Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-05-29
PAUL BOYTON.
His Arrival in st. Paul Preparatory to a
Big Swim Down the Mississippi.

as the StcamDOaJ Arkansas move 10 al
the Jackson street levee yesterday morn
ing, there stepped from the gang plank
to the wharf atall, broad shouldered,
handsome looking fellow, of sinewy form
and an eye that. seemed to catch the bear
ings of any particular locality at glance.
Given a jet-black moustache and the
reader will have before him the essential
characteristics of the famous navigator
Capt. Paul Boyton. He wears black
felt hat and a sack. coat of navy blue with
marine buttons.
The object of Capt. Boyton's visit to
st. Paul, as heretofore announced in the
GLOBE, is to swim from the head waters
of the Mississippi to Cairo
This difficult aquatic feat will be COM
menced at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.
Starting from the st. Paul boat house at
the bridge, Capt. Boyton will commence
his voyage of zoos miles, which, when
completed, will entitle him to the credit
of swimming from the source of the
Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, the
trip from Carlo down having been made
last year. fes
There is magnetic influence in the
presence of the man, bold, strong and
vigorous, and thrilling interest in lis
tening to his feats of daring, that seems
more like the cOlOred narrative of a ro-
nance.
His service in the Peruvian navy, un-
der Don Nicholas, Dictator of the Peru
Wan Republic, and his capture and escape
from Gallo, have already been the theme
of widespread conversation.
Capt. BOytOn was engaged for the tor
pedo service, the special object being to
sink the Gillian blockading fleet. He had
perfected a torpedo made to contain 100
pounds Of dynamite with rubber tube at
| tachments so contrived that it can be
stuck to the bow of vessel by the sue
ton principle, much in the manner as
the position of fly when walking On a
wall, the torpedo moving with the mo-
| ton of the vessel The motion of the
vessel acts on number of 9anges, which
after a certain number of revolutions
strike and explode the dynamite. Capt.
Boyton had a contract with the president
OF the republic by which he was to re-
blown up, $3.50. 900 for the second and
100000 for the third. He gives an in
teresting account of the difficulties en-
countered en- route from New York to
Peru.
He relates many marvellous adventures
in connection with his efforts to sink the
CHILEAN fleet. On one occasion he was
deserted on they Peruvian coast, with
nothing but his torpedo and rubber suit
and his adventures were truly wonderful.
In speaking of the caves encountered on
the coast his descriptions equal the won
ders OF Aladdin.
These caves, he says, are lit up with a
phosphorescent CLEAN and are filled with
pelicans, penguins, sea lions, seals and
birds of every species and the most gor-
geous plumages.
He was finally captured and tax en- to
Gallo, from whence he escaped by mere
chance The adventures he has encount-
cred would fill a dozen volumes, and
nothing more than mere outline can be
given in the space allotted to the inter-
view.
Among his notable voyages may be
named his perilous trip off the coast of
Ireland, memorable for it's daring, his
trip across the Bay Of Dublin in 1874, his
voyage across, the English channel in 1875,
his voyage on the Rhine in October, 1875,
his descent of the Danube, 400 mile trip,
in six days, his trip down the Pc, from
Turin to the Adriatic sea, November,
1876, his descent of the AFRO in 1875, his
voyages on the Tiber, the Bay of Naples,
the Rhone, Lave, Tagus, Seine, Guadal-
culver, and other European voyages, in
addition to his many feats of daring on
the lakes and rivers Of the United States.
BABY NINE.
In all the above voyages the captain
was for the most part entirely alone, rely
ing solely upon his own endeavors and
the protection of the American flag,
which he constantly carried. He propels
himself by a double bladed paddle, aver
aging about 100 strokes to the minute.
A little iron boat, "Baby Nine" thirty
inches in length and twelve inches in
width, with depth of hold of about ten
inches, has been his companion du g0yage,
accompanying him over most of the trips
enumerated above. Secured by light
line attached to his belt he lows the little
boat along, hauling her up alongside
whenever he has occasion to draw upon
her stores of supplies. In her hold are
stored signal rockets, thermometer, ba-
rometer, chronometer, maps, charts,
lamps, revolver, compass, together with
provisions for three days, medicines,
cigars, etc.
A GLOBE reporter called at the Mer-
chants last night and was invited to Capt.
Boyton's room. There, IN addition to
the miniature companion above described,
the reporter was shown the -bladed
paddle and rubber suit worn on the ex-
petitions. The suit comprises rubber
pants, boots and waist all in one, and
jacket with arms and hands, the only
opening being for the face. The entire
suit has seven air chambers and upon be-
ing inflated is made water tight by means
of Boyton's improved steel band or
flange.
e Capt Boyton is at present engaged in
writing a book of his experiences, to be
called 'Roughing it in Rubber" The
trip about to be commenced will form
chapter in the volume, which will be
filled with his adventures. The book will
be ready for publication by Christmas.
Capt. Boyton will be at the Merchants
this afternoon, where he will be pleased
to receive friends. He expects to make
the proposed trip in from fifteen to seven
teen days.
Paying for His Music.
Among the prisopers before hiZzoner vester-