The New York herald., 1879-08-23
THE GREAT SWIM.
Captain Paul BoytOn Wins the Purse
and Stake.
CAPTAIN WEBB SEIZED WITH CRAMP.
BOyton SwimS the Twenty-Five Miles in Nine
teen Hours and Thirty-Four Minutes.
INK TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. !

NkWPoRT, H. l., August =. io4s
The swimming match between Captain Paul Boy
ton and Captain Matthew Webb for purse of u 900
and $500 side decided to-day OFF the first bsach
and resulted in easy victory for Captain Paul
Boyton. as his antagonist was seized with cramps
and had to give up the contest before completing
one-hn)f Of the twenty miles he was expected to
cover. By the terms of the agreement Captain Boy
ton was to give five miles to Captain Webb. thus
making Captain Boyton swim twenty-five miles
while Captain Webb swan twenty miles These ODDS
were given by Captain Boyton he was to swim In
his lifesavng dress. using his paddles. while Cap
tain Webb had to swim in bathing tights.
The match has created quite an excitement in New
port and although the men were to start shortly
alter three A. NJ. quite number OF people were
strolling about the beach before that hour awaiting
the arrival of the swimmers. The course was laid
out off the first beach and marked out by two buoys
placed half mile apart and it also agreed that
the finishing half mile was be from the buoy to
point on the shore.
PREPARING TO START
About o'clock this morning there were over
hundred people the beach, strolling about r the
darkness and awaiting further developments. Men
with lanterns running around. and presently it
was reported that Webb and Boyton had arrived on
the beach, The buoys had been anchored yesterday
afternoon-one almost opposite the Chandler villa
and other of the Forty Steps. at the foot of Mar
raeansett avenue thus affording good view of the
swimmers from the cliffs and beach. Shortly
be orc two A. M. Captain Webb and Captain
Boyton were woke up at their quarters
and taken by their assistants tc the first beach
Both men made a light breakfast and then CON-
menccd their preparations for the contest The sloop
yacht Active anchored near the buoys as a
judges boat, and two steam launches were also in
readiness in case their services mghtbe required
Captain Paul Boyton presently put on his life saving
suit and entered the water to take preliminary
trial and seef everything was working right. Cap
tain Webb was taken out board the
sloop yacht Active aud made his toilet for
the long swim. His preparations did not take
very long, after he had been rubbed and oiled he
adjusted his swimming tights and was ready for the
contest. The weather tolerably fine. though the
night was dark and chilly. The sea rather
rough and there light southerly breeze. Cap
tain Boyton made for shore before starting. and
when he landed to adjust his dress he was greeted
with three hearty cheers. and then three more were
given for Captain Webb who was awaiting the start
board the Active. In consequence of the
heavy swell on the beach it was no easy matter to
launch the boats containing those who were to fol-
low the men, but after considerable trouble and o
moderate wettlng all interested were at the buoy.
TaE START.
On Webb's name being called by the referee. Mr..
derman Oerichs. Webb .stood up in tho boat and
stepped to the gunwale ready for the word to take
his plunge.
"where is Captain Boytonr' said the referee
Holding up his lantern and looking about in the
water something resembling sea lion rose up out
OF the darkness saying. Here am. sir" and. pad
ding to where Webb stood, he put his hand and
added
well. Captain Webb there are only two Of us.
and one has to win. II lose shan't think more Of
you. and if win shan't think less of you than
do. Which is it going to beT
"u you will call around about six O'CLOCK tonight
Twill tell you." replied Webb.
A moment afterward receiving the word. BoytqD
padded away out of sight. and Webb. diving from
The boat. disappeared from view. 1t exactly
shirty-iiv minutes past three when the start was
effected and tho boats were slowly headed tor the
outer buoy. from which lantern was dancing and
bobbng on the waves half u mile distant and toward
which the men headed The referees boat burned
blue light they neared the turning point and
presently at sixteen minutes to four or IN nine min
after starting the light was reflected on Boyton
paddle as he reached the stake and tnrned it. At
sight and half minutes to tour or in sixteen and a
halt minutes from the start Webb turned his first
halt mile and headed backward again.
THE FIRST MILE.
The mile was completed in twenty-three minutes
by Boyton at two minutes to four and by Webb in
thrty-eight minutes at thirteen minutes past the
hour. At twenty seven minutes past four Boyton
had done two miles, Webb having improved little
on his speed and evidently warming to his work as
much as he could in the chilly water Arfourteen
and half minutes to i've Boyton had two miles and
a half to his credit. and had gained somewhat
more than the handicap he allowed. Webb took
matters easily and called tor cigar which he lit and
seemed to enjoy as he hoated.away from the boat.
The three miles were accomplished by Boyton. who
was leading Webb long way. at three minutes past
fve or one hour and twenty y-eght minutes from the
commencement OF mis- journey
''How tar have gone. said Boyton to the scorer.
he passed the boat. Three miles," was sung
OUT to which Boyton responded. ''rm doing
grandy. l am nearly through three miles done
uni only twenty-five to CO." And as he padded on
he called back in response to question. "Oh. I'm
all right. but this knocks the lfo out of me- It's
blowing straight i'll shore. aud think 1t Will be
heavier soon
MORNING BREAKS.
The day had come by this time, and dawn had no
sooner broken the hills than the arrivals were
noticed tho cliffs and beach. At this early hour
there were little knots OF men dottng the grass
here and there, having come out early evidently
TO make day OF it as their lunch baskets testified
AT eleven minutes - six TOUR miles credited to
The American. add Webb reached the same point at
thirty -one and half minutes past six. As Webb
passed the buoy anu was scored ut tour miles he
had been out three hours lacking three and u half
minutes anu was led by Boyton by very nearly u
mile. The wind began to ireshen and the
rolling heavier as the morning advanced. aud Boy
seemed TO ice 1t more than Webb. resting OCCASION
ally. laying his paddles on the water and extending
his fingers and arms AS though they were cramped.
LIGHT. .BRkAKFAsT.
Webb used the opportunity to call to his boat for
refrsshment, and they passed some minced meat
and beer to him while he was upright, trcading
water alongside. At seven o'clock numerous
riages appeared the beach drive. and the number
The little knots OF hsi grown in size and many
ladies among the early visitors to the At
zen minutes past seven Boyton completed his sixth
mile. the Englishman being about mile and an
eighth sstern and considerably behind the
schcdulc timo that the handicap would allow. The
wind and went down at this hour, and both
men renewed their efforts to forge ahead. While
the ctavorsbi- conditions lasted Boyton's stroke
quicker. while Webb action, though no faster. was
much more powerful than before Throughout the
swim his ''timc in the action remarkably even,
aud seldom made ruore rapid or slower. his spurts'
gAn at iln Nj "A
power. not increased rapidity of action. The time
keepers called twelve minutes OF eight when the
s,sser had done his miles, Webb being nearly
.. mile and quarter TO the bad, but struggling on
prandly against the high sea- the spray from which
was dashing in his iace and causing his eyes 10
smart painfully. Tho buoys were indstinct
ut "a distance of half mile, and the
men were in consequence steering bad
course ut times Webb called the attention
OF the referee this fact and that gentleman i'm
pnedatcly had flags from his yacht dashed to the