The New York herald., 1879-02-10
CAPTAIN BoYTON.
ARRIVAL OF THE LONELY SWIMMER AT PITTS
BURG-ENTHUsIAsM OF THE PEoPLE-TES
AND HALF HOURS IN THE WATER.
[By TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

BURG--ENTHUSIASM OF THE PEOPLE-IES
AND HALF HOURS IN THE WATER.
[Dy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
PrrTsBURG. Pa. Feb. o. 1879.
Captain Paul Boyton arrived here at forty minutes
past three O'Clock this afternoon. after being In the
water since ten minutes past ive in the morning.
The demonstration the grandes that has ever oc-
Cured in this city or its vicinity Fully one hun
dred thousand persons witnessed the great Pennsyl-
vanians entry into the city, and the ell afternoon the
good people Of Pittsburg and Allegheny City were
shocked ut the interruption of the Sabbath by the loud
booming of cannons. which were fired all along the
line. The entire Of the police force were
placed the river 'front.' while Chief Pender and the
detective squad looked out for thieves, but the
officers several points driven into the shallow
river. and all attempts to restrain the multitude
useless. Freeport in a state of ex-
citement all last night and while the Captain
slept hundreds of ladies and gentlemen sat up
all night in order to him start in the
morning. Promptly at four O'Clock Boyton
awakened from a feverish sloep and he immediately
began to prepare for the water. slight repast of
eggs and toast was INDUCED in. and in few mo-
ments the Captains form was disguised in his rub
ber voyaging dress. At FIVE O'Clock ho carefully
making his way out on the shore ice toward
the river, fdybwed by AN immense crowd.
who cracked the ice under their feet. At
place it gave way and several boys received q cold
ducking. The moon was half hidden by the clouds,
but enough light shed to reveal strange picture
Scores or handsome young village bellies crowded
around the Captain. who looked aixousy across the
dark river at the shore opposite, against which, in
bold relief the towering hills for which the oil
regions are famous.
START.
At ten minutes past five Boyton took his paddle,
and. with of his hand plunged into the water,
which seethng with the ice. He was followed
by cheers that went ringing down the river and werc
echoed back by the ravines. The lonely SWIMMER
made rapid time, although surrounded by ice. and
reached 7Tarentum. about six miles distant at
twenty-five minutes past seven o'clock. Here
it was found that the water had con-
snd he w"s frozen almost solid The snn rose SOON
afterward and though Its glare unpleasant to the
navigators eyes, it thawed the ice considerably and
gave Boyton chance for life. Pucketty passed
at twenty minutes past nine, and the 'Buckwheats''
along the waters edge and roared out their well
earnestness The people are now BEGINNING to
appreciate the sufferings that their water
hero .,, s "nderg0i1g = and instead "s ,,o. Of the
Cap in; Id like to die for YOU" No pen describe
the intensity of feeling it exists here and old resi-
dents affirm that Pennsylvania has not been so much
excited since the The newspaper corps who have
trudged over the mountains and along the shore now
for "lift, are almost exhausted.
BREAXING TWO MILES ICE.
At Hutton Boyton was sighted at half-past eleven.
opposite the village perfect feet of small
boats came out to meet him. as he observed to
be painfully struggling to make * al landing Wien he
discovered that the Captains forehead was frozen
white and hereupon rubbed it with ice until circu
lation was restored. Boyton then said that he
almost famished. short distance below Pucketty
he struck into dead water. known as Logans Eddy,
where the river was frozen from shore to shore In
order to continue his voyage he was compelled to
break through about two miles Of young ice with his
paddles. while terrific mountain wind drove the
spray into his eyes In binding showers, where 1t
froze fast Added to this it began to snow and the
agony endured by the brave royageIr is only known
to himself. just before he padded from shore
again despatch handed him in the river signed
by Nine Anderson, who invited the half dead to
GO at once to the place she is walking in upon his
landing. Boyton 3 answer to this cool request was
more forcible than elegant. At twenty minutes past
twelve Montrose was reached. and an ovation was
given in honor Of the floating man as he passed by
rapidly order reach Pttsburg early the after
noon But tho village was soon left behind and tho
csasesss paddles carried raua soyton % on through
Socket en- bis and then began
that lasted for four and half miles to Pittsburg.
The firing Of cannons and ringing Of whistles made
the air hideous with sound, and soon the voyager
bridges @ over tho Allegheny 1t pittsburs and these
were packed to sufocation. while the roar Of mur-
iners coming from the vast assemblage either
shore sounded like an ocean In the distance. Hun
dreds of small boats surrounded the Captain, and
for o time nothing could be seen but the swaying
silken flag.
Finally, the steamtug Caldwell swung out beside
the Captain to take him on board It seen that
u
catastrophe and loss Of life Boyton" refused to
get on board until he had reached Duquesne Point.
where the Allegheny River ends. Here he got on
board at twenty minutes to four and taken to
the ferry landing at South Pittsburg under o full
head of steam. carriage was in waiting,
surrounded by the police. and Boyton was
ferried across on the Manchester ferryboat to the
Allegheny eide, from which he crossed tho bridge to
the Robinson House in q close carriage. The police
were compelled to handle the crowds very roughly iu
order to clear . passage from the carriage to the
hotel door for the feeble and exhausted man. who
walked up tho stairs to his gttering with ice
In few minutes Boyton was stripped and laid upon
the bed. where he rcclined at full length,
but little life left in him. His fingers wero
found to be frozen and his face was
badly frosbitcn. Besides this his feet and wrists
were very painful. Boyton was ton hours aud
half in the water and made in that time twenty
eight miles. The whole distance accomplished con-
sidering the winding of the river. was fully
one hundred and fifty miles since Thursday morning
st eighteen minutes past clcven O'Clock.
PROPOSED LECTURE.
Tomorrow evening Boyton will, IN response to
citizens cs attempt to lecture on his travels, for
the hrst time in his life.
A BOLD ROBBERY.