Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-08-23
FAMOUS SWIMMERS.

FAMOUS SWIMMERS.
Rrem Ieaader 10 Captain wholesome
OF their Notable Achievements.
New York Truth
As Captain Matthew Webb, the great
English swimmer, lost his life while try
ing to outstrip all the known swimming
achievements, fey instances of the
memorable long distance svims may
prove interesting.
Ii il not 80 very long ago that the
mythical swimming feat of Leander,
and the more recent accomplishment of
Lord Byron In traversing the Heiles-
pont, were considered the greatest of
all natatorial achievements, but with
the advent of such swimmers as old
Fred Beckwlth, Harry GurL Captain
Webb, E. 7. Jones, and still later on
Willie Beckwith. the historical and DO
etical long distance swim sinks into
comparative insiguificance. The first
record Of long distance swimming was
in England some twenty years back,
when all the cracks competed
in ten-mile race. This affair
took place in the early days of the side
stroke, and long before it was thought
that man could stay in the water more
than six hours without being EXHAUSTED;
both Harry Gurr and Fred Beckwith
were among these contestants, but they
made NO show at all, and soon exhausted
themselves with their laborious though
fast method of propulsion. The ulti-
mate winner was found in the person
Of Mr.. Wood, of Ruddersield, whose
exceeding obesity kept him warm
longer than his more youthful antag-
onists, an 30 he won. He was poor
swimmer AZ regards speed and style,
but could stay in the water as long as
he wished, and had it not been for the
change of tide he would have put more
miles TO bis credit. He occupied eight
hours In making the ten miles, which
bad % their starting point TeddiRgton
looks or their vicinity, on the river
Thames. Soon after this feat of MIR.
Wood young Harry Gurr talked of
crossing the English channel, and it
was said that the Emperor Napoleon
took great interest in the attempt, and
bad. promised to assist the youth
full natator with money and the
aid Of Government boats "a well as pi-
lots. Gurr had two theories on the sub
ject, one was 10 swim the twenty mile
stretch Of water, driving a plank before
him in the style that schoolboys have to
paddle around in the water. The other
was to 60 across the channel unaided
by any artificial means, and using his
own peculiar overland stroke. This
method of propulsion was very curious.
and while the athlete would avoid the
force Of broken or rough water, the long
immersiOns at the end of each stroke
al I'D 30. h suf hs,x,l 1t,r
before the white sands of Calais could
be seen. let alone reached. Whether it
was the knowledge of his defective style
defective for a long distance-that
made him give up his attempt is not
known, or whether Louis Napoleon
withdrew his pecuniary aid, 80 neces
sery to such task, will remain mys-
terry, but the project was abandoned,
ming and his unbroken list of victories,
for, like Hanlan, the champion oars-
man, he Was never beaten in a match
race, and very rarely in race of any
description.
Another of England's famous swim
mers was Harry Coulter, who was both
speedy and staunoh. He WAS n breast
swimmer, and a. such was better calcu-
lated to get through a seaway than any
Of the side or overland experts. He Was
really the 6rst one who ever tried "a long
stretch in the open sea, and his feat OF
eighteen years ago, when he beat q
weatherbeaten tar, who imagined he
could keep adoat forever. Is still fresh
In the memory Of those who follow such
matters. In this race Coulter beat his
adversary out Of sight.
The next item of long distance swim
ming in the chronicles 10 that of Capt.
Matt Webb, whose fate all deplore. He
went across the English Channel unaid-
ed, and stamped himself as the vefy
best long distance swimmer ever seen
or heard Of. Had his speed been equal
TO his staying power, none Of the cham
pions whose forte Is swiftneas would
have had any business with the Captain.
That he was not fast swimmer in any
sense Of the word is patent from his
showing with Willie Beckwith, and the
race with the American champion En-
est Won Schoening. who beat him by
long distance In ten-mile swim at Lo-
Gust Grove three years ago.
OF course, Capt. Webb had many imi-
tators, and one of them. Fred Cavil, al
most disputes the channel record with
the captain. This gentleman was q
we'll known short distance swinmer in
England fifteen years ago, and Is said
20 Do one of the very best salt water
swimmers ever scan. His stroke was
we'll calculated 10 take him long dis
tancs and at a very rapid rate, and his
friends claim that he went from Dover
20 Calais much faster than Webb did,
bot through some hitch in the arrange
ments be never got clear record for
his trouble. To many people these
Ions. distance swims have no real si9nif-
ioanoe, bat that they do good TOR all
communities 10 fact, and the accom-
pliahmsut Of channel svims Is well cal
culatsd 10 inspire the timid with couh-
dancs. SWIMMING 10 not hard ac-
complishment 70 acquire. and when
once known Il will never he forgotten.
An ordinary swimmer ought 10 be able
20 traverse Q mile in fresh water, and
double that distance In the sea, while
Q good swimmer would be able to pro-
pel himself Ten miles in salt water; but
the great trouble h even those who con-
sidsr themselves expert swimmers lose
al their confidence as soon a. they get
too far from the shore or begin TO feel
the least weary. Next TO swimming,
floating 10 the most desirable thing in
the wafer, and . good noatsr can lie on
the top u the water ior hours-even
n