The New York herald., 1879-02-03
PAUL BOYTON.

PAUL BOYTON.
| THE FAMOUS NAVIGATOR AT THE NATIONAL
| CApITAL-INTERvIEw WITH THE PRESIDENT
| SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITION At THE NAVY YARD.
WAsHINGToS, Feb. 1, 1879.
The presence of Captain Paul Boyton in this city
the first time in his eventful has created
quite social furore The famous navigator is now
| guest OF DR.. Rowland, well known scientist and
lecturer. II is very doubtful whether any American
has received much honor and courtesy from the
| officials and people in general as the Captain.
| His general bearing. coupled with his reputa
ton for personal daring and gaantry, seems to
mand respect and attention that is not ordinary in
| its character.
WHITE HOUSE.
At three o'clock yesterday President Hayes received
Captain Boyton ut the White House. in company with
Captain Merriman, of the revenue service The Pres
| dent was very unreserved in his reception and
| high in his praise Of the great Captains achieve
ments in Europe.
If you refer to life saving, Mr.. President" said
| the Captain. ~ think you labor under common
Misrepresentation. Ny record is seventy-two lives.
and they were all saved off the Jersey coast. My
| efforts were not appreciated, however i'll America
and it was not until visited Europe that received
| the honors which have showered in upon from
foreign rulers might have put my own countrymen
to shame
| The President then asked the Captain what his
uniform sgnified, and. being informed, said he
happy to meet officer of the French Life Swing
service socially.
what the greatest trip you ever made. Cap
tain =" inquired the President
THE voyage down the Tagus sir. started just
one year ago to-day and was eighteen consecutive
days in making it. l the first man to carry
fag through the Tagus for it is unnavsabe for 200
Kilometres"
'rhe red cross flag of-universal charity was the
flag Of your choice, suppose.
Nh sjr sui1
carried the American flag the entire length of the
voyage. The spanisrds were little jealous of the
The President expressed great pleasure being in
formed that the American colors were the first to
conquer the Tagus, and wished the gallant Captain
many happier voyages in the more congenial waters
of America. by request Captain Boyton presented
the President with his photograph and signature at
tached, and the President returned the compliment
by giving Boyton large portrait and autograph
"rhank you Mr. presaent s said the e, Captain naaah
shall prize this most as 1t is given by the President
| Of the United States.''
After short conversation on various topics and
an introduction to Mr.. Webb Hayes the President $
son, the party departed and the rest of the day
| spent in general sightseeing.
| EXHIBITION THE NAVY YARD
This afternoon an invitation exhibition was held in
| House Just before three o'clock the loud booming
OF the naval guns announced the arrival of the Pres
idcnt. accompanied by Mr.: Thompson. Secretary of
the Navy, and Postmaster General Keys The Presi-
| dental launch was swung of ut the mouth
of the slip in which the experiment was
|
dent and members of the Cabinet Admiral
Scott and Commodore English. The vessels and tor
| pcdo boats which enclosed the space were covered
| with flags and the Marine Band in attendance.
The crush along the docks and on the adjacent
sells was something fearful and only the presence Of
About onethird of the assemblage were ladies and
| naval officers.
Promptly at three o'clock loud splash heard
| at the boat house. which all eyes inncdi-
atcly fixed. and presently Paul boyton's paddles
| drove him into sight with a velocity that stiff
fcned the beautiful new silk national asg
which he carried Hating in front of tho
rs''uu ors and the President s.iutrd the cabinet
members raising their hats. In another moment
the American flag was replaced by the well known
white colors and the red Geneva Cross, which the
captain waved three times in honor Of the life saving
service officials present: The next feature of tho
water and just before the dispatches written
| the boat Baby Mine was seen floating by the cap
New York bay among the ice. From the hold of tho
tiny ronclad Boyton took two doves. and. attaching
direct the city. while the other hovered for
| ment Just the Presidents head, and dartcd
straight for Washington and homo.
CONSTRUCTING RAFT.
The gathering together of logs and wreck debris
for the purpose of constructing raft and the sub
space OF time. and the manner in which Boyton ham
| died the hammer and bound the logs together
| lesson to the Navy Yard workngmen. Mounting the
Boyton illustrated the Of signal flags and the
| buglc distress signals. and afterwafd discharged
several heavy decorating rockets and cloud Iiphts
then returned carrying with him a long fishing
pole and tackle, on placing which he pa
teutly settled down to the watch with the
air of an expciienc angler. In short time ap
| foyton drew the line out Of the water with fine
looking hsh the hook. The surprise hau hardly
| passed than the whole assembly began to give out
roars of laughter which was explained on knowing
that the fish was a perch and 1t hal beon drawn
from the Potomac, . fresh water river. The
huiuor of the situation struck the President that
he could not help but shake his sides with
irreprcssiblc laughter, Tor tao Captain ;
little device had been revealed. The fsh
| was dead one. bought at Washington Market
and tied to the hook. Lighting fire in an iron fire
cage was matter of u few minutes. and then Boyton
| made the assembage laugh by cleaning and cooking
the fish aud laying table on the raft. with table
cover knives, forks plates, napkins and cruet stand
Boyton then opened bottle VI beer and drank the
health of the President. An awning then opened
and protected the Captains face while he lit cigar
! and road n newspaper. meanwhile tanning HIMSELF
60 the intense amusement of the chilled spectators
| the Captain took from the raft his doube-barrelcd
shotgun and fired shot after shot in all directions.
Two shots were fired in exactly opposite directions
with such rap,lity that only one report was heard
the water and handed them to the spectators One
riycn to Mr. Hayes bore the nscription-"Floating
| compliments or Paul Boyton.''
| CARRYING A LINE.
life line next carried from tho boat house TO
the ship Tallapoosa to illustrate the carrying of a
line from stranded vessel TO the shore. Bombs aud
torpedocs were fired from the little mortar for at
tracing attention in mid ocean. The last perform
ance was the blowing up OF small full riggcd ship
by huge torpedo.
pite many invitations to remain public invita-
tiou s being gotten up to call Boyton the city for
lecture this is the only possible manner in which
he ecu bs cornered.