, 1879-01-19
CAPT, BDYTON.
Tho Plncky Swimmer Makes a Trip Up the
East River.

The fact that Capt. Paul Boyton was to
make trip up the East River yesterday IN
his new life-saying suit was kept profound
| secret. But somehow or other the matter
| leaked out that the Captain would make 4
VOYAGE from the Battery to Hanter's Point In
| the afternoon, andCastle Garden was besIesedbr
gaping, eager, jostling crowd Of men aud
| boys long before noon
At half-past IL O'Clock Boyton retired to 4
small room, and alter few moments appeared
dressed in rubber suit made purposely 10
VOYAGE on the River Volga aud other long Prus-
| sian rivers. 1t differed from the old suits ia
several points. Instead OF having only one COM
| partmcnt in the leEs, they were divided intotwo,
separate air chambers, front and back. This
was done to avoid the saggng down Of the
lover limbs in the water At the back Of tho
suit was wide rubber fange or laprel. which
hung down like the broad trils OF coat
| This lauge is turned upward when In tbs
water SO that it forms an excellent keel
and also protects the back Of the suit from being
| cut BIZ rocks or grayel-beds. Hung around his
neck was formidabie-Iooking shark-knfe, aud
| depending from this was bottle which borea
| mysterious inscription. To the reporter It ap-
pcarcd to very much resemble the word
s.brandy." The suit was of Para rubber, al
eighth Of en- inch thick, the whole weighing when
| dr. ahout thirty pounds. In his baud he tar
| ried delicately y-formed double-bladeu ash pad
| die.
"Clcar the way" yelled the Captain promptly
| at | O'Clock, and the dense crowd parted for a
| moment as Paul Boyton darted down to the
| edge OF the dock and looked over.
Then he inflated the air-cuamhers through the
| numerous tubes that hung from the dress, and,
standing perfectly erccr, with little toss OF the
| head be plunged into the stream, saying, "HeEa
4 goes for the baptism OF the new suit" Tbs
| dive was made amid much applause, although
| many were evidently nervous Tor the safety Of
| the Captain. a handsome silk national emblem
| was unfurIed, and, with ! quick movement
fastened to a bEass socket strapped to his foot
/ This is the flag be carried through many long
European river, and which he bore down tha
| Seine to Paris.
" Well boys, I'm off; good br,'' said Capt.
/ Boytou, padding away vigorously. In an IN
staut the air was rent with three cheers for the
courageous American, who Was rapidly floating
| around the Battery toward the last Rlyer. Ar
| the Battery dock boat put out to accompany
Boytou. The Captain pulled out into the mid.
die Of the stream, and was soon rocking aud
| tossing on the heavy tide swel1s. Along the
river front could be seen crowds OF excited peo-
| pie, rushing from dock to dock, ssraining their
| eyes at the novel sight which presented itself.
1t Fulton Ferry the steamboat Mineola stop:
| deafcning salute from her whistle, the Zap:
| tain was greeted with wild applause and
cheers by the crowd Of passengers on bosfa.
The honoEs wers so emphatic IN tbs is a. a.
water, and, after saluttng With his psddle,
waved the flag three times above his bead, T1na
the rorkmen on the '1klJu BridsSa looked
down aghasr at the curions sight presented &C:
low: At twenty. minutes past I O'Clock .as
bridge was passed., and the rest OF bis journey
| to Hunters Point was grand ovation from tne
steamboats,, sailing vessels, and the people on
| the shore, II ho waved bright hued handkercniels
| necessarily. At Hunters Point large c7o"d
/ had taken up every available foot OF space On
was carried bv the swift current to the new
| York side at tightning rate OF speed. anu
cheers and yells were heard from both sloes o1
the river as Boyton could be seen making e1Eorls
| to keep himself from being driven bT tbe rapm
| current against the rocks oi ''Hogs BACK
reef at the south end OF Blackwelrs lsano.
The Captain passed the Ihreatnlno reefs IN sa1ety
When opposite Blackwclls Island the Captam
| began to hug its shore, w1en suddenly Iae
! guardboat shot out and the voyager was naiieo
By striped convict with, ''Hullo, there! Nno 3,
| the devil are you, and what are you driving AZ
''1'm on little pleasure trip, and expcc1 70
20 ashore presently, ~ -. ,n,,+,.
more, you'll come ashore here. lou can't plsJ
| any roots on mc.'
| The Captain good-humoccdlr started az .
racing pace toward the New I 'rk side, but INC
guar11-boat shot in front Of him, and, before n9
Oft as prisoner. On the New York sbofe
everything was confusion and excitement, tno
| peop1e evidently believing that an escaping con.
vict had been captured, and expecting 10 ses e
conflict takc place. But the thrilling battle olo
| not occur, tor the Captain slniingiT accompa-
MED the boat to land. where he was Instantly
| recognized, and the sternness and sruH ma1s
ncrs OF the guard changed to politeness ano
| apology.
A Jew minutes before o'clock the crowd
] vrkl 1ipad +hor prnfa Point
| sight OF the bobh;n. flag and cleaning paaa4es
| Of the inlonlitable swimmer, and all the 1as.
were dipped, while the little speck on the Wasss
| swayed its colors with vlm. When 1e" !lul-
dred yards oil torpedo rocket was J.. SEN a;r ~
from the landngplace, and exploded IN las - ~
| with terrific report Capt, Bo{ton sezea ~ ~
| colors, anu, standing up in the water; ns
clambcEed cn to cake Of ice that craekeu ~. -
meath his weight. Then he uncosked tue oos..9 9
| strung around his neck and took lonS aou
hearty drink, while the multitude on shofs o.
| piauded with cheers and yells. ....~.
AZ ten minutes past O'Clock the voyage wa
| continued, and the Captain set ont smoslag : :
cigar amid the cries OF Bravo, Boyton, Draw.
| rough. Not q steamer passed but ulppeo ~
! flag and blew its whistle in honor Of tns oc.
| casion. When just under the Brooklyn bs.uss uss
the silken flag, which had frozen stifl vas LUZ
! from its staff BY the heavy wind on the lltei;
The silk colors dropped into the water an
| we're chased down stream and captured oilsssI5
In front OF the landing pier Dover uoch. "1eu
| MAS crowded BY at least 900 persons. \ 1oeas'
was handed from the dock to the tloatio9 lia3 a5
who steered out into the river, when be toucneo
| it of.
Capt. Boyton landed on the deck persplrinE
| from the use OF his paddle. but covered VIII d
| ice. lie then crossed over South st1eet a.. ~.
returned to his hotel. When stripped N ~ "
| room he was found to be, instead ot cold ana
numb, very much heated, the e5crtlon ass nasln5
raised the temperature Of his hooy TWO desslees