The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-07-03
!. RnEASrING TmEnnEAKERs.


1
MGR OF Eng gland n nd America.
NEwYonx, July l,-NIany thousands OF
people were gathered on the beach in front
Of the Hotel Brighton, Coney Island, this
evening, and on the platform Of tho bathing
pavilion, to witness tho swimming match
between Capt. Matthew Webb, the cham.
pion Of England, and George H.. Wade, Of
Brooklyn, tho champion ocean swimmer Of
America. The match was for 81 900 and
the championship Of America. Captain
Webb is man Of medium height and he
has u round, rosy face. lie Wore u bristlinr
moustache md had his head closely
sliaven. lie is 3lyears old and weighs 100
pounds. He swan across the English chanel
from Dover 10 Calais, and last summer he
swain from Sandy Hook to Coney Island,
distance OF fourteen miles. Wade is %
years old and weighs lS0 pounds. The tide
to-day was unusually high, mud although
thow was not cold the sea was rough.
The intention was 10 swim eight times
from the brighton battling pavilion to
the wooden pier and return, but owing 10
the rough wnter the men agreed to swim
around stake boat mile and half from
tho beach. The two swimmers were well
oiled. and ut eight minutes past six they
diyed nom the steps Of the pavilion iuto the
water. Webb came " the suriace one hun.
dred and fifty yards from where he entered
the water, and then struck out through the
breakers, swimming on his right side and
using his left arm, in tho manner of
padJle-wheel OF q steanboat. Wade was
about twenty feet behind him and swim.
ming fiat on bis breast. Tho spectators
cheered them rs ii they fiwent, both
bobbing up !, and down like 4. corks
on the ocean. Now they would appear nj
the summit OF a wave, and then he hid.
den from view in The trough OF the sea. one
swimmer would be in sight and tho other
lost to view. There had been considerable
money bet on tho race, with odds slightly
slightly In favor: OF Webb. For the
first mile Webb maintained the lead.
The strong tide setting shoreward washed
the swimmers in the direction Of New York
Bay. They beat against the. adverse cur.
rent, however, and in forty minutes from
the start they rounded the row boat, with
Wade ten feet ahead, and turned their
faces toward the beach. The tide WAS in
their favor after this, and the two men
made rapid progress. Wheu within a mile
Of the shore, Captain Webb, who had kent
slightly in the rear, made Il spurt. Iie
passed Wade ind drove through the waves
like porpoise. lie would not ride
on top OF wave, but when one
came along he dived straight through
it with his mouth wide open. lie
swan, in fact most Of the race under the
water. Wade went over the waves in good
style, but he could not over,ake tic am
phibiol,s Engishman. At seventeen min.
utes past seven the long arm OF tho Captain
with which he had EeOn steering, wns
Stretched out to touch The pole on which
was the blue ilag-the port Of victory-anI
in half a minute he wulked up the stcns,
amid much cheering the c,ampion swim.
mer OF England and America. His hand
was squetaetl by his delighted hackers,
and q blanket flung over his shoulders. =
One minute inter the victor, Wade
emerged from the water. Though defeated
he smiled and said: 'It's NIL right and
ran mp 10 his room. John Fitenett acted
as referee, and George II. Richie az stake
holder. Captain Webb. il il eaid, will offer
to swim against any mun for the champion
ship oi the world. - -.