The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-08-24
DEAD AND LIVING SPORTS.
The Tragic Fate OF the Rash Swimmer E1cites
Sympathy at the Hub and Brings
Up Old "Reminiscences.

Sympathy at the Hui and Brings
Up Old "reminiscences
The Palatial Gin Mill Where slugger Sullivan
VIII Deal Out Drinks to Boston's
Thirsty Threats.
BOSTON, Mass Special Correspondence, Aug.
1.-The Dolly d. has now been at her moor
ings nearly a week, and the jolly yachting
party that cruised in her during the past few
weeks has broken up, its members, perhaps, to
meet later in the year and again skim over the
waters along the picturesque New England
coast. After experiencing the various tenn
peratures of a good many of the popular sea-
side resorts in this vicinity, l could not help
remarking, on returning to the Hub, upon the
comparative GOODNESS of the city over a num-
Der of the watering places. In my Judgment,
it has been much warmer, on the average, this
summer, in ne-half the beach cities than it
has in Boston; and yet deluded cool-air seek
ers are contentedly paying So and Sd a day
for poor accommodations at seaside hotels, and
are f1attering themselves that they are getting
iced atmosphere on the half compared to
that which their less fortunate, or less foolish,
brethren are breathing in the city. l find that
the principal topic of conversation is Capt.
Webb and his terrible death; that interest in
the t~elegraphers' strike is rapidly dying out,
and that the greatest event now looked
forward to by bibulous Bostonians ie
the opening of Slugger Snllivan's saloon.
When Capt Webb first announced his intention
of swimming the falls, few thought that he
really meant to do it. except perhaps his most
intimate frSnrlo c. l,tfIe ,nt,.ant ,,,- ,a.-.
tested in the proposed feat that the public had
almost forgotten it when the news arrived that
the bold swimmer had met his death in at
tempting to accomplish it. Then it was not
believed that he captain was so foolhardy,
and many thought that a dummy of some kind
had been substituted. and that the captain
would turn up again in a few days scratched
and torn and half dead from supposed exhaus-
ton. This, it was thought, would be done as
an advertisement. as the captain was about to
make a professional tour of the watering
places and large interior cities. 1t was remem-
bered thatfour years ago the captain and Paul
Boyton, the rubber suit ~natator, were matched
for $4,000 to swim at Nantucket, just off the
beach, Webb to swim ten miles, while Boyton
was TO paddle twelve and o half miles. The
race was not started until late in the afternoon,
and by the time it was dark Webb had become
confident that unless he did something desperate
he was a beaten man. He swan to the shore and
ran along the beach as fast as no could in the
direction Of the judges boat Passing Boyn-
ton and thinking himself unseen in the dark
ness he rushed into the water again and swan
to the boat Before reaching it, however,
Boyton, by quick work. came in first, greatly
surprised that his rival was 80 near, as he had
FOR a long time been far ahead of him. An in
vestigation followed, and the fact that Webb
ran a good part Of the distance on shore was
well established. The stake money was never
paid, and for a long time Webb and his UNDER
takings were looked upon by the public with
suspicion. Judging from this, many thought
the swimming of the falls a "skin,' but now all
doubt is dispelled, and only expressions of sor-
row at his untimely death are heard.
WEBB IN BOSTON.
Capt Webb was widely known in this yicin-
ity through the many exhibitions givon by
him. He was very pleasant, quiet and gentle
manly, and there was nothing Of the ''blawsted,
blowing Britisher" about him. A year ago last
spring he attracted considerable public notice
in this city by his wonderful feats of endurance
in the water. Alarge room was hired by his
manager, Fred Kyle, on fremont street, and
q large tank built in it, which was filled with
fresh water loaded with salt. The salt was
put in the water in order to make
" ACdf1CI3 dhu 5o LID VIC SWIMMER
would be better sustained and supported by it.
In this he foated constaL,ly for I've DAYS and
four nights, coming out but five minutes in
every twenty-fonr hours. At tho end of that
limo he was seized with cramps and was out of
the water o full half-hour. He went back
again, however, aud finished out the week.
When the captain desired to sleep, he put his
hands under his head and clenched them to-
gether with hls fingers, In this manner he
would float and sleep until his fingers would
vol. paa tIoir Ln15 md aleu- biS ba,l 70 .,la-t,
sink beneath the water, when he would awake
and try it over again. He would thus get ifteen-
minute maps. A short time after this he
essayed to remain in the water a month, night
and day. Before the frat week had expired he
began to grow weak and loose flesh, but he per
sisted in his attempt At last he grew 80 terri
bly, weak that few days before the month was
up his physician ordered him out Of the water
to save his life. The remains of the unfor-
.unate man are expected to arrive in this city
tomorrow, and funeral services will be held
at Hull, Mass, tho day following. Capt Webb
once remarked to his wife Madelaine, that il he
SHOULD DIE WHILE IN THIS ouNTR
he wished to be buried in the little old Come
terry at Hull. close by the sea he loved so well.
This quiet burial place is located upon the
southeast slope Of Telegraph Hill, Hull, and is
observable miles from shore by the noble
trees which surround it There are many
memorial slabs within it for those who have
persisted at sea, and q few monuments The
S0AASeoA 400 JUG AZ uoC A0hI1S SOO y0dE6s
but now few are buried in it 1t one time
there were q number Of ancient monuments
there, but tradition states that the French
troops, chartered on the pe~ninsular away
back in the last century, carried them down
boards.
A subscription list has been opened
il this city for Mrs. Webb and her children,
and no doubt q snu little sum will be So
cured and presented to her.
.- cYYYcrun oyyvyyyAN,- .|##. s-.=|
fell in with Frank Moran, John l. sulli-
vans manager, yesterday, and was invited to
inspect the elegant gin mill which the
champion OF the American prize ring has had
fitted up for him. It Is located on Washing
ton street. near Eliot, quite near the favorite
haunts Of the lesser stars Of the prize ring, and
is numbered TIA. It has not yet been opened
to public inspection, and close guard has been
kept upon the doors to prevent over
inquisitive persons from gaming admission,
as the champion desires to surprise and
overcome Bostonians with the magnidcencs Of
his saloon upon the evening Of Aug. z or 8.
1t is almost entirely finished, and will be ready
for business at the appointed date. Sullivan
has been exceedingly lavish in his expenditure
has put more money into it than he will draw
out In the opinion of competent judges it is
equal in elegance to tho famous bar-room of
Ned Stokes in New York. There are not 80
many costly works of art, but the carving and
wood work is much moro lavish. Outside
there is nothing particularly attractive. 1t Is
ssstily painted, and above. running the whole
width Of the saloon, is q plain black sign board,
on which, in gilt letters. is the name Of the
owner, John l. Sullivan. Handsome shades
with Sullivan's monogram finely painted upon
them and with artistic borders, protect the
large panes Of glass when desired. but during
business hours these are to be kept up and
through the windows the whole in
terror can be seen from the outside.
The aalnnO might ha BALLAD q marva1 in ma
hogany. for there is not , piece OF wood in IL
Of any other kind than that The door lead
ing into this throne room Of King Alcohol is .
double one Of solid mahogany, with engraved