The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-14

grew stronger with each minute. and while it servei
assist Webb to his goal it raised such rump's
on the surface of the water that the passengrfs o"
not safer to get into tine water at once ana nos
wait to be spilled out.
LuscHING WATER.
At o'clock Webb was swimming twenty seven
strokes to the minute. still being initiated oS INC
stranger Five minutes past the hour tue here. re'
spar buoy on the middle ground was passed
the wind blowing harder with each moment;
At Twenty-Five minutes past one Webb changea
his position for few strokes, but resumed
thesold regular motion again in less than minute
At exactly haf-past one Webb stopped for the frst
time since the start, and treading water near thS
launch asked for something TO drink.
'.What will You have?" asked Captain Hartley.
sale. please" responded the swimmer
The ale had. unfortunately, been mslaid at the
start and Captain Hartley was obliged to give him
lager beer He filled pewter mug and handed it to
Webb, who, treadng water the while drank the
tents and threw the cup back into the boat. The
stranger took some brandy in the same way: Webb
then swan up beside the boat again and said
"Ihrow us bit of meat
Captain Hartley then took some roast beef. which.
breaking into small pieces he placed i'll the SWIM
mer's mouth. Webb chewed a small piece about
the size of ones finger, and then swan H.. Schoen-
pieces of meat the only food stimulant that
Webb had during the entire day. Both swimmers
went away for the beach, the blue cap of
Webb showing in pretty contrast with the
white caps. When about mile from the
beach the swimmers stopped, it was
necessary according the terms of the tor
him to land OH Manhattan Beach between five and
six o'clock. Ii he landed before that hour he would
lose the wager of 81 1000. 1t was now about two
o'clock, and Webb had three good hours before he
could land. The wind was at this time blowing
perfect gale. and there began struggle between
man and the waves. The action of the tide and
wind would i'll the ordinary course throw Webb
on the beach in less than an hour and
it his aim to prevent this The elements strug
ged to cast him up the beach aud he iabored to
prevent it. 1t desperate struggle, too at times
and on the average the elements had little the best
OF 1t. The hight began two O'Clock and lasted
until five. Webb was tossed here and there like .
cork. Now way up on white crested wave. now
down in a hollow that seemed to have the sand for
"a bottom his little blue cap told the watchers that
he was all right.
IN DANGER OF BEING swAMpED.
During all this time the passengers on the launch
Priscilla had gradually become convinced that they
were in considerable danger from the violence of the
and the utter incapacity OF the boats crew. The
boat about twenty feet long, with an open cock
pit fore and aft and an upright boiler and engine
said only the night before That she was utterly
unfit for even q moderate sea was apparent
to every one in her at the start, but no
one was prepared for the conduct of her
pilot who almost before she had lett the dock pre-
dicted dire disaster to the entire party He was
croaker OF the worst sort. There were on board Mr.
Robert Smith, OF East New York, the representative
of Mr.. Austin Corbin; Mr.. Charles Colvin. Mr.. w.
Drysdale, Captain John S. Dingwall. Mr. Z. Lyons.
Captain Hartley, Mr.. II. W. b. Howard. Mr.. Gilbert
Bunten. Major Easton and the HERALD reporter.
Most of these gentlemen had had some experience
the sea; but the idea OF a captain predicting
certain destruction of his craft to his passengers
was new to most Of them The matter finally
eliminated in something like mutiny by the pilot
and engineer, and the former declared Ill his terror
that he would go ashore anyhow. Webb. who was
hailed. suggested that some should ''throw the
beggars overheard. Matters got to such pass that
each succeeding wave washed the sides and the
pilot seemed to have lost his head entirely. Finally
a council of war was called, and 1t decided that
without skilful management the boat would GER
tainly be swamped. 1t was also decided that two
men should get into a small boat aud
stay with the swimmer. while the others should
take charge of the launch and get ashore somehow
Captain Hartley and Major Easton went into tho
small boat, and the launch's head turned foI
the west end OF Coney Island i'll the hope of wealth
ering Norton's Point and eifecting landing. The
boat exceedingly low in the water, and AS her
head was turned westward after sea came over
drenched to the skin. and the boat was half
filled with water. The steam pump was
kept working, but 1t choked and not very effec-
tive The life preservers on board were passed
around and everything made ready for an upset.
which was expected to occur every moment. As the
pier passed the terror of the pilot got the
best of him. and he threw her head in toward shore.
''What is that for! asked one of the passengers.
"If the is better along here I
shall beach her.. "No, you will not. was
ready to prevent what would have been almost
certain destruction in that sea. Reluctantly her
head put up again, and after half hour more
of pounding and tossing safety was reached and
landing made. The pilot claimed afterward that he
wanted to leave before the sea became so rough.
and made their way to the Manhattan Beach
Hotel just i'll time to welcome Webb az he
made his landing at ten minutes past five His re-
ception very enthusiastic aud he cheered to
the echo. He went Immediately to bath. after
which he ate very hearty supper OF steak. He re.
turned to New York by the eight O'Clock boat. and
retired Immediately bed tired. but the worse
tor his wonderful swim.