The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-14
A WONDERFUL FEAT.
Captain Webs Successful Swim from Sandy
Ho.k 10 Manhattan Beach
THE JUDGES BOAT IN DANGER.
Narrow Escape of the Passengers
from a Watery Grave.

Matthew Webb, the English swimmer. yesterday
successfully and with accomplished the task of
swimming from Sandy Hook to Manhattan Beach.
He was accompanied by small steam launch. the
Priscilla. which conveyed number of gentlemen
who to judges and referees. The steamer
st. Johns, from this city. took the party down to
Sandy Hook early i'll tho morning. On the way the
party ted, and Webb ate about pound and
a half of beefsteak with accessories Arriving at
the Hook the party. after short wait. embarked
the Priscilla and steamed around to the government
dock. webb undressing the meanwhile. When stripped
he weighed 1855 pounds. and stood five feet eight
inches in height. He nothing except small cloth
about his waist. His body was carefully creased
from head TO feet. and. putting small blue cap
he stood ut the bow OF the boat ready for the plunge
AT twenty-five minutes of nine o'clock A. NJ he
dved from the boat into the water and rapidly
to the shore. There he poised himself for moment
so. and at exactly twenty minutes of nine he
sprang into the water and began his great swim.
Tho direct from Sandy Hook to Man
haitian Beach is exactly ten miles, but Webb
knew that the tides and wind would have
great influence the matter. In order
that he might utilize both to the greatest
extent he had studied the charts of the
United States Survey. and looked anxiously at the
wind gauges as he started. The tide strong
sbb and the wind very light indeed. and from the
progress for the first eighth of u mile. The
tide, already stated, strong ebb, and carried
him to eastward rapidly. When about eighth Of
mile out he passed through school of moss
bunkers without appearing to notice them in the
least The fish jumped about in great fright at the
white, shiny looking thing that was passing among
them and appeared to be very anxious to avoid any
closer acquaintance than absolutely necessary.
STRUGGLING WITH THE TIDE.
The tide began to run harder as the channel was
reached, and for twenty minutes it apr cared to be
NIP and tuck with Webb. He pressed steadily
without increasing abandoning the breast stroke.
During this period the stroke about twenty
nine the minute. faster stroke by than he
used in his swim across the English Channel. This
stroke seemed to surprise the English gentlemen
who were on board the launch, but when Webb
informed of his speed he dd not seem to be in the
least surprised. Another school of moss bunkers
then came by and for the first time the swimmer
asked what they were. When told he smilingy said
he was glad they not sharks. Within ten
minutes he decreased his stroke to twenty-five a
minute. and looked behind him frequently. At five
minutes past nine he hailed the boat and said
that he could make out of the higher
buildings OF the island and in a question
as to how he felt. responded "Oh. am all right"
There evidently much truth i'll what he said.
He lost nothing by any trfing. There were no
his peculiar long, slow steady stroke every one of
which told. His feet ana arms were extended alter
nately. and when bringing his feet up he would give
them wide swing and end it near the surface-so
near, in fact, that his heels frequently
above the water. He would wait, stretched out per-
fectly straight, until the Roadway gained by
stroke exhausted before he would make another.
His strokes were always the same and showed the
most elaborate training and extended experience.
Nothing seemed to worry him In the least. ana he
went right on Ikea piece of machinery. or rather
like frog worked by clockwork.
AtaQuarter past nine the WIND died away, rev
minutes LATER ne passed the black and white striped
channel buoy. At twenty five minutes past nine
Austrian bark towed by the tug Amin across his
course but the pilot of the tug him time enough
to sheer off aud give him plenty of room. About
ten O clock the tugboat Charm came up abreast of
him. and while the crow gazed curiously at him
way. Another tug, the Will Burrows. soon came
up, aud the pilot. after gazing open-mouthed for
a few moments, rang for tull speed and
raced away if he had u representative of
Davy Jones. A dock of birds now circled around
were followed by another school of moss bunkers.
who jumped all over and around the swimmer as he
pursued the tenor of his way.
GOING WITH STEADY BREAST STROKE.
At ten o'clock he was swimming % strokes a
minute, and passed buoy No. 6. going rapidly sea-
bloodshot, but Captain Hartley his manager. ex-
planned that it invariably so with HIM when he
remained i'll the water any length of time No.
withstanding he had now been i'll the water for
hour he did not show the slightest fatigue. and
had not changed his steady breast stroke tor
moment About this time two very pretty butter
flies came flying up from somewcre and lowered
about his head. The party on the launch took this
for good omen and cbeered Justify. Webb raised
his head and looked all about to see what
the butterflies saluted them with one hand. In =
few moments more they had disappeared. short
time afterward the Representative ofthe Manhattan
Beach Company distributed his breakfast in
school of mossbunkers. and Webb noticing the
fact cheery sang That willlsatsfy the sharks.
guess, and then Joined heartily in the laugh that
followed.
At eleven the first jellyfsh were met and Webb
looked anxiously at them to il they OF the
stinging kind. Of which he seems more afraid than
of sharks After finding to his satisfacti ton that they
he was mot at all tired" Nor did he appear
to be as his stroke was now 20 minute. few mo-
ments later the yacht Rosetta came close mp and
denly completely around and looked ut the yacht
and then Immediately went again. lie turned
and swan little on his right side at quarter past
eleven but only for "a few strokes This was tho
fist change he had made from the time he entered
the water The wind Increased rapidly and
number of yachts came dancing by their passen-
gers euriously Watching the intrepid swimmer ~
he rose and fell on the white crested waves. Tho
little launch tossed tumbled about. to the
great discomfort of her passengers, who really on
Wed Webb his comfortable appearance IN the
water.
A RIVAL SWIMMER APPEARS.
Among the yachts that crccd around the swim
mer and the launch was the Nelly, who had on her
deck quite q large party OF gentlemen aud one lady.
Her movements were exceedingly mysterious ant
she lowered about the wake OF the swimmer. making
reef after reef and finally running under her jib
alone. This conduct appeared the more mysterious
thing. Webb noticed her. but beyond glancing
over his shoulder occasionally paid attention
to the fact. Presently, every watching
her a white, shiny figure to rush up the
companion way and throw itself into the water. A
it was. evidently and he propelled himself
through the water with quick, powerful strokes,
rapidly ovcrhauling Webb lie had "a white hand
kerchie tied about his head. and as he approached
the swimmer the latter looked curiousiy over his
shoulder and finally, when near enough. he blurted
out
II thought you were bald headed"
righteousness welcome seemed
to strike all alike at once, and general roar of
laughter was the result. The man proved to be
Ernest Schocning. of No. 134 Second place. Brook
Ign, and the really magnificent manner in which he
brcsted the waves won the unqualified praise OF all.
Even Webb himself spoke aftcrward in the highest
terms OF him. Schoenng said that he had in
tended to start with Webb from sandy Hook,
but had mistaken tho time, and so had
Joined HIM in the wafer. This occurred about six
miles from Manhattan Beach. The man settled down
to n "a per minute stroke. and Kept side by side