The daily gazette., 1883-08-07
PERSONS GOOD Swim
HE BEATS THE PICK OF THE
NEW YoRK POLICE.
AND WINS A VALUABLE MEDAL.
He Makes a Mile Against Wind and Tide
in FOrty-Six Minutes and Wins the Race
with Plenty of Time 20 Spare.

John Pierson, of the Wilmington police
force, beat the pick of the New York police
In a swimming contest, yestt rday, winning
with ease and making mile against wind
and tide in 46 minutes. The New York
Times gives the following report of the
match
The Police Department was we'll repre-.
sented along the Harlem river yesterday. A
medal valued at $50 had been Offered for the
police swimming championship OF the United
States, and ses eral of the swimmers among
the patrolmen were aspirants for the pr e.
Capt. McCulloch, OF the new Second Pre-
cinct; Sergt. Hamilton, Of the twenty eight,
and Sergt. Brophy, Detective John Corey,
and George j. Godfrey of the Eighteenth
Precinct, accompanied Charles ]. Wade. the
representative swimmer of the latter pre-
clnct, to Kylo's Park, at High
Bridge, which had been named as the
rendezvous. The harbor police rowed their
man, Adolph G. Hasslecher, In patrol boat
from Third street, East River, to the same
spot. The race was to be from the Columbia
boat house to Macomb's Dam bridge and
return, distance OF about two and half
miles. 1t seems that there was once a
"Kyle's Park" in the neighborhood of the
Columbia Boat Club house, and this point
was int nded as the rendezvous. Dennis f.
Butler, OF the Third District Police, Phila-
delphia; Harry Pfeiffer, of this city, and
John Pierson, OF Delaware, went directly
to the Columbia Boat Club house
William E. Harding, the referee, started
the latter three men, after waiting
reasonable time, soon after 8 o'clock But
Ter was attended to by Capt. james j. dc
Cabe and crew from the Active Boat Club,
in barge, which also carried the referee,
while Pierson was coached by crew from
fhp Non n rail Rnof Glt1h M RNhaHt nnna.,
of the Actlyes, looked after PfeifFer. When
the men plunged from the float into the
water Butler took the lead. The tide was
about the turn of the flood, and the swim
mers had it with them until they were
nearly to the bridge. Butler, who is a
handsome swimmer, throwing his left
arm into the air like the fan of a
propeller, occasionally lited his head and
shouted, Gam beating him" ooh, yes"
said Capt. McCabe, "take it easy" He re-
fcrred to Pierson, for Pieiffer was several
rods in the rear of his competitors. just Le-
fore Butler reach d the bridge Person made
squirt and, taking advantage of the chang
ing tide, passed Butler, and the tide carried
him close to the turret on which the draw
bridge is secured. Seizing the opportunity
PiersOn reached up on the stone turret and
rested a few seconds. "1bat's a foul, "cried
John Hughes, of the Actives. The referee,
however, decided that swimmer
might indulge in any sport Of
that character when he is
so far ahead. There was much growl-
ing over THIS decision, as old swimmers say
that the rules expressly prohibit any rest
ing during swim of a stated distance in a
match" Pierson, having rested, started
down the river with the tide. He was closely
followed by Butlel, but the latter caught a
cramp soon after rounding the turret the
bridge ana was pulled into the referees
boat. AS Pierson padded down the stream,
he met Pfeitfer on the way up the course.
Finally Pfeffer's friends induced him to
climb into a boat, as Pierson was so far
ahead that 1t was useless for him to waste
his energy to no purpose. At the
same moment boat containing "Charlie"
Wade, rowed by Sergeant Brophy, came
down from High Bridge. Close at hand was
the harbor police boat, with Hasslecher as
passenger. They rowed to Referee Hard
ing's boat, and expressed their dissatisfac-
ton that no better arrangements had been
made for the race. He, however, informed
them that they knew that the race was to
begin at the Columbia boat club house, and
gave them very little satisfaction Pierson
continued over the course, winning the race
in 1.l6. Butler Immediately challenged
Pierson, the winner, to race, but the latter
would not say whether he would accept or
not.