Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-11-09
SWIMMERS OF FAME
Feats of the Poet Byron, Ben,,r,,
lin and Other Noted NJ, rank

Feats OF the Poet Byron, BENJAMIN ~
lin and Other Noted Men. rang
The recent feat of Steve Rrod;o ,
newsboy, who few years ago lean
from Brooklyn bridge, in swimmiu
from Albany to New York in Iit+,s
over SIX days, thus beating Canta;s
Paul Boyton's record, is without para
lei in the history of swimming.
/ Even Leander, who piobtl,,
across the Hellespont, distance -,
Tour miles, to visit his lady-love. wo,,a
probably have demurred at six-d,rs,
! trip. The unfortunate lover was tinau'
drowned while making his nightly vow
age, but this has not deferred seven,
who wished to initiate his ex.r,,1
Lord Byron. who was well develoned
III his arms and chest, succeeded ~
swimming the Hellespont in An bo,,-
ana twenty minutes, and it is much f.
be doubted if "a lover ever made ba++os
Tune. The poet was great swim,,o.
and proud of his accomplishment W..
he nearly lost his life at one of tha
English watering places, being rescued
In an exhausted condition by the loo,.
ers-on.
Inc English channel has LONG been ,
favorite resort for SWIMMING TO-.
captain Boyton swan across f,or,
France to little town in Kent in loss
than day, while Captain Webb. tbi,
teen years ago, swan from Dover 70
Caials' distance of thirty miles in
twenty-five hours and forty minutes
One of England's Admirals who
rose to his position from that of a cabin
BOY, got his first commission for HI,
proves as swimmer. During tho
naval war between England and uol
land two centuries ago the Admiral -
the English fleet found that he was Io,.
unless he could communicate with a
NUMBER OF his vessels that were hidda,
from his sight beyond projecting point
OF land. The only way to send an order
TO these vessels was by SWIMMING for
IL would have been impossible for apv
boat to make the passage. A cabin
BOY, strong, athletic young fellow
VINO mad run away to sea- undertook to
carry the order. Holding it in his
mouth ne swan through the smoke Of
the battle to the reserve vessels
brought them up in time, and saved the
day.
Inc annals of our navy record manv
similar gallant deeds of sailors who
have risked their lives in the water.
while every year the Government
awards medals to people who have
saved others from drowning by their
ability to swim. Indeed, one of the
greatest of Americans, Benjamin Frank.
lin, was famous swimmer, and wrote
two essays on the subject which are in.
terestlng reading. Few men have DOS.
sessed such command over themselves
In the water as he, for he was not only
able to fly a kite while floating, but on
one occasion fioated asleep on the water
for an hour While in England, work.
ing at his trade of printer, his swim.
ming feats caused him to be so much
talked about that at one time he had
serious thoughts of opening a swim
ming school.
The exploit of Brodie will doubtless
lead many to undertake risks of long.
distance swimming, but it will do far
more good if it awakens general inter-
est in an accomplishment which is not
only likely to prove of great use to its
possessors, but which can honestly be
classed as an innocent and healthy
-Bosto0 Globe.