, it was "cut and run with
them all the time, but no fighting" After the
Prussians left Paris, the Commune seized upon the
doctor as he was out walking one day. and hurried
him off to prison az Prussian spy His passport as
an American protected him. though in fact 1t
wasn't worth the paper II was written on, aud Mr.
Washburne cOuIdn'U have saved him. Adventures
that no ordinary man would survive seem TO leave
DIR. Fowler unscathed. He has made tOur balloon
ascensons and when handed him The lRIBUNEs
account of Professor SchrOelers alr-shp and IN
tended trip TO Europe, which j happened 20 have
by me, he evinced an interest which made me bus-
pect he may try the voyage himself some day.
All along the French coast, from Havre down to
Bordeaux, they know the doctor well. If there is
reeatta-be it at St. Nazarie ROyan, Nantes Brest
no matter where-Dr. Fowler, with his yacht
the Peau Rouge is sure TO be there and always
carries off the first prize Last week, for instance
there were two yacht races in the annual regatta
programme here at La Rochelle, one harbor, the
other An open sea course The Peau Rouge won
them both Once, during the Empire, the Emperor
offered a handsome prize for the winning yacht at
La Rochelle. Fowler was on hand, as usual, but
some of his competitors foreseeing the usual result
wanted to rule hun out before SIaItR' on id SUN
one of the basins, and the authorities refused 10
let her out to take her place IN line There was no
time TO be lost. The American Consul, Mr. Smlth,
with commendable promputude telegraphesd
direct to the Emperor. With equal pr0mputude
came reply directing that DIR. FOwlers yacht be
permitted to enter. be did enter, ana as usual tooA
the first prize.
But about the ''podoscaph"- suppose
il means it consists Of two paper shell boats about
ten feet long, perfect miniatures OF those ordinarily
used in college regattas. These are joined together,
at about foot or eighteen inches apart by cross
rods of brass and the occupant stands resting one
foot upon each balancing himself with his PADDLE
single piece of oak, with broad spoon blade at
each end To stand up on the podoscaph is difficult
enouQb. and how DR.. Fowler ever managed
TO cross the British Channel on one safely through
wind and wave and current is beyond my compre-
bension. He had been practising for 1t for several
months on the river at Bordeaux, and after his
arrival at Boulogue was obliged to defer bis start
for some ten days, awaiting favorable weather.
Finally one morning last week he started out at 4
O'clock with promise Of comparatively qmdet
channel, and with sail boat In ms wake e.. ne ne
doctors own description of his experience after ne
eof we'll out into the current will perhaps
convey the best idea of the difficulties ne
encountered "It was" said he lpOinting straight
eheadl 'as IL l wanted to go there, and some
tbingB (DOinting OFT TO the left at night anglesl
- was constantly making me go here" lhe terrible,
constant effort required to MAINTAIN MS DalahCe,
keen the boat against the current ana at the same
time make his headway, can well Dc Imagined;
Still the bold navigator kept up his courage, ana
without accident or mistake Ot any klnd reaened
the English coast near FOlkestOne between and
ojclook that afternoon. He was at once carefully
ribbed down. oiled and fed, physician pronounced
him 'all right and he put up over nlRht at
FolkestOne hotel where he overheard little glfl
evclaim: "Obi mamma, come and see the man tnat
came over from France on q horse" Ihe doctor
tells this with great gustO. Next day ne was PACK
again In France, none the worse for his wondeIful
Journey. leave IL TO the Enghsh ana fIench HoV-
erpfnents 10 decide whether this pod0scaph business
does rot open up q new phase In modern warfare, so
far IS their relations to each other are concerned
Fancy $4,000 French infantry on podoscaphs
making a midnight descent on Dover or Brighton
Did the author Of tho Battle OF DOrkiDg" ever